Asks Romario Samaroo
The West Indies senior team has been dumped from the World Cup 2019 following another meltdown against India last Thursday in what, so far, has been a pitiful campaign.
In seven matches played they have recorded four straight losses, a no-result and a single win in their opening match against Pakistan.
In what is an abysmal state of affairs they have been condemned to the bottom of the table with only three points and two matches remaining.
The teams that have beaten them, Australia, India and New Zealand have all `virtually’ qualified while England, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka seem to be fighting for the remaining spot.
What this means for the rest of the West Indies World Cup campaign is that they must simply return to the drawing board and look to bow out of the competition with dignity.
The `virtually qualified’ trio have dwarfed their opposition so far and distanced themselves from the pack.
Australia has only lost to India who are unbeaten.
They await the challenge of the New Zealanders (who had their first loss coming at the hands of Pakistan) and South Africa.
India, the only undefeated side so far is safely on 11 points and will face Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and England. They are too good of a team to not win at least one of those matches but even if they lose all three, a superior net run rate can see them qualifying.
Like India, 2015 runners up, New Zealand are also in good standing with 11 points and are playing like a well-oiled machine led brilliantly by Kane Williamson.
England’s campaign, however, has taken a turn for the worse and they find themselves in an unfamiliar position, looking for a win against New Zealand.
In looking to end the series on a high and salvage some amount of pride and respect, the Jason Holder-unit will need to produce a dramatic turn around.
But even if that is accomplished, Cricket West Indies will need to decide a path for the team’s future in the interest of West Indies Cricket.
With the euphoria of a tied series against England in the Caribbean, then the number on ranked side in the One Day International format, West Indies had high hopes of a successful World Cup campaign.
However that was not to be and they have instead plummeted one place down the rankings to ninth.
Interim head coach, Floyd Reifer and Interim Chairman of Selectors Robert Haynes were hired weeks before the World Cup by newly appointed President of CWI, Ricky Skerritt with the idea of “selecting the best possible team.”
But those selections have done little to change the fortunes of the side.
There have been a few close encounters which could have gone the way of the West Indies including the 15-run defeat to Australia while against New Zealand, their lone century of the tournament came from a forgettable name in Carlos Brathwaite who mustered his maiden ton to bring them within six runs of a come from behind victory.
But despite that century, Brathwaite has not impressed with the bat since his four consecutive sixes in the World T20 final three years ago.
He has just 32 runs from his other three innings and has not had any impact with the ball, taking five wickets at an economy rate of 7.39, the second highest among West Indian bowlers.
An out-of-form Darren Bravo has played just three matches and scored 19 runs having batted twice, once at number eight.
Chris Gayle has battled fairly well and, at 39-years, continues to carry the side with 200 runs so far, the most by a Caribbean batsman which might be why he has decided to reconsider his decision to retire from One-day cricket after this World Cup.
One of the few positives has been the batting of Nicholas Pooran while Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer have shown glimpses of promise but have not set the tournament ablaze owing being to poor shot selection and what seems to be a lack of understanding of their roles.
With injuries hampering their X-factor, Andre Russell and Evin Lewis as well as the negligent use of Kemar Roach led to the West Indies searching for a solid bowling attack.
Holder’s leadership has been the subject of heavy criticism of late especially when it came to the bowling changes.
In the end, West Indies have done nothing to change their poor performance on the grand stage which should result in drastic changes when they face India in the summer right here in the Caribbean.
