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Australia and the West Indies both made clinical starts to their World Cup campaigns, with the Aussies rolling over Afghanistan and the Windies pummelling Pakistan.
Just a few months ago both of these teams were an utter mess in ODIs, and were long odds to have a major impact at this tournament.
Now, however, both of these talented sides have built some momentum. The battle between Australia’s star quicks and the Windies’ brutal ball strikers is an
enticing one.
Key strategy: How will Australia limit the damage done by the Windies in the Power Play?
In their past two matches, against Pakistan and New Zealand, the Windies belted 72 and 91 respectively from the 10-over period of the first Power Play. Following the example of the world’s number one ODI side England, the Windies are backing their array of hitters to bully opposition attacks, rather than seeking to construct innings in a more traditional fashion. This all starts with veteran slugger Chris Gayle.
The 39-year-old opener has always preferred hammering boundaries over nudging singles. But now his agility is so limited that he’s become even more focused on scoring in blocks of four and six. Australia may consider opening with a spinner to try to push Gayle out of his comfort zone. But they may also believe the 150kmh pace of star quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins can Test the reflexes of the ageing Gayle.
Regardless, I expect to see Australia employ spin at some point during the first Power Play.
Key Australian: Adam Zampa
As I noted in a recent article, the West Indies dynamic batting line-up has been much less effective against spin in their nine matches over the past month Due to the Windies deep batting line-up, and the power throughout their order, maintaining pressure through the middle overs of their innings is key to limiting the carnage they create.
If the Windies are allowed to traverse this period without losing many wickets they will inflict serious damage in the final 10 to 15 overs. That’s why Adam Zampa will be so important in this match. The leg spinner may leak runs but he’s also a natural strike bowler.
Zampa is the second-highest wicket taker worldwide in ODIs this year, with 21 wickets from 12 matches. He is not afraid to toss the ball up to entice big shots, or to try to confuse the batsmen with his excellent googly. Zampa will go for runs today, that seems very likely. But he also shapes as Australia’s biggest weapon through the middle overs.
Key West Indian: Andre Russell
Fresh from winning the MVP award in the Indian Premier League, Russell is in the form of his life. The hyper- aggressive all-rounder was extraordinarily destructive with the blade in the IPL, making 510 runs at 57 with a scarcely-believable strike rate of 205. To emphasise how incredible that strike rate is, consider that it equates to a run rate of 12.3 runs per over.
Russell is capable of tearing apart any bowler in the world, and can do some from ball one – he needs no time to get his eye in. He is one of the very, very few batsmen in the world for whom racing to 50 from 30 balls is run of the mill, no big deal. If the Windies can set a platform from which Russell can explode in the final 15 overs then the Aussie
bowlers will be in peril.
Not to mention that Russell is also a skilful and forceful pace bowler who took 2-4 from three overs in the World Cup win over Pakistan. With the ball he has a nasty bouncer and a nice array of changeups.
(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Wildcard players:
West Indies: Oshane Thomas
Bowling at 145kmh in Australia’s World Cup opener, Afghan quick Hamid Hassan caused problems for both of the Aussie openers. So burly Windies quick Oshane Thomas, fresh from taking 4-27 against Pakistan, should fancy his chances of exploiting the new ball against Australia with his sharp bounce and ability to hit 150kmh.
At 22 years old Thomas is very raw and has a tendency to be expensive. But he also can also produce the kind of searing deliveries which can defeat any batsman in the world.
Australia: Usman Khawaja
The public focus on Australia’s batting line-up in this World Cup has rarely veered away from star duo David Warner and Steve Smith, and the enigmatic Glenn Maxwell. Yet it is their lower-profile team mate Usman Khawaja who is the leading runscorer worldwide in ODIs in 2019. The left hander has made 784 runs at 56 in ODIs this year and should match up well against the West Indian attack. Khawaja is a wonderful player of fast bowling and the Windies attack is built around pace.
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