27th December 2017
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Following another heavy defeat in the 50-over format, Windies head coach Stuart Law has challenged his players to backup their words with actions. Windies suffered a 204-run loss on Saturday (December 23) against New Zealand which resulted in the hosts losing the series already with a game to spare.
At one stage, New Zealand were precariously placed at 186 for 5 in the second game before the visitors allowed them to claw their way back into the contest. The hosts eventually made 325/6 and then went on to bowl out their opponents for just 121 inside 28 overs with Trent Boult wrecking them with a seven-wicket haul. Following the game, the coach had some honest conversations in the team meeting.
“As I said to them before they left (the ground) and I mentioned it, words are cheap, we’ve got to see actions now,” Law said. “There’s so much talent in this squad of people. I don’t think what we saw in the first two games is a fair indication of how well these guys can play.”
Law was particularly disappointed with the repeated mistakes committed by the batsmen and asked them to play a smart brand of cricket while being aggressive. “People talk about poor execution, but if it’s the same dismissal over and over again it rivals lunacy,” Law pointed out. “The batters know they made mistakes and we’re far better than what we showed. Hitting balls into the wind, it’s not very smart, particularly when we spoke about it leading into the game.
“We were trying to get 300 in 25 overs, when we had 50 overs to get it. Our guys want to be positive and play an attractive brand, but you can’t be reckless with it. You’ve got to be smart in the way you go about it,” he added.
With their ODI fortunes continuing to dwindle, Windies will have their task cut out in the World Cup qualifiers next year in March. Only the top two sides in the ten-team tournament will progress for the 2019 World Cup. Law has now stressed on the importance of identifying a group of players who can guide the side during the tournament next year in Zimbabwe. “We need to settle on a group of players to take us forward,” he remarked.
“The earlier we can come up with those names (for the World Cup qualifier) and come up with a plan for those guys leading up to that tournament (the better).”
For now, the immediate goal is to win the dead rubber on Boxing Day against New Zealand and Law is hopeful of veteran opener Chris Gayle being fully fit for the contest after missing the second ODI. “Fingers crossed, he should be right for the next one,” he said. “I saw him at breakfast and he seemed to have a little bit more life about him. It’s moving in the right direction.”Taken from CricBuzz
