ICC World Cup 2019 | West Indies’ Predicted XI for the Southampton game against South Africa

06/09/2019

After losing their first three games, South Africa will try to bring themselves back to winning ways when they will take on West Indies in Hampshire Bowl in Southampton tomorrow. West Indies, however, will try not to give any chance and field their best XI in search of their second win.

Openers

Chris Gayle: Gayle was unlucky to be dismissed on what should’ve been a free-hit ball but Gayle was tested to the limit by Mitchell Starc in the last game. While he is very much capable of getting a fresh start, the big boundaries of Ageas Bowl could help his cause big-time.

Evin Lewis: For all his majesty in the T20 cricket, Evin Lewis has hardly lived up to the potential in the ODIs and there is a reason for that. His hurried approach hasn’t helped his cause and he throws away the wicket after being well-set in the middle. Considering Windies’ middle-order is not reliable all the time, Lewis needs to understand why he is being trusted so much and delivery to his potential tomorrow.

Middle-order

Shai Hope: Averaging over 50 in ODIs, Shai Hope is arguably Windies’ best player and will have a huge responsibility on his shoulder when the team will take on South Africa tomorrow. South Africa are already depleted with their bowling been reduced to the bones and it can’t be a better time for Hope to score yet another century.

Nicholas Pooran: Pooran’s innings against Australia was a classic case of a pinch-hitter doing his job in the middle-over but unfortunately for him, he couldn’t get a half-century in Nottingham. Hope has taken the role of wicket-keeping from him and Pooran will get a chance to bat with a clear sense of freedom.

Shimron Hetmyer: Hetmyer, despite being a natural stroke-maker, resorted himself to an accumulator in the ODIs, primarily because others have failed to essay that role properly. Hope at No.3 and Hetmyer at No.5 meant, it can be an interesting combination with pinch-hitters in between. That adds substance to the team and Windies will hope that it comes out nicely for them.

All-rounders

Jason Holder: Holder’s statesman-like approach has been Windies’ biggest calling card and his ability to take up the responsibility can never be underestimated. The way he fought against Australia and scored a valiant 50 just underlined his importance to this promising Windies side and if the team can pull off the avatar once again, no one will be more proud than Holder.

Andre Russell: The KKR all-rounder might’ve delayed bringing that uncontrollable hard-hitting presence on the field but he is breathing fire with the ball. From two games in this World Cup, the Jamaican already has four wickets and Windies wouldn’t complain that.

Carlos Brathwaite: He is supremely capable of doing many things with the bat but he seems disinterested in doing that. His bowling yields Windies wickets but he has hardly managed to control the run-flow, which must be a cause of concern for the two-time champions.

Spinner

Ashley Nurse: Nurse is the only spinner in the pacy Windies line-up and will have a bigger role than he had in the game against Australia. An off-break bowler is a gold dust in Southampton and Nurse needs to be confident about his ability. His match-up against Quinton de Kock is going to be interesting.

Pacers

Sheldon Cottrell: The Jamaican suddenly became the talk of the town thanks to his salute celebration but there is more to him than that. The bounce he generates thanks to his front-on action is very difficult to pull away and a slight misjudgement results in top-edge. That makes Cottrell, who is also a brilliant fielder in his own right, a valuable commodity.

Oshane Thomas: Thomas also brings in that X-factor of pace and bounce, which intimidated Australia to no end. Although his fitness has never been great, he can genuinely try and get the better of South African top-order with his raw pace.