NEW DELHI, India, CMC – Ottis Gibson admitted yesterday that his players can ill afford to slip-up against ICC Associates Netherlands in the World Cup tomorrow.
The West Indies coach refused to describe the Dutch as minnows, and recognised this opponent had proved a point with a solid performance in their opening match against England, when all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate led them to 292 for six from their 50 overs, and Andrew Strauss’ side overhauled the total with just eight deliveries remaining.
“This is the World Cup, and every game is going to be tough,” said Gibson. “A lot has been said this week and also last week about the minnows, ICC deciding to have 10 teams for 2014 (World Cup).
“I don’t like to call them minnows, they are a sort of lesser team if you like it. They are here to prove a point, and they did prove a point against England.”
He added: “They beat England in World Twenty20 [in the Caribbean], and I was working with England [as bowling coach] at that time, and I remember the feeling in our dressing room and jubilation in their camp.
“Those guys, when they come into an event like this, bring in lot of energy and with an expectation of upsetting a big team. Our fortunes of late do not suggest that we are a big team. But we still believe that we are a big team and we are here to prove this.”
West Indies suffered a seven-wicket defeat in their World Cup opener last Thursday against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, where they will also tackle the Dutch.
To add injury to insult, vice-captain and key all-rounder Dwayne Bravo hurt his knee in the match, and is flying home to start rehab work.
Gibson acknowledged that plans would have to seriously change in the light of Bravo’s injury.
“It’s a big setback obviously,” he said. “Our strategy was built around three all-rounders – our captain Darren Sammy, Bravo, and Kieron Pollard. It gives us an opportunity to, may be, rethink our strategy.
“With him (Bravo) missing, it has made us think whether we a need a batsman at number six and perhaps an extra bowler.”
West Indies will probably introduce Kirk Edwards at No.6 in place of Bravo, and could also add one of their other two fast bowlers either Andre Russell or Ravi Rampaul to share the new ball with Kemar Roach, or they could include left-arm spinner Nikita Miller to try to exploit the slow, low pitch.
“We all saw on TV what happened to [Dwayne],” he said. “Bravo has been a key member of our team for a long time.
“He is a sort of the energizer in the team. He brings in a lot of energy into the side with his fielding, bowling, and batting, and also with his presence in the dressing room. So that’s a big miss.”
West Indies have already applied to the technical committee for the event to get approval to fly-out a replacement, but he and the selectors seem to be having a hard time coming up with a choice.
“We haven’t decided as yet,” he said. “The time difference is 9 ½ hours, and it’s a weekend as well but those discussions are going on.
“We have to look at what’s best for the team. Who do we draft in that will complement the team as well.”
West Indies have already applied for replacements for the injured duo of opener Adrian Barath and wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jr.
Edwards and wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas joined the side last Monday to boost the stocks.
Fast bowler Tino Best was named one of three reserves by the West Indies selectors for the World Cup, but his well-publicised recent travails with the Barbados national team may sadly prompt the selectors to have a serious rethink about him.
Others like Marlon Samuels, all-rounder Dave Bernard Jr. as well as leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo have all been identified as possibilities.
Gibson insists however, that critics should not write West Indies off so early in the Championship, despite their injury setbacks, and opening loss.
”People will say whatever they want, but we know what we can do,” he said. “West Indies have won two World Cups in the past, and we were in the 1983 final and in the semi-finals in 1996, so we have got history in this competition.
“Our players have got a lot belief that they can prove to the World that we are still a more than capable nation, and that cricket is still very much alive in the Caribbean.”
Match starts at five in the morning East Caribbean Time.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith and Devon Thomas.
Netherlands: Peter Borren (captain), Adeel Raja, Wesley Barresi, Mudassar Bukhari, Atse Buurman, Tom Cooper, Tom de Grooth, Alex Kervezee, Bradley Kruger, Bernard Loots, Pieter Seelar, Eric Szwarczynski, Ryan ten Doeschate, Berend Westdijk, Bas Zuiderent
