adminHORBAT. – How much can we read into the fact that ahead of their crunch Group B clash, West Indies sent their best-performing player from their defeat to Scotland to face the media?
And, Zimbabwe presented their only batter who didn’t perform, from their victory over Ireland?
Perhaps there’s nothing more to it than the luck of the draw and those were the players tasked with press conference duties on the day or maybe there is a small glimpse into the mindset of each of these teams.
West Indies are looking for heroes who can do what Jason Holder did (2 for 14 and 38 runs off 33 balls against Scotland) and more.
Zimbabwe are comfortable that even if someone like Regis Chakabva (who was dismissed for a two-ball duck against Ireland) fails, they have the resources to rally.
That’s the word usually reserved for West Indies and it’s what they have to do to keep their hopes of progressing to the Super 12s alive, primarily with the bat.
“We didn’t bat well. We were four down by the tenth over and that’s not ideally where we need to be in a given T20 match.
“We’ve got to really set it up better for the back half to really prosper,” Holder said, putting the spotlight on the obvious fault from West Indies first match.
“We just kept losing our wickets at bad phases of the game and I think that’s where the game got away from us. I don’t think there’s much more.
“When you keep a team to 160 in T20 cricket, you expect to walk home, but we didn’t. So it’s just a matter of us to really look at how we build partnerships in the middle and to really set the game up for the back half.”
Asked whether West Indies were missing power-hitting of the past like Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard, Holder was unequivocal:
“I don’t think we’re missing everyone. We’ve got every tool we need in this dressing room.”
Chakabva agrees with that, and said Zimbabwe are bracing for a West Indian rebound, even though they have barely played against them in this format.
They’ve only faced off in three T20Is, and the last one came more than nine years ago.
They haven’t played against each other in more than four years, in any format, but on reputation alone, Zimbabwe are talking the opposition up.
“West Indies are a force to be reckoned with, and they’ll be hungry tomorrow to put in a big fight, and we know they’re going to bring a big fight,” Chakabva said. – Cricinfo
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter