Former top ranked T20I bowler, Samuel Badree reckons West Indies lacked application, patience and assessment when they batted in the third One day International against Australia on Monday.
West Indies won the toss and elected to take first strike but could only muster 152 in 45.1 overs and Australia easily chased down the target to win the three-match series 2-1.
At the end of West Indies innings, Commentator Badree, was asked by Ian Bishop about his thoughts on what went wrong during the host’s innings.
He responded, “I think two things, lack of application and lack of assessment.”
The former West Indies leg-spinner reasoned that the batsmen were playing across the line of the delivery a lot and didn’t show enough patience while some were going too hard at the ball, ultimately leading to their demise.
“They had to be a little bit more patient, play almost Test like in these conditions here. Get yourself set and perhaps build for the last 10-15 overs. They didn’t do that, they lost too many wickets too early and in the end a disappointing total for them,” he said. The 40-year-old Trinidadian credited Evin Lewis for his lone hand while the other top seven batsmen failed to offer support.
Lewis was left stranded on 55 from 66 balls with his innings featuring three sixes and five fours.
“I think he [Lewis] played the ball late. He wasn’t really in a rush. He gave himself time, he didn’t try to go too hard too early and when he did go, he was in control, all of those boundaries that he hit, he was in control every step of the way,” Badree opined.
“His back foot play was exceptional as well. I think he used the depth of the crease quite well, he was good against the spinners and he just needed someone to support on the other end at least to bat through the 50 overs.”
Looking at the other batsmen, Badree said that Shimron Hetmyer (06) should have been a lot more tighter early in his innings adding that Shai Hope (14) and Kieron Pollard (11) were going too hard at the ball on a pitch where the ball was stopping and did not spend enough time to make the assessment.
He also slammed Darren Bravo (18) and Jason Holder (05) for playing big shots, saying that they lacked patience and application.
Badree said that he was especially disappointed in the mode of dismissal of Nicholas Pooran (03).
He said, “That was inexplicable, leaving alone a ball that was straight on his stumps. The off-spinner will get the drift. He is bowling on the end that will allow for such and didn’t cover his stumps.”
He admitted that he like most fans, expected more from the senior players.
Badree represented West Indies in 52 T20Is, picking up 56 wickets and an economy rate of 6.17 before retiring in 2018.
