A disappointing T20 series for the West Indies

What were the key things we learnt from the 2-0 series defeat?

Before the series, I wrote about the questions that needed to be answered from West Indies’ T20 leg of their tour of New Zealand.

Following the two-nil series defeat it is unclear whether we are any wiser as to where the Men in Maroon stand as they move closer to the 2021 T20 World Cup.

That said here are some of the key learning points:

POLLARD IS STILL UNBELIEVABLE

First things first, Cricket West Indies have made one of the greatest decisions within their T20 history by making Kieron Pollard the leader of this team.

Coming into the tour off the back of successful CPL and IPL campaigns, Pollard started the tour with 75 from 37 balls to take the side from 58-4 at 4.5 overs to 180-7 from 16 overs at Eden Park.  He scored 64 from 75 runs in boundaries and shepherded his side to a very strong total.

At Mount Maunganui, Pollard again showed the power we all know he possess and even though the argument may be that the two venues are ideal for power hitting the consistency with which Pollard cleared the rope was nothing short of sensational. 

Most impressive was his innings management and with 531 games under his belt, he has bought this management to his captaincy and there should be no doubt that he is the man to lead the West Indies into the next two World Cups.

THE DEPTH POOL ISN’T SO DEEP

For numerous reasons, the depth of the West Indies needed to be explored during this tour. Most exposed was the bowling and some of the Windies’ bowlers will be sweating as to whether they have played themselves out of future selection.

Regardless of the small venues in New Zealand both Phil Simmons and Kieron Pollard would have been disappointed by the failure of the bowlers to get the basics right.

The likes of Keemo Paul, Kesrick Williams and Fabian Allen all disappointed with the ball. Paul at one point bowling a 10 ball over which included 4 no balls, a series of error which practically handed New Zealand the first win of the series.

The stocks of Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell would have risen once again in their absence but these guys still won’t fill the gap of the PowerPlay bowler that the Windies are calling out for to support Sheldon Cottrell.

Oshane Thomas had a good crack with 2-13 in the PowerPlay at Eden Park but he will need to work on his consistency as he moves forward. Captain Pollard looked to use Cottrell and Thomas for 2 each and then fill the other 2 overs with the spin of Allen or Kyle Mayers and then experimented with Keemo Paul; however he found more questions than answers.

Ideally, what the West Indies need in the build up to the T20 World Cup is to bring consistency to Oshane Thomas’ game and then develop another seamer to be able to bowl in the PowerPlay. It is clear Fabian Allen can fill one over in this phase but the need for variety in this phase could be a game changer going forward.

Sub Plot: Given the wayward nature of the bowling, it allowed Shimron Hetmyer’s form to slip under the radar. No one is doubting the talent of Hetmyer but his returns in T20I cricket for the West Indies don’t match his performances in franchise cricket. While he hasn’t exactly raised the roof in these tournaments he hasn’t performed badly either. The Windies will need more from Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran going forward as they look to build their side around them.

OPENER POSITIONS REMAIN WITH THE BIG THREE

With Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis missing the tour, you would have thought this was Brandon King’s time to cement his place at the top of this West Indian batting order.

Santokie wrote about this exact situation recently for The Cricketer

A return of 24 runs from 3 innings was less than ideal and should Simmons, Lewis or even the likes of Chris Gayle or Sunil Narine become available to open the batting – they will surely leapfrog King.

It may be argued that even Andre Fletcher has overtaken King and his 34 from 14 balls in the first game really threw the cat amongst the pigeons but with the aforementioned Simmons and Lewis coming back into the fold and Nicholas Pooran having the gloves – his route into the side seems very tough despite an okay showing this tour.

NOTHING ABOUT HAYDEN WALSH JR BUT NARINE’S ACTION MUST SURVIVE

The size of the grounds in NZ meant we didn’t find anything out about Hayden Walsh Jr. What this probably tells everyone is that Sunil Narine is still at the forefront of Kieron Pollard and Phil Simmons’ mind and they are happy to use the versatility of Fabian Allen as the second spinner.

What this will mean is that the mystery spin of Narine will trump the wrist spin of Walsh Jr but it also means that there will be added pressure on Narine’s action being clean for the next couple years leading into both World Cups.

If Narine’s action doesn’t make either World Cup, then the Windies may rue the chances missed to play Walsh Jr and that could really hurt them given the nature of Indian pitches and the size of grounds being bigger in Australia.

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