CPL 2021 | Team Preview: Jamaica Tallawahs overreliant on domestic stalwarts to win third title

If not winning a lot of games even with superstar performers were not agonising enough, the Jamaica Tallawahs are set to embark on another journey without those performers. 

They were enriched with a performing international trio of Glenn Phillips, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane but could manage to win just three out of 10 games last season. However, they managed to escape through to the final rounds and were knocked out only at the hands of the Trinbago Knight Riders, who went all the way to win the tournament.

This time, none of them will be around and the Tallawahs will fall back on the already struggling shoulders of Andre Russell, and Carlos Brathwaite, who is getting back the lost reputation in the shortest format.

They were the first champions of the competition in 2013 and then replicated their success again in the 2015 edition. However, apart from those two triumphant events, the Tallawahs have not had a dream run of form in the competition of late.

Strength

The Tallawahs have a good mixture of players who are champions in the 20-over format along with promising players on the block. 

They have the services of Andre Russell and Brathwaite, who have a fair bit of idea on how to get the big things done in tournaments such as the CPL along with Pakistan batsman Haider Ali, who has been tipped as one of the big things with the bat in this format.

In the bowling department, Qais Ahmad will represent the enterprising young talent in the Tallawahs camp while the veteran Fidel Edwards is bowling at express pace and with immaculate control.

The Tallawahs will bank on the trio of Russell, Brathwaite and Edwards to make up for the lack of international stars and if they get their game right in this edition, the Tallawahs can go far beyond what their critics are rating them this time.

Weakness

Interestingly, the strengths of the Tallawahs are also their weaknesses as Russell’s fitness has been questionable in the recent past. Lat time around as well, they were overreliance on Russell and were perished for it.

They also need to find a replacement for an economic and wicket-taking partnership of Lamichanne and Mujeeb who were accurate and threatening at the same time. They picked up 28 wickets at an economy rate of less than six runs per over and the Tallawahs have their task cut out to find another potent bowling pair for the middle phase of the game.

They will demand more runs from their opener Chadwick Walton, who had a horrible season last year and his failure at the top will put more and more pressure on Russell.

Opportunities

All the games of CPL will be played at the same venue—Warner Stadium in St. Kitts and it’s inevitable that the surfaces will get slower and slower with each passing game.

There will be massive opportunities for off-spinner Chris Green and leg spinner Qais Ahmad to leave their mark on the competition.

Pakistan batsman Haider Ali also has a massive opportunity to bring his best game with the bat in the competition and provide a rollicking start to the Tallawahs.

Strongest XI

Chadwick Walton, Haider Ali, Andre Russell, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Mohammed, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Green, Qais Ahmad, Fidel Edwards, Veerasammy Permaul