Hope: Morale still high as West Indies face ODI challenge

Despite a string of bad results across all formats in recent times, West Indies white-ball captain Shai Hope has given the assurance that spirits within the team are still high as they prepare to face Pakistan in a three-match One-Day International series beginning on Friday at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium.

The tenth-ranked West Indies will face a daunting task against a Pakistan team that is not only ranked six places higher, but they have not defeated their opponents in a bilateral ODI series since 1991, when they prevailed 2-0.

In their two preceding ODI series, the regional side was thumped 3-0 by England and drew 1-1 with Ireland after the second match was rained out.

The West Indies have lost three straight series: 3-0 and 5-0 to Australia in their Test and T20I series, respectively, and 2-1 to Pakistan in the recently concluded T20I series.

However, Hope has maintained that the team is anxiously looking forward to the Pakistan series with high hopes.

“There is a positive mood and vibe amongst the dressing room, especially with some of the recent results that we’ve had in different formats.

“I think the guys are really looking forward to this one, especially the core group of ODI guys who we’ve had for the last two years or so. We’ve shown that success, especially in our own home conditions, so it’s something that we’re definitely looking forward to,” Hope said in an interview on Thursday.

“Tomorrow starts another journey, some history that we can create as well, so a lot to look forward to from a leadership standpoint and certainly from the guys who have been around for quite some time.”

With Pakistan expected to test the Windies’ batsmen with spin, Hope praised the team’s batters for their improved performances in recent outings.

However, he admitted that while there had been some progression, he said there was some concern in the bowling department.

“We must commend the work that the batters have been doing for the last couple of seasons, and it is important that we highlight those good performances as well…

“It’s good to see the way [Sherfane] Rutherford has been very consistent, I think he scored five or six consecutive 50-plus scores over a period of time, Keacy [Carty], who pretty much averages 50 in ODI cricket, has been showing that constant progression,” Hope pointed out.

“We’re also getting a lot more starts from the openers. Evin [Lewis] came back in and showcased his skill and class, Brandon [King] is doing his thing at the top, so I think our top six have been providing that stability that we’ve been seeking for a little bit of time, so it’s just for us to continue learning and growing as a batting group…

“Our bowling is something that is a slight bit of a concern, but having said that, we have been showing progression as well. There are areas that we have been improving on, and it’s just for us to keep getting better.

“This is not an overnight fix, it’s something we have identified previously in terms of the stats, the planning, the strategy that we need to go into each series, so I think we’re certainly getting there, but it’s nice to see the batting really coming to the fore,” the skipper added. (CMC)