Sir Viv Questions Windies’ World Cup Strategy

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By Neto Baptiste

Former West Indies captain and former national and Leeward Islands player, Sir Vivian Richards, is disappointed with what he believes is a lack of planning by the senior team’s current management and coaching staff at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup in England.

The Antiguan’s statement follows the team’s seven-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the championships on Monday, their third loss in five matches as they sit seventh in the 10-team standings with just three points.

“There didn’t seem to be any planning where if this particular plan isn’t going to work then what about the plan B, plan C or whatever the case is. We are too one dimensional; it worked against Pakistan and when you’re coming up against other teams, sometimes it may not work and there just didn’t seem to be any particular planning or any particular strategy or any intensity of West Indies wanting to win that match and defend that particular total,” he said.

West Indies piled up 321 for eight off their 50 overs at Somerset County Ground against Bangladesh on Monday, with Shai Hope falling short of his seventh One-Day International hundred with a top score of 96.

Left-handed opener Evin Lewis struck a breezy 70 off 67 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer entertained with the joint-fastest half-century of the tournament when he carved out exactly 50 off 26 balls.

Captain Jason Holder hit out at the death to notch a cameo 33 off 15 deliveries as West Indies managed to surpass the 300-run mark for the fifth time this year.

In reply, Shakib-al-Hasan unfurled a superb unbeaten 124 while Liton Das shone with 94 not out as Bangladesh made light of the target to win with 51 balls remaining.

Sir Viv said the regional squad showed very little aggression in trying to defend what he thought was a decent total.

“I personally thought it was a score they should have been looking to defend and there just wasn’t any intensity in the field. There were some half chances and especially with the two guys who batted so well for Bangladesh.

“When you have opportunities like that, you have to take them and there is one that I saw that really highlight West Indies trying to win that match was that bit when Sheldon Cottrell, that sharp bit of fielding and the release of the ball itself and running out … Tamim Iqbal,” the former player said.

West Indies will take on New Zealand on 22nd June before facing India five days later on the 27th. The regional squad will then face Sri Lanka on 1st July and will play Afghanistan three days later on 4th July.

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