West Indies Find New Batting Blue Print as Pooran and Hope Go Big

West Indies are normally known for their big hitting and intentful batting while they also tend to play more dot balls then desired. With Daren Sammy in the backroom, more intent with the bat has been called upon with West Indies looking to go hard through the fifty overs.

The last couple years, although results may show otherwise, have evidently helped show that the West Indies batting line-up has done a decent job. Against Nepal, Shai Hope, criticized for his strike-rate in the past past, breezed to another century, his 15th, and 9th since the 2023 World Cup. Barring him, West Indies have had nine centuries from the other players combined in the same period.

The blue print layed has been rather simple. Attack around Shai Hope while Shai Hope plays through. In the past, Hope’s strike rate raised questions on this method but with Hope improving with his strike rotation, runs have been flowing rather better. Holding one end, West Indies found an accelerator at the other end as Nicholas Pooran started smoking the ball.

Pooran taking bowlers on is a common sight in franchise cricket, but seeing him do the same for West Indies is not as common a sight. His hundred was only the second of his career and the first in the period after the 2019 World Cup. Together though, with two players who are pretty experienced in this line-up, given Pooran was the skipper of the side, West Indies went from 55-3 in 16 overs to 339. In the past, West Indies stocked their line-up with big hitters and all-rounders who would keep going even if wickets went down.

Here, the West Indies have looked to do the same in this tournament and against Nepal a long partnership helped them get to a really good total. While Pooran’s innings was special, Shai Hope’s consistency is turning out to be a really strong aspect in their batting line-up. Since he moved to number four, Hope has consistently been getting starts, holding an end to himself allowing Pooran, Powell and Holder to hammer in the end.

The same happened against Nepal with Pooran delivering and although it was an associate team, the innings did give the West Indies what seems like a pretty decent strategy as they continue to build an innings and a team around Shai Hope.