Rovman Powell believes that his West Indies team is facing an underdone New Zealand at the ideal time after their crushing defeat against Afghanistan.
Both teams had to cut their preparations short at the Brian Lara Stadium ahead of Wednesday night’s Group C match.
New Zealand had to leave their training session early as the practice strips were not up to code. The West Indies’ practice was completely cancelled due to a downpour.
Trinidad’s rainy season has officially begun. There is now a yellow-level weather advisory as of Tuesday morning. This means the bad rain could continue and that there is a high possibility of thunderstorms.
There was a brief downpour during New Zealand’s practice while the pitch was uncovered, followed by lengthier, heavier ones after they left. Wednesday night’s forecast seems considerably better.
West Indies’ Strategy Against New Zealand
“We had that downpour for about five minutes, and the practice wickets got wet out in the middle,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead explained to the Times of India after returning to the team hotel in Port-of-Spain. “It’s clear the main focus was getting the match wicket covered, but when we returned to use them, they were quite slippery to stand on.”
New Zealand briefly attempted to use the practice strips but quickly gave up. “The balls were going through the top of the surface, so we had a good fielding training instead,” Stead explained.
It was not considered appropriate to get anything out of the nets. The boys quickly realized there wasn’t going to be much point in it.
Following an 84-run setback to Afghanistan in their opening encounter on Friday, a loss to the West Indies will effectively, if not mathematically, eliminate New Zealand from the World Cup. Powell, the West Indies captain, feels his team can take advantage of New Zealand’s sluggish start in the tournament.
Powell also hinted at a low-scoring contest. “With the rain around, that can play a part in the scores,” he stated. “If the groundsmen do not have enough time to prepare acceptable wickets, the rain complicates matters. You don’t have enough time to sunbathe. Hopefully, tomorrow’s weather will be great.”
Importance of Net Run Rate for New Zealand
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New Zealand‘s management has stated unequivocally that they anticipate all 15 players on their roster to play in the World Cup, and Ish Sodhi is due to join the team on Wednesday night. Stead believes that the West Indies’ probable weaknesses will greatly impact the selection. Therefore, James Neesham may also be considered.
“Every game, we try to go in and figure out what our best match-ups are,” Stead stated. “That is based on the data analysis and footage that we collect throughout our scouting. I would expect some modifications.”
He also hinted strongly at Sodhi’s inclusion, saying, “When we look at the West Indies team, [he is] a guy that matches up well against a number of their opposition players.”
New Zealand’s net run rate suffered significantly against Afghanistan, to the point that winning their remaining games – against the West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea – may not be enough to qualify for the Super 8s, depending on the outcome in Group C.
“We know what’s in front of us: we must win three games and win them well,” Stead stated. It’s important to maintain the group’s belief and trust in our ability to execute this.
About the Author
Zartash Zulfiqar is a passionate cricket writer whose love for cricket shines through in every word. From match analyses to player profiles, she delivers insightful commentary that resonates with fans worldwide. Stay tuned for the latest from the world of cricket, brought to you by Zartash.
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