by Dyon Ravello

Poor Badree, the most economical bowler in West Indies’ solitary win at the T20 World Cup this Year. Badree was limited to a spectator as he watched Sammy and Co. toiled at the blades of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Even as the batting did not provide the impetus for a more competitive total, the bowling was spineless. Apart for Rampaul scalping Dilshan at the wicket all the bowlers were flat and lacked penetration.

Looking back to the England match, Sammy and Ramdin would have been the likely candidates for sitting out against the host. Please lets not forget Sammy is the captain. One must say, Sammy and or Gibson must justify why Badree did not make the eleven. Comparing Narine to Badree, Narine has had more exposure at the international level however Badree is a consistent performer. Narine has be ordinary all tournament like his skipper Sammy. Badree’s leg spin would have addition a different dimension to the West Indian bowling attack.

Jayawardene employed variety for the start, using seamer Angelo Matthews at the start stretch the usefulness of lasith Malinga. In between the quicks Ajantha Mendis proved his worth with three strikes to retard the West Indian momentum, Jeevan Mendis and Rangana Herath provide ample spin support as Kulasekera closed out the innings with a creditable display alongside his fellow pacers.

Sammy did the exact opposite, without Badree to accompany Rampaul with the new ball, Sammy had to utilize, straight swap Fidel Edwards. That decision backfired as Edwards was taken for three consecutive boundaries first up. Narine was predictably introduced at the site of Jayawardena’s carnage to no effect. To add insult to injury Sammy’s military medium had no effect on the festive Lanka mood.

On a pitch where the Sri Lankas harbored variation to restrict the Caribbean side. It is befuddling that; Mr Sammy and General Gibson were unimaginative in their tactics. Badree aside, Dwayne Bravo, one of the regions most penetrative Seamers and arguably the best West Indian all rounder is yet to bowl all tournament.  Similarly Keiron Pollard’s leg cutters of the medium pace variety have not been summoned. The there is Lendl Simmons who has a four-fer with the ball at the last T20 World Cup, he too is yet to figure in the starting eleven.

Now the maroon men find themselves in an all too familiar position, with a virtual Quarterfinal against the Kiwis. During the Super Eight, the action has been anything but mundane the Kiwis holding the host till the Super over, Pakistan’s recovery to edge South Africa, as well as convincing win by Australia and Sri Lanka over India and West Indies respectively. New Zealand will need a win over the Windies as well as a Sri Lanka victory over the English. As for the Windies and the Lions only wins will be sufficient to book to a semifinal berth.

Gibson will be left with a lot to contemplate against the Kiwis, as the New Zealanders will fancy dumping the West Indies, still fresh from Caribbean thrashing. Simmons, Badree should be foremost in mind, with Edwards and Ramdin the most likely candidates. Call you eleven, VC predicts: Darren Sammy, Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul and Samuel Badree.