ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – WEST INDIES

During the 1970’s and 1980’s the West Indies cricket team is the perfect synonym for Domination in cricket. But as the years passed by, the West Indies Cricket came across a Transition period and failed to hold on to the supremacy over other teams. West Indies won their first ICC tournament in 25 years when they were crowned as Champions in the 2004 edition of ICC Champions Trophy. Last year they won the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The West Indies go into the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 as firm favourites. Cricmatez.com brings you the Chances of the men from Caribbean in ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

West Indies History in the ICC Champions Trophy

ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – West Indies

Squad

Batsmen

• Devon  Smith
• Darren Bravo
• Ramnaresh Sarwan
• Johnson Charles

Wicket-Keepers

• Denesh Ramdin

All-Rounders

• Dwayne Bravo (Captain)
• Darren Sammy
• Chris Gayle
• Kieron Pollard
• Marlon Samuels

Bowlers

• Jason Holder
• Ravi Rampaul
• Kemar Roach
• Tino Best
• Sunil Narine

Strengths

• Presence of some big hitters who can change the course of the game in a quick time.
• Unsolved mystery of Sunil Narine.
• Presence of some quality All-Rounders brings the balance in the team.
• With the likes of bravo, Pollard, Sammy in their ranks, West Indies is a good fielding unit.
• All their players are in fine touch in the IPL.
• Winning the World T20 should give them more confidence.

Weakness

• Fast bowling seems to be a problem.
• Dwayne Bravo is inexperienced as a captain.
• Players like Samuels, Sarwan, Roach lack match practice.

ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – West Indies

X-Factor

Christopher Henry Gayle has been a nightmare for bowlers in the recent past. On his day, he can be a deadly threat to the opposition even in conditions suitable for bowling.In the ongoing IPL, Gayle has scored 680 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.81 and a strike-rate of 154.54 per 100 balls. Now a days he is spending more time in the crease and sets his eye in before unleashing the Gayle Storm against the opposition. All opposition captains would like to see this Jamaican taking a long walk back to the pavilion early in the innings.

Watch Out For

They did it as a team during the World T20. They are doing individually in the IPL. Psy’s Gangnam Style became a worldwide hit because of this West Indian team. All the Cricket fans around will be eagerly waiting to see the Bizarre Celebrations from the team after capturing a wicket and after winning the match. No matter which team you support, you  just cant hate the way West Indies players celebrate.

The batsmen around the World are yet to crack out the mystery in Sunil Narine‘s bowling. He has the ability to contain the flow of runs even during Power Play overs. In this year’s IPL, he has been the lone shining star in Kolkata Knight Riders team. He has captured 22 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 5.85 per over which is a good achievement in T20’s. He is the Unsung hero of the World T20 triumph. Now its time for Narine to prove his worth in ODI’s.

Possible Playing XI

Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo(c), Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin(w.k), Darren Sammy, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach/Tino Best, Sunil Narine.

Schedule

ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up Matches, 2013

Group Stages ( Group-B)

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