T20 World Cup | Desperate Windies, uncertain Bangladesh search breathing space in 'Group of Death'

The buildup

If there was one evidence to suggest the struggle of West Indies in the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, a lethargic and spiritless innings by Lendl Simmons in the last game against South Africa was quite a damning mirror for the defending champions.

The right-hander could not get going and neither he could show the courage to put his wicket on the line in search of momentum with the bat and his sluggishness severely impacted the rest of the batting lineup. Turned out, a batting lineup of such firepower could not muster more than 124 runs in 20 overs and that too when they were just one wicket down at the 10-over mark.

On the contrary, when the Proteas came out to bat, first the likes of Reiza Hendricks and then Aiden Markram batted with such fluency that established the flaw was in the mind of West Indies batsmen and not in the pitch.

What was ironic was that the men in maroon came into the tournament with the reputation of being a side full of big hitters who struggle to rotate the strike. Their only mode of success—hitting sixes was exposed for the lack of alternatives in the first game against England and instead of correcting one flaw, their batting order squandered their advantage as well.

Now, from being one of the firm favourites to lift the trophy for a staggering this time, the defending champions are appearing to be side in decline, both in terms of ideas and execution.

They are on the brink of an early exit from the tournament if their next opponent, Bangladesh can find their mojo back in the same manner they did after a hurting loss against Scotland in the qualifier stage.

Also, they are not pushovers anymore and instead are a force to reckon with in the conditions the tournament is being played and where the Windies are struggling for breathing space. They have a well-rounded spin attack to extract as many as possible out of the surface and the men in maroon would not find it any easier than they have faced so far in the tournament.

Contrasting ideas, both are not working

If the last game against South Africa can be erased for a larger context, the Windies are a team of either glory or bust depending on the side of the bed they wake up on that particular day. They can smash a bowling attack to oblivion on one day while another day can be proved as the one like it was against England.

To their counter, Bangladesh are a more reliable batting unit that doesn’t rely on swashbuckling stuffs such as outrageously long sixes. 

The core of their batting hinge on the experienced shoulders of the skipper Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, and awhile all of them offer firepower with the bat, they are not as monstrous in their approach and persona with the bat to change the course of a game in a matter of few balls. They like to pace their innings and rely on taking calculative risks to reach par scores and unleash their spinners.

Their ideas of batting have not been risk-proof and they have had some defeats to engulf with that approach but a series win over Australia and England give enough evidence of their depth, especially on pitches giving notable assistance to spinners.

Match details

West Indies vs Bangladesh

Match no.: 23, Super 12 Group 1

Date and Time: October 29, 02:00 PM LOCAL, 03:30 IST

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Pitch details

The pitches at the Sharjah Cricket Ground have shown enough surprises this year. After offering nightmares for the bowlers in the last edition of the Indian Premier League, the surfaces used this year were tough on the batsmen.

After slower and sluggish surfaces in the second phase of the IPL, there was a sense of anticipation about getting similar pitches in the T20 World Cup. 

However, the pitches in the tournament have been inconsistent in terms of their nature and if the last game between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is anything to go by, the fans of the game should brace themselves for another six-hitting feast on a smaller ground at Sharjah.

Team news

West Indies

Jason Holder has been added to the West Indies squad for the remainder of the tournament and straightway is most likely to find a place in the playing XI against Bangladesh. His ability to bowl cutters and experience of pacing innings against slower bowlers will give him the edge and the team a stabilising force in the middle order to arrest collapse such as the one against England.

The men in maroon can also consider bringing Roston Chase back in the playing XI in place of a horribly out of form Lendl Simmons and that would also open the opening door for Chris Gayle, who has looked out of place at number three.

They included Hayden Walsh Junior in the last game but the pacy option of Oshane Thoms would also look compelling for Kieron Pollard and co. considering Bangladesh’ susceptibility against raw pace.

Probable XI

Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Kieron Pollard (C), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh/Oshane Thomas, Ravi Rampaul

Bangladesh

None of their batsmen could stand up tall to navigate an early collapse of the batting order and handed an easy win and two points to England on a platter. 

There is a case of picking bad among worse with both Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar outrageous out of form and the third option Shamim Hossain is yet to make a mark at the world stage in a seven-match long career. Sadly, for Bangladesh, none of those options inspires confidence and hence they will have to rely on the experienced trio.

The spin trio of Shakib, Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed will have to pick themselves up from a disappointing day in the office against England if they have to help Bangladesh to their first win of the Super 12 stage.

Probable XI

Mohammad Naim, Liton Das/Somya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah (C), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan (WK), Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed

CE Fantasy XI

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Naim, Mahmudullah, Shimron Hetmyer, Mahedi Hasan, Dwayne Bravo, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, Akeal Hosein

Captain: Shakib Al Hasan

Vice-captain: Evin Lewis