West Indies cricket team are slowly getting into the rhythm that would carry them forward to develop better statistics in the International Cricket Committee (ICC) Test format. Apparently the West Indies selectors are getting into the correct gear by choosing the near perfect squad for the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Kraig Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood are two young remarkable players with superb talents. Blackwood will assist with the stability of the middle order along with captain Denesh Ramdin. Young Brathwaite comes into the Test squad as a superb anchor player. He will develop his scoring pace as he gets experience. He is not afraid to play strokes and he maintains his unique role of staying at the wicket and defying the opposition. A solid opening start is of paramount importance.
SULIEMAN BENN MUST DEVELOP THE STRAIGHT DELIVERY
After some splendid performances from left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn in the first two Tests against New Zealand at Sabina Park in Jamaica and at Queen’s Park in Trinidad, he is however lacking the fast straight delivery. New Zealand batsmen are frequently playing for turn, so if Benn can produce some quick, fast, straight ones, he will be much more effective in taking wickets. Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach are expected to do very well in Barbados.
TAYLOR AND ROACH CAN DESTROY KIWIS AT KENSINGTON
Fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach both have the speed and accuracy to unsettle New Zealand at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Taylor has been troubling the New Zealand batsmen so far in the series and during the last Test match he picked up six wickets.
DARREN BRAVO AND KIRK EDWARDS SEEM IN GOOD TOUCH
Darren Bravo and Kirk Edwards seem to be much more confident as the series progress. Edwards will have to work on his flaw of getting caught in the slips. During the first Test in Jamaica he was caught in the slips and also after scoring 55 runs in the second Test in Trinidad at the Oval he was caught in the slips. He needs to get much more over the ball, avoid crouching and must use his feet much more against the spinners. It is hoped that the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaull will stop the unnecessary padding out that cost him his wicket twice in the series so far. West Indies should win the third Test in Barbados at Kensington Oval but they have to hold on to their catches.
Note: For Barbados, four of their national players will be on the Test team for the third Test match in Barbados, they are Kemar Roach, Sulieman Benn, Kraig Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards.
