AFTER a listless display in their first game, the West Indies cricket team came out with fire in their bellies to wipe away the Ugandans in their second.
Uganda had never played against a highly-rated International Cricket Council team before they met Zimbabwe in order to qualify for this T20 World Cup.
The West Indies, a team with vast knowledge and experience of what it’s like to enjoy the euphoria of victory, having won two T20 World Cup tournaments before, together with a history of success and failure in all formats of the sport, would be easily the strongest international opponent they had encountered.
[caption id="attachment_1089213" align="alignnone" width="768"] West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein bowls against Uganda during an ICC Men's T20 World Cup match at Guyana National Stadium in Providence, Guyana on June 8, 2024. AP PHOTO -[/caption]
The West Indians, on the other hand, approached their first game against Papua New Guinea with little passion, plus a casual attitude which does not augur well for international players. As a professional sportsman one should treat every encounter with an opponent, in all contests, regardless of their perceived strength or weaknesses, as a game of the utmost importance and expend every effort to win by all means.
However, WI batsmen did not show the prowess expected of them to score the under-par total of the Papuans of 136 for eight. PNG has no ratings; hence they were expected to be bowled out within 20 overs. So to say their score was surprising is putting it mildly. Indeed, what made it more puzzling was the nonchalance with which the chase was pursued.
At eight for one, the replay screen revealed that Nicholas Pooran, WI number three batsman, and one on whom they expect to be able to depend, not yet off the mark, was struck on the front leg, shin-high and he looked plumb in front.
Thankfully for the WI and Pooran, after a loud shout for lbw, the umpire’s verdict was negative. The replay showed he was palpably lbw, but there was no review, and the left-handed batsman went on to make an unconvincing 27 before he was out. Roston Chase has proven in the last couple of years that he is very adept at the limited-overs game, and his adjustment to the T20 version is even more commendable, as he shows an intelligent cricket brain. He must be a captain’s delight to have on the team. His batting outlook is sensible, his bowling is clever and his fielding is nimble.
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I must honestly say that I never believed he would be able to adapt to the T20 format, as he seemed too limited a batsman, too straightforward a bowler and slow as a fielder. What a remarkable change he has made to his cricket, which is entirely due to his cricket acumen.
The mental alertness he has shown could be a boost to quite a few more West Indian cricketers. Cricket, being a game of mentality and how it is used, can change a mediocre cricketer into a first-class one and ensure that, with discipline added, one ca
