#BTColumn – Windies need strategic plan for 2024 T20 World Cup

 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

By Tony McWatt

The West Indies’ recent triumphant 3-2 T20 series victory over visiting India was greeted with resounding joy throughout the Caribbean and even further beyond to the diaspora as well. The long-awaited series triumph over the much higher ICC-ranked opponent has also created hopes of the West Indies emerging as champions when the 2024 T20 World Cup is jointly staged in the Caribbean and USA next June. 

In my opinion, the fulfillment of any such lofty ambition must, however, be prefaced by the implementation and near-flawless execution of a meticulously crafted five-point strategic plan. The identifiable components of which would be a) the selection of the best available 15-member squad, as well as the match-by-match strategic deployment of the most suitable final playing XI dependent upon the opponent and playing conditions; b) the development of specific strategies to be executed at various stages of matches being played by both the team’s batters and bowlers; c) the squad’s engagement in a four-week army-type boot camp a few weeks before the start of the tournament; d) the preparation of wickets that would allow the West Indies team to play its matches on surfaces that are ideally suited to its batting and bowling strengths and finally e) for all West Indies matches to be played in front of massive home crowd spectators. 

With less than a year to go before the T20 World Cup officially gets underway, the selectors, including head coach Daren Sammy should by now have a good idea as to the likely composition of the West Indies World Cup squad. Barring injury or unforeseen unavailability captain Rovman Powell will most likely be joined by Brandon King, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmeyer, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy. That’s arguably 11 ‘sure spots’ on the required 15-member squad with the remaining four spots still up for grabs.

With the 15-member squad having been selected, the very next requirement will be for the Daren Sammy-headed coaching staff and captain Powell to develop the types of plans and strategies for the West Indies to deploy against their respective opponents. The successful execution of which would be geared towards their on-field triumphs. These will include choices of personnel for the final playing XI as well as the identification of specified roles for each chosen player. Who will best partner Brandon King at the top of the batting order should be one of the primary questions. So too should be the choice for the important number three spot.

In terms of the overall planning, decisions will also have to be made about the West Indies adopted approach at various stages of their batting innings. Such key stages would include the opening power play, the middle phase (overs 7 to 14), as well as the 15-20 death overs. Which batters should ideally be at the crease during each of those phases? What should be the decided approach, aggression or wicket-conservation?

Conversely, when the West Indies are in the field similar questions as to which bowlers should be used at various stages of the opponent’s innings will also prevail. Which two bowlers will open the attack, which combinations should be best used in the middle overs and even more importantly at the death?

England are set to tour the West Indies for white ball matches this coming December. Three T20 matches are also included on the schedule for next year’s January 16 to February 13 visit to Australia. The West Indies will, therefore, have several dress rehearsals to sample the effectiveness of their final XI compositions and match-winning plans. By the end of the Australian tour, therefore, all the kinks should have been well ironed out with the team functioning at peak efficiency and firing on all cylinders like a well-oiled machine.

Towards the achievement of its optimum efficiency, however, the squad should also be required to acquire maximum fitness. A pre-tournament military-styled boot camp to be held sometime during March and May should, therefore, become a key component of the strategic plan.   

The primary objectives of the camp would be for the squad to spend time bonding and gelling as a cohesive unit. The camp would also be geared towards allowing every member to achieve their optimum fitness levels. By the time the camp is over the team should also have become athletic in their ground fielding, accurate in their throwing, and competent in catching. When and if the suggested camp takes place may, however, be wholly dependent upon how many members of the chosen squad are also involved in next year’s Indian Premier League.

Component number four of the strategic plan will involve the selectors and Sammy engaging in consultations and conversations with the curators of the respective tournament venues to ensure that the team plays all its matches on pitches that are most suitable to its strengths. The West Indies batters will want to have pitches where deliveries come through consistently at good heights and pace that will allow them full freedom to play their attacking shots. Similarly, the bowlers especially the seamers will want to be operating on tracks offering good carry with some degree of sideways movement also available. The spinners in turn will be hoping for tracks that will provide bounce and grip.

The fifth and final component must be for the West Indies team to be playing every one of its World Cup matches, hopefully from the opening day right through to the final, in front of stadiums packed with full capacity crowds comprised of at least 75-80 per cent of its supporters. It would be even better if supporters were clad in maroon and yellow shirts developed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) specifically for the World Cup and sold at a significantly discounted and affordable price.

CWI should also consider appointing a Caribbean-born individual outside of its current administrative structure to oversee all aspects of the 2024 World Cup. The tourism ministries and boards of the respective hosting venues should also be invited to be fully involved, as a means of ensuring that as many diaspora-based Caribbean cricket fans, particularly those close by in Canada and the USA, are encouraged to “cum back home fuh de cricket!”  

A very wise individual once suggested a very long time ago that the longest journey begins with a single step. The journey towards the West Indies once again becoming T20 World Cup champions for an unprecedented third time and ideally on home soil, is certainly one worth taking.

About The Writer:

Guyana-born, Tony McWatt is the Publisher of both the WI Wickets and Wickets/monthly online cricket magazines that are respectively targeted toward Caribbean and Canadian readers. He is also the only son of the former Guyana and West Indies wicket-keeper batsman the late Clifford “Baby Boy” McWatt.