ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Strongest Windies Playing XI

In their glory days, Windies were the first team to lift the Cricket World Cup twice in succession. Even in the 1983 edition, they were the favourites to take the coveted trophy home but the Indian team pulled off a miraculous victory to ruin the plan. Since then, men from the Caribbean have not managed to enter the final of the showpiece event.

The deteriorating standards of Windies cricket reached so low that their participation in the World Cup 2019 was not assured. Jason Holder and co had to come through the Qualifying event which was held in Zimbabwe. Windies were twice defeated by Afghanistan but they ultimately secured the tenth spot in the upcoming 2019 World Cup which will be played in England.

Since the Qualifying event, Windies has discovered a few shining stars in Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Oshane Thomas. T20 legend Chris Gayle will also be available for the selection. Although Windies will not be the favourites for a podium finish, the T20I champions will be a challenge for every team they meet. This is their best possible playing XI at this stage for the flagship event.

#1 Chris Gayle

The man requires no introduction. Cricket’s greatest traveller has played the game all around the Earth and will be hoping to have a sweet finish with a few heroics in his final World Cup. Chris Gayle lighted up the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by becoming the first man to score a double century in the World Cup. The left-handed marauder was involved in the record partnership of 372 runs with Marlon Samuels.

Chris Gayle is 39 years old and will be making himself available for the marquee event. Windies captain Jason Holder stated that if fit, Gayle is a certainty in the team. Gayle is a batsman who can win the matches for his side single-handedly. At the World Cup, he will have a chance of ending his ODI career with 10,000 runs.

#2 Evin Lewis

Chris Gayle’s partner at the other end should be the 27-year-old left-handed batsman from Trinidad, Evin Lewis. The upcoming batsman considers Gayle as his mentor and likes to deposit the ball in the stands. Lewis has already established his name in the International cricket with his two quick-fire T20I centuries. The left-hander scores daddy hundreds in ODIs as evident by his 176 against England.

Beginning with the stellar performances, Lewis has mellowed down with the run-scoring but with a few more months to go for the World Cup, he should be back with a bang.

#3 Shai Hope

The next prominent name in the batting department coming up from the Windies is that of Shai Hope. The right-handed batsman from Barbados has been a subject of countless puns which mark him as the only ‘Hope’ of Windies. The 25-year old is a temperamentally solid batsman who has the calibre of stitching together a long inning. Hope’s arsenal contains lofted shots as well which he has demonstrated amply in recent times.

Leading into the World Cup, Hope will bear the dual responsibility of batting at number three and keeping the wickets. He will be the batsman who will have to carry the team around and inspire big scores. Shai will be Windies’ biggest Hope.

#4 Darren Bravo

There was an overwhelming sense of nostalgia attached with the ‘little’ Bravo. Dwayne Bravo’s half-brother Darren Bravo is still a batsman from whom we expect a lot. The 29-year old hails from the same region as Brian Lara, bats in the same style as Brian Lara and even walks in the same fashion as Brian Lara. However, Bravo’s batting performance has fallen tremendously short of replicating the master. The World Cup 2019 campaign could be the saviour for Bravo and Windies.

The stylish left-hander was kept away from the national team after he had made a few controversial statements about the WICB president. Bravo returned in style with a spectacular outing in the 2018 Caribbean Premier League. He will now eye to hog the limelight in England.

#5 Shimron Hetmyer

The biggest sensation to come out from Windies in recent times is this exciting 22-year-old marauder Shimron Hetmyer. Hailing from Guyana, Hetmyer has already gained recognition from around the globe as his hefty IPL contract proves. The left-hander bats the same way in all the format still his best performances have been recorded in the 50-over games.

Shimron has played only 20 ODIs so far but has accumulated three hundreds and two fifties. His strike rate is almost 107. Hetmyer can rip apart any bowling attack on his day and will be a vital cog in Windies campaign.

#6 Marlon Samuels

The 37-year-old has almost two decades of experience in the One Day internationals. Samuels was involved in the record-breaking partnership of 372 runs with Chris Gayle in the 2015 World Cup. The Jamaican all-rounder has played over 200 ODIs and has totalled more than 5,000 runs. He is an useful darts-throwing bowler but his action has come under the scanner from time to time.

Samuels is certainly struggling to play at his best, but he can be the anchoring batsman in case of an early collapse.

#7 Andre Russell

Andre Russell is the biggest draw in any T20 League auction. He is a superstar in the shortest format of the game, and he will be seeking glory in the 50-over format now. The 30-year old Jamaican can clear any ground in the world and is more than a capable medium-pace bowler. Russell has encountered a few problems due to his notorious knee injury but he will be powering Windies sails if he can keep himself fit.

Russell has played in 52 ODIs for Windies where he has struck 54 sixes and 65 wickets. With him coming to bat in the lower middle-order, the opposition bowler can never rest. He is firepower personified.

#8 Jason Holder

Holder was only 23 when he was appointed as the national ODI captain. Since then the Barbados all-rounder has impressed one and all with his performances in all formats of the game. His Test cricket exploits have earned him plaudits from the best of the game. Now, Holder will seek respect in the 50-over format for his team.

In 85 ODIs, Holder has scored seven fifties while batting in the lower middle-order. At the same time, he has taken over 112 wickets as a gentle medium-pace bowler.

#9 Devendra Bishoo

This is the golden age for wrist spinners in cricket. Every team tries its best to include a quality leggie in their side. Windies will have the diminutive 33-year-old Devendra Bishoo as their spin spearhead in the English conditions. Despite his ODI debut in 2011, the spinner from Guyana has featured in only 37 ODIs.

In these appearances, Bishoo has collected 37 wickets at an impressive economy of 4.78. On the English pitches, a wrist spinner can be threatful as proved by the Indian pair. The Windies will hope for a similar performance from their leggie.

#10 Oshane Thomas

The Caribbean islands and a tearaway fast bowler is an equation that dates back to the ages. It makes the cricket exciting single-handedly. The most recent addition to the list is the 21-year-old fast bowler Oshane Thomas.

The Jamaican bowler made his name in the Caribbean Premier League where he hurled his 140-plus kmph yorkers to disturb the woodwork. Thomas earned the national call against India in October 2018 and impressed everyone instantly by troubling Indian stalwarts. Thomas will spearhead the Windies pace bowling department.

#11 Kemar Roach

A dangerous fast bowler who on his day can destroy any batting unit in the world. The 30-year-old from Barbados is capable of bowling consistently with the speeds over 145 kmph. Roach was the leading wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup which was played in India.

The right-hander also recorded a hattrick against the Netherlands in the competition thus becoming the first Windies bowler to achieve the feat in the World Cup.

Even at the age of 30, Roach still has the pace in him to unsettle the batsmen. He will be a potent weapon for Windies to unleash on the opposition.

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