Despite the injuries which plague the West Indies team and those cricketers who are being ignored for whatever reason, the batsmen who are participating must give better performances.
Windies batsmen must be more focused on their game. Should there be a constant fall of wickets, the rest of the players should not panic. Representing the West Indies is a professional responsibility and batsmen must show their professionalism by exhibiting top performances.
Different strokes
Cricketers must understand that batting in a Twenty20 match is vastly different to that of a 50-over encounter. Batsmen ought to be able to adjust and play the longer version of the game. West Indies players seemed to be in too much of a Twenty20 mindset in the first One-Day International when they were bowled out for 140 runs by Australia.
Bowlers Efficient
Some fine performances from the West Indies bowlers enabled the home team to restrict the Aussies to low scores in both first and second One-Day Internationals. West Indies lost the first One-Day because of some callous batting.
Sunil Narine seemed to have found his rhythm and he would be a force to reckon with in the Test matches as well. Ottis Gibson, the West Indies head coach and captain Darren Sammy must ensure that all-rounder Marlon Samuels is not pressured into too much bowling. Samuels bats at the number four position and he will have to focus much more on his batting than his bowling. There are sufficient bowlers in the team including captain Darren Sammy who should be doing his share of bowling.
Edwards Will Affect Aussies
West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards will have a huge effect on the Aussie batsmen when the Tests begin. Edwards is experienced and he is on top of the game. Some of the Aussie batsmen are now trying to develop and cement their place on the team despite the inclusion of experienced Ricky Ponting, Michale Clarke and Shane Watson.
Windies bowlers will shake up the Aussie batsmen in the Test matches. Windies selectors should seriously consider including pacer Jino Best for the Test matches. He has gained experience from playing several Test matches experience so he is not new to the arena. Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach, Jino Best and Sunil Narine should be able to challenge the Aussie batsmen. Test cricket call for specialist batsmen and specialist bowlers. A mixed attack is always preferable.
Windies batting will be stronger for the Test matches with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards and Adrian Barath returning. Kraig Brathwaite will return to open the innings with Barath. It is important for the West Indies to allow their pacers to have a go at the Aussie batsmen in the Test series.
