West Indies has played 15 one-day internationals this year, winning just four of them and losing 11 of them. West Indies will play India at Queen's Park Oval starting on July 22 just six days after dropping the ODI series against Bangladesh 3-0.
West Indies previously played three one-day internationals against India in Ahmedabad in February of this year, which they defeated 3-0. Since then, the West Indies have defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh while winning the ODI series against the Netherlands before going on a six-match losing streak.
Ian Bishop, a former fast bowler who is now a commentator, discusses the West Indies' batting issues in one-day internationals, the reasons why they are unable to employ all of their allotted overs with the bat, his thoughts on India's opening duo, and how their starting eleven looks.
Q. After a 3-0 loss in India in February, head coach Phil Simmons stated that the team's batting was a major worry and required quick correction. West Indies will play India in ODIs once more in July. In light of the next three-match series, do you still consider their batting to be a major source of concern?
A. When the coach pointed out the primary issues, he was dead on. The batting is the top priority among the several issues. I'd want to start out by asking, why bat? Just to go back on some of the work that Ben Jones did in his seminal work, where he identified that leading into the 2019 World Cup, England identified that the key factor which helped nations win World Cups in the last five to six editions was batting strength. Therefore, you are not resolving the bowling-related issues.
But I think that West Indies have been bowled nine out of the last 12 innings batting first; they have not batted their allotted overs. So, it remains a concern, where, mind you, they batted on some tough pitches against Bangladesh. They struggled against spin, but mainly all types of bowling. In Pakistan, they had their opportunities and didn't take them with the bat. Batting remains a priority but there are one or two other areas they also need to get better at.
Q. You just highlighted a few more issues that the West Indies should be concerned about. Could you describe the areas where you believe the West Indies could improve?
A. Taking out players during the innings. In Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, for instance, they have two excellent left-arm spinners. They have a fantastic young fast bowler in Alzarri Joseph. How do they now combine all of that and include Jason Holder? Right now, one-day cricket rules encourage higher scoring.
Depending on the circumstances, 300 can be considered to be a par score. In a power play, especially the first one, you want wickets. When your spinners or an enforcer in the mould of Lockie Ferguson enters the fray, you need players who can take wickets in the middle overs. Therefore, gaining wickets during the innings is crucial.
When the going gets tough, some crucial players in this West Indies batting order, like Shai Hope or Shamrah Brooks, can anchor the innings for you. The batting effort is set up by those important players.
Q. After the West Indies' series loss to Bangladesh, Nicholas Pooran had commented that they weren't able to employ all of their allotted at-bat overs. What do you think their shortcomings are that prevent them from being able to bat for 50 overs?
A. The batting order is young, therefore some of the players are still learning their craft and are therefore less experienced than others. The errors therefore originate from one or two places: being impatient enough and Shai Hope, who has consistently averaged around the 50-mark, what is his role? When he performs at his best, his duty is to bat late in the innings to free up time for other players.
Shamrah Brooks, who has played Test cricket, is the second option if he falls early. However, he could also play the role of the deep hitter, letting the Poorans, Powells, and other major players bat around him. It's okay if you can get a Shai Hope back to his prime, scoring hundreds of points while letting other players play around him.
The other is an attitude and comprehension that you can be patient enough and still trust your defensive qualities to get you through difficult situations and profit in the end. Therefore, in this line-up, patience is required, along with one or two of the top three players taking on prolonged batting roles and letting other players bat around them.
Q. India has had a top three in Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli for a very long time. Do you think the West Indies team has enough time to discover their reliable top three in ODIs?
A. With South Africa, they have a few world-class batsmen like (Rassie) van der Dussen or Quinton de Kock. There are a few elite batters from India. But aside from Shai Hope, I believe West Indies still needs to unearth elite batters and for individuals to rise up. In ODI cricket, you can play with a different tempo if you acquire that kind of talent. We all have to acknowledge that given where West Indies are in the rankings, their batting is still finding its footing.
Time is short, but give Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran a chance. Pooran is realising that he needs to change the pace of his ODI batting. Therefore, their batting pace will differ after Pooran continues to advance, Shai Hope finds his bearings, and one more player emerges and approaches world-class status. But for now, they are stuck with this difficult situation as they try to prepare for an Indian onslaught that is still without elite players like Jasprit Bumrah.
Q. Despite not being at his best during the Bangladesh ODI series, left-arm spin all-rounder Akeal Hosein succeeded with his all-around skills. What do you think of his all-around skills, and what do you think his main responsibilities are—to limit runs or to take wickets?
A. That goes for every bowler or most of the bowlers, where someone like an Akeal, who's a finger spinner, there will be a time for him where he will come and have to do the holding role or an economical job, which in the end could also build pressure and lead to a wicket. Or he can come in and try to bowl with guile, lines or lengths prise out an odd wicket or two. With most bowlers, not all but most, their roles will fluctuate depending on the situation in the game and what is required.
Akeal had been terrific up until that Bangladesh series, where he wasn't at his best after making his international cricket debut in Bangladesh in 2021. Therefore, Akeal Hosein will be playing both parts along with someone like Gudakesh Motie, who excelled in the last series. I'm not sure if there will be competition there, but I believe it to be healthy.
Q. Gudakesh Motie, a left-arm spinner, had a successful first ODI series against Bangladesh, taking six wickets in three games. Can you describe what Indian cricket fans can anticipate from him?
A. A left-arm spinner who is still learning the ropes and gives it his all. However, he has spent a number of years in the Caribbean's elite social scene. He attended the same Berbice club as another spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, who earlier this year represented Jamaica in Test matches against England and Sri Lanka.
Devendra Bishoo, a leg-spinner for that team, Albion Sports Club, is another player who is well-remembered among Indian fans from a few years back. He's a competitive lower-order batter as well, but he was outstanding against Bangladesh on some nice pitches. Simply put, Akeal Hosein and him are not all that unlike from one another in terms of consistency and small changes.