NEW DEHLI: Injury-ravaged West Indies will have plenty to play for when they take on an inspired Netherlands in a crucial World Cup Group B match today.
Reeling under a seven-wicket defeat to South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Thursday, West Indies were dealt another blow when key all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.
Up against Netherlands next, the former world champions must overcome the twin setbacks if they are to put back their campaign on track.
“Bravo was in good form and getting injured is really sad,” said West Indies coach Ottis Gibson. “We can’t do much with these situations.
“We’re still a big team. We still believe we have got much left in us and we’re ready to prove that.”
Bravo’s injury could not have come at a worse time for a team which is already showing signs of disintegrating. West Indies were largely expected to lose to South Africa but it was the manner of their defeat that disturbed their fans.
“We had guys getting starts and none of us carried on,” said captain Darren Sammy. “That’s where we lost out. At 41 overs, we were 201 and our all-rounders were still there.”
The West Indies can hardly afford another slip-up when they take on the Dutch at the same venue which is coming off a 12-month suspension after a One-Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned in December 2009 due to a dangerous playing surface.
Meanwhile,the Netherlands proved their grit in their first match despite having just four professionals in the squad when they gave England a mighty scare.
Led by an attacking 110-ball 119 from Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, the team racked up 292 for six before England scraped to victory with just eight balls to spare.
Zimbabwe, Canada already looking to future
In Group A, Zimbabwe and Canada, whose World Cup ambitions were always modest, are already planning for the future despite having five more matches to play in the tournament. The two teams, who kicked off their campaigns with expected defeats, face each other in Nagpur today.
Canada, who lost by 210 runs to Sri Lanka, insist they have a bright future in the sport and believe they can even achieve Test status.
“Our plan is to develop the game and by 2015 or so to become a full member. Cricket is growing in Canada in a big way,” said Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake.
Zimbabwe lost their opening match when they slipped to a 91-run defeat to champions Australia in Ahmedabad, but they impressed with their spin bowling, which made up for their batting.
So Zimbabwe will again rely on spinners to keep the pressure on Canada after an eye-catching show by Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer against a strong Australian batting line-up.
Expectations fuelled from Darren
Darren Bravo will be delighted to be regarded as a Brian Lara clone if it helps West Indies defeat the Netherlands. Bravo, 22, showed sparks of brilliance in making 73 off 82 balls, studded with eight fours and a one-handed six, against South Africa. His knock, to some extent, justified the hype which concentrated on his likeness to record-breaking batsman Lara who happens to be his cousin. The stance, batting style, personality- the uncanny similarity between the two Trinidadians has fuelled expectations of Bravo leading a West Indies revival. Bravo himself is quite modest despite the comparison. “It’s a great feeling when you hear that,” says the left-hander. “It’s a privilege. Brian has always been my role model and I’d like to make a name for myself and perform for my country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2011.
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