Dear Editor,
Praise to the team, and special congratulations to the coach. Home has not been a significant advantage to West Indies for a long time, so there is obviously something else that explains winning against both Australia and South Africa.
In the opening match versus Australia WI, primarily through Ramdin and Samuels, WI scored 282, which Australia reached in the 48th over. Captain Holder, who was expected to bowl 10 overs, could bowl only 2 bad overs, in consequence of an injury.
In the match against South Africa, Bravo and Pollard batted magnificently, and Gabriel was unplayable in his one spell. A relatively easy victory.
In the final against Australia, Gabriel bowled poorly in his first spell, was devastating in his second spell, but could not bowl at the death when he had some three overs left. Australia made about 50 in their last four overs.
Charles and Fletcher, neither of whom made many runs in the first two matches, are both mentally strong, which was the main reason WI got off to a decent start in the finals. They did not seem threatened. When Charles’s scoring rate increased considerably over that of Fletcher, I felt like running to the wicket to tell Fletcher that neither the team’s nor his own interest would be best served by his attempting to emulate Charles’s scoring rate. I sat there helplessly while Fletcher did precisely what he should not have done, that is try to accelerate his own scoring rate. He perished. At that point I got some very negative vibes. Bravo and Samuels, two very talented batsmen, are not grinders; the former had scored well in the immediately preceding match, and the latter in the first match against the Aussies. They are not known for consistency.
Great six hitters like Pollard and even Holder, often go for sixes when fours, that are generally safer, would suffice.
Ramdin was again extremely good, and Brathwaite the world cup hero, who needs a little time to get back down to earth, used cross bats in going downtown to balls pitched on middle stumps.
Yours faithfully,
Romain Pitt
