Dear Editor: T20I series win over India shows WI have “talent, tools and right people”

“[…] We were two nil up against India, and left it to the last game to seal the series. I see self-confidence, those guys are holding their nerve, and backing themselves, despite being under threat.

“Same with England not too long ago, hopefully we can repeat that later this year.

“[…] West Indies cricket has shown that they have the talent, tools and the right people to return us to the top of the world…”

West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran swats away a delivery during T20I action against India.
Copyright: AP

The following Letter to the Editor on West Indies 3-2 T20 International series win over India was submitted to Wired868 by Kendell Karan of Chaguanas:


Thank you, West Indies, you guys owed us that victory! It’s been a tough couple of months for the region.

Now some people would say it was expected because Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and maybe Jasprit Bumrah weren’t playing—that it was a second-string Indian team, or they’re just testing their bench strength.

Nonsense, that Indian team was a full-strength squad, in fact it was an IPL best eleven. A lot of fans and commentators recently, post our failure to qualify for the ODI World Cup, were and still are claiming that the IPL has destroyed West Indies Cricket.

Photo: West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer on the go for the Rajasthan Royals during the 2022 IPL season.
(Copyright IPL)

I disagree, the IPL has helped West Indies Cricket. The West Indies just won a T20 series against the best T20 nation in the world. Like being beaten by South Africa in the second T20 with that crazy score line, and still winning the series away from home.

We were two nil up against India, and left it to the last game to seal the series. I see self-confidence, those guys are holding their nerve, and backing themselves, despite being under threat.

Same with England not too long ago, hopefully we can repeat that later this year.

Photo: West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein (right) celebrates the wicket of England batsman Jason Roy with wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran during the fifth T20I at Kensington Oval, Barbados on 30 January 2022.
(via CWI Media)

Not being in the ODI World Cup this year, means that we are favourites going into the T20 World Cup next year. I agree with Daren Sammy, we need to get that Rashid Khan/ Sunil Narine/ Kuldeep Yadav player in our playing eleven to add depth to our bowling unit—maybe Kevin Sinclair or Yannic Cariah.

West Indies cricket has shown that they have the talent, tools and the right people to return us to the top of the world.

Above all, this series victory proves that we don’t need Keith Rowley for anything. Daren Sammy has shown that our mentality is the missing puzzle in our cricket.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy (centre, foreground) speaks to his team during the Cricket World Cup Qualifying tournament in Harare, Zimbabwe.
(Copyright ICC/ Getty)

WI players have a crucial six months ahead to do some deep introspection and re-invent themselves to bring glory to the region.

Well done fellas, WI move on!

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3 comments

  1. Well said! Too many arm chair critics and naysayers. Whether we have administrative or selector issues are other matters for another day. Congrats to Darren Sammy and the leadership team!

  2. Wow! Another “WI cricket is turning the corner” commentary oozing with so much ‘we’ve reached the promised land’ optimism. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! Let’s temper this over joyous euphoria with caution. The players are not the root problem but the management and developmental program of all formats are our bane. Not dealing with that is tantamount to being under Sisyphus’ curse – exulting in our players’ momentary victories when there are systemic management issues that are strangling potential permanent progress.

  3. Whose best interests are served by overstating the value of the win?
    “Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and maybe Jasprit Bumrah weren’t playing [but] that Indian team was a full-strength squad.”
    There are none so blind as those who will not see.

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