West Indies beat Pakistan in ODI series after 34 Years – Key issues they must address to secure direct qualification for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.
It’s hard to fathom the fact that the champions of the first two editions of the ODI World Cup, the West Indies didn’t feature in the last 2023 edition. That’s their shameful performance in the last few years. Now with 20 months to go before the cut-off date for the next 50-over World Cup, the Shai Hope-led side has just one aim before their eyes.
The new era has begun positively as they earned their first ODI series victory against Pakistan after 34 years. After losing the opening clash in Trinidad, they made a superb comeback during the second encounter. In the third fixture, the tourists had no answer against the fiery spell of Jayden Seales’ six-wicket haul.
The Caribbean side has done well in this format in patches. They were whitewashed during the away series against England. However, they won two successive series at home against Bangladesh and the 2019 World Cup winners.
Let’s break down the West Indies’ ODI batting and bowling departments’ strengths and weaknesses
Shai Hope holds key to success for West Indies’ batting
The ODI opening stands have been the elephant in the room for the West Indies. During the three-match home series against Pakistan, their highest opening partnership was of 16 runs. It has always put pressure on their number three to face the new ball.
Since the start of 2023, their best opening stands in ODIs have come between Brandon King and Johnson Charles. They partnered each other for 330 runs in six innings at an average of 55 with two century stands. But due to Charles’ injury, they had to bring Evin Lewis into the side. Lewis and King have an average of 31.61 for 411 runs in 13 innings for the opening stands in this period.
Keacy Carty had a poor series against Pakistan with 63 runs in three innings. However, he has been sensational with the bat at number three for the two-time World champions. Since the beginning of 2023, Carty has been the fifth leading run-getter in the format with 1110 runs in 23 innings at number three. He also carries a strong average of 52.85. The right-handed batter has also smashed four centuries and as many fifties in this period.
Meanwhile, the glue of their batting unit is their captain. Shai Hope is West Indies’ leading ODI run getter since January 2023. The wicket-keeper batter has cracked 1571 runs in 38 innings at an average of 54.17, scoring five centuries and eight fifties.
Since his debut, the Barbados-born has celebrated the third most ODI centuries (18), only behind Virat Kohli (25) and Rohit Sharma (22). In that same period, he has the third most ODI runs (5879) after Kohli and Rohit. It’s an incredible record for the batter. Hope is now only behind Brian Lara (19) and Chris Gayle (25) in the list of most ODI centuries for the West Indies.
Sherfane Rutherford has carried an ODI strike rate of 104.59 for 637 runs in 14 innings. If the Southpaw can continue his fiery batting at number six, then it only helps the Caribbean side to go ahead. Along with that, they have the options of Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, and Juston Greaves. Three of these players can also offer a few overs with the ball.
Jason Holder has not played List-A cricket since the last World Cup qualifier game against Scotland in Harare two years ago. That could be a concern for the side. After Andre Russell’s retirement, the 33-year-old can inject some experience in the side with his pace bowling all-round skills.
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West Indies’ pace bowling looks sharp under Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales
One of the brightest aspects of the West Indies side in the 50-over format is their bowling performances. Since the start of 2023, Alzarri Joseph has been their leading wicket-taker with 46 scalps in 26 innings at an average of 28.28. However, he could work on his expensive economy of over six in more than 213 overs.
Jayden Seales is the new star of their pace bowling unit. During the third ODI against Pakistan, the Trinidad-born picked up 6/18, which is the third-best ODI figures for the West Indies. Since January 2023, the right-arm pacer picked up 27 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 26.18.
Gudakesh Motie has 30 ODI wickets in 26 innings at an average of 24.20 and an economy rate of under five. That should contribute hugely to their bowling performance in the middle overs. It’s just important for all of these bowlers to come up with the best plans to earn success for the West Indies.
Fourteen teams will feature in the next 50-over World Cup. Two of them, South Africa and Zimbabwe, have already qualified as co-hosts. However, Namibia won’t have the privilege, given that it’s limited only to ICC full members. Eight sides will qualify based on the ICC ODI rankings, excluding the hosts.
The West Indies are currently in the ninth position with 80 rating points. Qualification is based on the rankings till the cut-off date of March 31, 2027. That means Shai Hope’s army will need to continue the good work in the next one and a half years. Their next 50-over series will be in New Zealand in November this year.
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