Cricket

Six teams, two spots, and all to play for – especially for West Indies

After the riveting league section, the boys’s ODI World Cup qualifier has reached the Tremendous Six, the place Zimbabwe, Netherlands, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Scotland and Oman will contest for 2 spots on the major occasion in India later this 12 months.

The cut-throat nature of the qualifier has already left West Indies, who have been pre-tournament favourites together with Sri Lanka, on the point of elimination. Except the stars align of their favour in an enormous manner, they – champions within the first two editions in 1975 and 1979 – is not going to function within the ODI World Cup for the primary time. This, after they’d didn’t make it to the T20 World Cup in Australia final 12 months.
West Indies’ head coach Daren Sammy was open about their steep fall, saying that the loss against Netherlands was a real reflection of the state of West Indies cricket. They made life tough for themselves by dropping a minimum of 13 catches throughout 4 video games on this qualifier, and Sammy admitted that West Indies are the worst fielding aspect within the competitors.
Netherlands stored pilfering singles – and doubles – from proper below the noses of West Indies’ fielders with the stealth of a pickpocket. And West Indies sleepwalked their manner from one fumble to a different and their bowling wasn’t nice both. They repeatedly missed their lengths and allowed the Netherlands’ batters to entry the shorter boundary. Although Akeal Hosein is an effective defensive spinner, the injury to wristspinner Yannic Cariah has stripped West Indies of an attacking spin choice within the center overs on the placid pitches in Harare.
Quick bowler Alzarri Joseph has stepped up as West Indies’ enforcer within the center overs, however his fielders have let him down. The sickness to Shamarh Brooks and an damage to Kyle Mayers have additionally meddled with the stability of the aspect. Although Nicholas Pooran was unavailable to bat within the Tremendous Over due to the time spent off the sphere previous to it, it was notably shocking to see Shai Hope be a part of Johnson Charles, forward of power-hitters like Brandon King and Romario Shepherd. All advised, West Indies have been outbowled, outbatted, outfielded and out-thought by their opponents.
West Indies captain Hope has conceded that they’re nonetheless smarting from the chastening defeats towards Zimbabwe and Netherlands, however he now has the unenviable activity of motivating his staff for the Tremendous Six. A loss towards Scotland, who had additionally toppled them on the 2022 T20 World Cup in Hobart final 12 months, on Saturday will ship them crashing out.

“Definitely, there’s going to be lots of ache and damage within the dressing room,” Hope mentioned on Tuesday. “However we all know that also there’s at all times an opportunity for us to maneuver to the subsequent step. So, we’re at all times speaking amongst one another. The principle factor is to get the blokes as uplifted as attainable to ensure we get one of the best outcome going into the subsequent recreation.

“That [disappointment among fans in the Caribbean] is totally comprehensible. One factor I can assure is you guys can by no means be as deflated as us. I am positive the ache is extra extreme right here within the dressing room. However the one factor I ask from you guys is to proceed supporting us; we’re actually making an attempt to place our greatest on the market. The outcomes will not at all times go our manner, however we positively want to search out methods to show it round in a short time.

“We’ve got an enormous legacy behind us, and we all know that, however now we have to create our personal legacy and ensure that no matter we will we signify the folks of the West Indies proudly.”

Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe strongly positioned to make the reduce

As for Sri Lanka they give the impression of being a lot more healthy than West Indies, with their wristspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and thriller spinner Mahesh Theekshana dominating sides with their variations. They may proceed to raze oppositions that are not used to going through such elite spin.

Dimuth Karunaratne isn’t any dasher, however his presence on the high has lent stability to the staff and set the stage for Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama. Dushmantha Chameera is working his manner again from a shoulder pressure, however Kasun Rajitha’s swing and Lahiru Kumara’s hit-the-deck hustle has served the assault properly to date.

Together with Sri Lanka, hosts Zimbabwe are the one different staff to hold 4 factors into the Tremendous Six. The native followers have packed the stands and created such an aura that Zimbabwe head coach Dave Houghton believes that they’re the staff’s “twelfth, thirteenth, 14th and fifteenth man”.
Sean Williams and Craig Ervine have led the best way with the bat. Sikandar Raza continues to conjure magic – each with bat and ball. Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ship present the assault with a potent level of distinction with their peak and skill to generate trampoline bounce even on flat decks. Tendai Chatara can also be tall and may transfer the ball at considerable tempo. Even a number of the high groups on this planet do not have the posh of getting two tall quicks at their disposal. After having missed the final ODI World Cup, Zimbabwe look poised to make the reduce this time, with the group jiving and grooving to their tunes in Harare and Bulawayo.

Netherlands can spring a shock or two

You’ll be able to’t rely Netherlands out both, particularly after their beautiful Tremendous Over victory towards West Indies. They’re missing quite a lot of first-choice gamers, who’ve prioritised county cricket over nationwide commitments, however they maintain discovering new heroes. Teja Nidamanuruwho was born in India and raised in New Zealand, has been answerable for Netherlands’ solely ODI lots of since 2015, with each tons coming in 2023.
After years of toiling away within the wilderness for Netherlands – and for Wellington and Canterbury in New Zealand home cricket – Logan Van Beek has lastly carved his personal area of interest in worldwide cricket along with his double act in the Super Over towards West Indies.
In a quirk of destiny, van Beek will come up towards his former Wellington coach Glenn Pocknall, who’s now a part of Scotland’s backroom employees, within the Tremendous Six. In about three months, he might properly come up towards New Zealand, for whom he hopes to play for sooner or later. Who is aware of?
For Scotland and Oman, who completed one and two in the World Cricket League 2that is one other alternative to show that they belong to the large stage and maintain the flag flying excessive for Affiliate groups.

With the stakes at their highest within the Tremendous Six, will groups stick or twist?


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Printed : 2023-06-28 07:08:57

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