ICC World T20: The Contenders – Part 3 : The Southern twins and The Caribbean Pirates

Continued from

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/11/icc-world-t20-the-contenders-part-1/

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/09/13/icc-world-t20-the-contenders-part-2-sri-lanka-pakistan/

In this installment of the series, we take a look at three sides, which are yet to win a T20 World Cup. The Southern twins: Australia & New Zealand, and the band of marauders from the Caribbean: The West Indies.

Australia : A team in flux

Australia playing T20 cricket is somewhat an awkward sight. First of all, there’s so many unfamiliar faces in every series that one instantly gets spooked. The fact that they have not to-date been able to establish any sort of dominance on the format adds to the unsettling feeling. After all, you see the green and gold, and you expect a ruthless display of foot-on-the-throat cricket. But Australia in T20 cricket has been a team in a constant state of flux. They’re playing under their 6th captain since their T20 debut. This, and the fact that George Bailey, their current captain, made his T20I debut as the captain, stands testament to the instability at the helm. Bailey has his work cut out to establish himself at the international level, and build a team despite incessant chopping and changing, and mount a World Cup campaign in his 1st year, all at the same time.

But if you look at the squad, outside this context, you’d wonder what all the fuss is about. The dynamic David Warner and Shane Watson to open, with the ever reliable Michael Hussey to follow (who can forget the heroic 2010 semifinal winning assault on Saeed Ajmal!!), supported by George Bailey and Mathew Wade in the middle order, with David Hussey, Daniel Christian and/or Cameron White to finish. That is a potent arsenal, given White actually finds some form on his comeback (given he actually makes the playing 11). The strength with Australia is that they bat deep: number 11 – deep.

It is the Australian bowling that is the biggest unknown. The only established faces are Shane Watson – who is actually an all-rounder – and Ben Hilfenhaus. Clint McKay has been around, but isn’t yet a permanent member of the team. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in their first full year of international cricket will have to bear the responsibility of being Australia’s strike bowlers. Dan Christian is useful with the ball. But the biggest surprise is the inclusion of Brad Hogg at the ripe old age of 41. It is as much a testament to the spirit and determination of the man, as it is to the dearth of quality spin bowling options at Australia’s disposal. We expect him to get the nod ahead of Doherty, and possibly even Maxwell.

When the bowling attack isn’t intimidating enough, that responsibility falls onto the fielding unit. Australia have always been one of the best fielding sides, and this time they will be heavily reliant on fielding to cover any bowling shortcomings. Don’t be surprised if we see a lot more of the classic Aussie swagger and sledge intimidation technique on the field. They’re going to need it.

New Zealand : The Perennial Underdogs

The Kiwis enter yet another tournament as underdogs. They always have, even when they won the ICC Knock Outs in 2000-01 in Nairobi, even when they made the 1992, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2011 semifinals in the ODI World Cup. They’re never really fancied, but they always seem to find themselves somewhere near the last four in a major tournament. The secret to that is team-play and occasional individual brilliance. The most unique feature of New Zealand’s cricket is that stars don’t matter. The team does.

They will be hoping for some of that individual magic from their big guns: Brendan McCullum and Ross Taylor. Both are capable of single-handedly winning matches, yet have this distinct hit-or-miss feel about them. The bowling will be heavily reliant on Kyle Mills for the initial burst with Doug Bracewell and Tim southee to support, and Daniel Vettori to control the middle overs. Vettori has the most miserly economy rate, and probably the best strike rate in T20 Internationals. His experience and guile will be vital to holding New Zealand’s campaign together. He will be supported by another senior Kiwi who finds himself in a rather favorable position after a brilliant SLPL: Jacob Oram. The likes of James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Ronnie Hira will have to chip in with some useful filler overs.

At an individual level, this is a great opportunity for the younger generation to step forth and be counted. Southee, Bracewell, Williamson are New Zealand’s future core team, and solid performances will be expected of them.

In the form book, they have struggled since beating Australia last year. Not so successful tours of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and a Test thrashing in India aren’t a good lead up to a world tournament. However, they can take heart from their ODI World Cup campaign. And also from the speculation about the wickets not being the typical flat, spinning Lankan wickets, but more alive like ones back home.

All in all, as always with the Kiwis, it’s about grit. The will to shine at the world stage, and the understanding of the ‘team’ aspect of the game will see them through. An outright win will only come if they are able to collectively lift their game up a couple of notches.

West Indies : The Caribbean Pirates

The West Indies, once the most feared team in world cricket have now been in decline for far too long. It is nature’s law that whatever goes up, must come down, and whatever hits the ground, must bounce back up. West Indies cricket still has potential to bounce back up. It is their internal conflict, discord amongst administrators and superstar players that has delayed the rise of the Calypso Kings.

Things are finally looking like coming together though, which is what makes the West Indies team one of the most intimidating units on paper. Imagine getting Chris Gayle out, only to see Dwayne Bravo walk in, followed by Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Darren Bravo, and if you do manage to limit the damage, there’s Keiron Pollard waiting in the wings, with Andre Russel and Darren Sammy padded up for the final dash. What bowling side wouldn’t be in sweats! The likes of Gayle, Bravo, Smith, Pollard have been scaring the pants off bowlers in all T20 leagues around the world. IPL, BPL, Big Bash, English County leagues, you name them, they’ve pulverized them. For the past few years, these stars of the Carribbean have been playing as mercenaries, plying their trade across the world. Finally, now when they come together in West Indies colours, one can only hope they still remember how to play together as a team.

However, if you think it’s just the batting that is heavily stacked, and West Indies matches are going to be all about thier 20 overs of striking, you’ve got another thing coming. The bowling attack headed by Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach with support from Pollard, Russel, Gayle, Sammy, Samuels is by no means a weak link. Rampaul in particular has improved a lot over the last couple of years. But Darren Sammy’s Ace of Spades is going to be Sunil Narine. The diminutive off spinner had been nigh unpickable during KKR’s IPL victory, and he will definitely deliver 4 overs of mystery every game. It is up to the captain and the other bowlers to capitalize on that, and restrict the opposition.

The main challenge before the West Indies, then, is to manage the prima donnas in their squad, and get the team to gel together, work together as a unit on the field. The superstars have to play for the team, putting individual goals aside. If they can do that, and fire at a consistent rate, the West Indies are going to be a very very tough force to beat.

In the last installment of this series, we will take a deep look at team India. Just around the corner.