The deck is stacked heavily against the West Indies who are set to kick start their tour of New Zealand tomorrow.
The tour begins with a three-match T20 series in Auckland followed by two test matches.
The West Indies, despite being the T20 World Champions, are ranked ninth on the ICC MRF team ranking sheet, three places behind New Zealand in T20s.
However, the Caribbean side’s best bet to clinch a series win over the host would be in the shorter format. On form, West Indies although they haven’t played a T20 series in eight months, seems to be better placed to contend.
Kieron Pollard’s men took their last T20 series 2-0 against Sri Lanka in March 2020, just before the pause in international cricket due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They clinched that series on the back of matching winning performances from Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons who have both opted out of the New Zealand Tour while the absence of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis in the squad to choose from doesn’t help either.
However, the series does provide an opportunity for West Indies’ young core to come to the fore. Pollard’s contributions will be key but it’s a given that the form and maturity of Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Brandon King, will likely be the feature that separates the two sides.
The bowling in my estimation is the biggest concern especially bowling on good batting surfaces and small grounds down under. From the lot to choose from Fabian Allen with an economy rate of 6.80 and Sheldon Cottrell, 7.83 are the only ones operating under eight while Hayden Walsh (8.03), Oshane Thomas (8.59), Kesrick Williams (8.59), Keemo Paul (8.30), and Romario Shepherd (9.37) are all on the expensive side.
Meanwhile, New Zealand too, has been hamstrung by the absence of a few players in full-time skipper Kane Williamson and Trent Bolt, both of whom have been rested for the T20 leg of the tour. Nevertheless, they are still a formidable side. The core of the batting will rest on the blades of the experienced trio of Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, and Jimmy Neesham while new boy Devon Conway could be a factor. New Zealand’s bowling will be spearheaded by skipper Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, and the towering figure of Kyle Jamieson.
There’s an added importance attached to the series from the New Zealand camp who will be keen to reverse their most recent T20 fortunes at home, having surrender series to India and England in their last two assignments at home.
Probable West Indies side for the first T20: Brandon King, Andrew Fletcher, Shimron Hetmyer, Nichols Pooran (wkt), Pollard (capt), Rovman Powell, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Kesrick Williams, and Hayden Walsh Jr.
