NEWS
Follow UsT20 cricket has fast-evolved itself to a level where scores beyond 250 have become a reality and not just a dream. Over the last few years, the imbalance between the bat and the ball has become lopsided, as witnessed in the recently concluded Indian Premier League, where it seemed possible that teams could breach the 300-run mark.
However, the ongoing T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States of America has been low-scoring, as evidenced by the conditions in New York, where scores of 114 were easily defended. West Indies’ head coach Daren Sammy spoke about the change, stating that it is good to see the balance between batters and bowlers at the global event.
“Well, my team has not performed as well as we did after 2016, but the game is ever-evolving. All of last year, we saw the dominance of the bat versus the ball. You saw it in the IPL (Indian Premier League); the conditions favoured the batsmen much more than the bowlers. However, it was good to see some balance in this World Cup. Yes, the wickets have been difficult, but it’s about time the bowlers got a little bit of leeway and challenged the batters,” Sammy told Sportstar.
Andre Russell’s return has further bolstered the Windies, who have benefitted from both his ability to power-hit and his skills with the ball. Sammy hailed the all-rounder’s impact on the team, stating that he brings ‘experience, calmness and leadership’ to the table.
“What Andre brings to the table for us is his experience, calmness in different roles, and leadership. I am thrilled to have him in the squad, as I am for all the other guys. Over the last year, we have been a team that is gelling better and putting consistent performances on the field, and Russell has significantly contributed to that,” Sammy spoke on Russell’s impact.
While the T20 format has fast-evolved to a stage where anchors are considered redundant, Sammy doesn’t believe in that theory, further stating that the anchors are the ‘glue’ to a side. The Men in Maroon have been blessed with several power hitters, and it thereby becomes essential for someone like Roston Chase to be the glue to hold the batting unit.
“Yes, for sure [requirement of anchors]. Especially in our team, we have all that power with Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, and others. (Assistant coach) Floyd Reifer has a term he uses—he calls it the glue,” he said.
“With all the chaos that happens around you, you need someone to absorb the pressure like a sponge. Players like Roston Chase and Shai Hope are the guys who can play that role. They provide security at one end, ensuring that wickets are not falling from that end while they maintain a strike rate of 120,” he added.
While the wickets have been tough for the Windies, their aggressive batters down the order — Nicholas Pooran, Russell, or Sherfane Rutherford — have enabled them to rack up the winning scores. That’s where Sammy believes Chase’s impact falls into place.
"Meanwhile, other players like Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King can go at 150. When you balance it out, you get a combined strike rate of closer to 140, allowing you to still achieve a total of 170. This is what you call batsmanship," he further added.
“These players should have the ability to grind it out on tough wickets, and if things are going well and wickets aren’t falling, they can continue to play freely. There’s still a role for them [anchors] in T20 cricket,” Sammy concluded.
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