Follow UsAfter the scar of the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, West Indies had a point to prove, especially at home, starting with the 2024 T20 World Cup. But they had a tall task in their hand, with West Indies in Group C, the group of death alongside Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Two games into the World Cup, they already look like favourites to lift the coveted trophy, having decimated both Papua New Guinea and Uganda. It wasn’t just the win but the manner in which they won against Uganda that made them a force to reckon with.
One of the architects across both encounters was Akeal Hosein. The left-arm spinner has picked up six wickets across two games, with a bowling average of 3.33 - the second-lowest for any bowler in the competition, only behind Fazalhaq Farooqi.
“I think going into the third game, we (West Indies) definitely are force to reckon with we have been playing good cricket over the last 12 years and we have improved immensely in areas that we weren't the best at. So, I think no pressure we know once we stick together and we do everything together at the end of the day we'll definitely be on the positive side coming out on the winning side,” Hosein said in the post-match press conference.
Hosein’s strongest suit has been to bowl at a length, and it was evident in the clash against Uganda, where he finished with figures of 5/11. Nearly 80% of his deliveries on the day were on that length, which troubled the Ugandan batters.
“To be honest I'm quite happy with the performance as we've been seeing so far in the tournament no one is to be taken lightly they've all been performing well. Yes, it's not the strongest outfit but today I thought I'd judge my spell mainly on the lengths that I bowl, and I know once I execute those lengths it'll be tough for most batsmen to play,” he added.
Since the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2022, Hosein has been one of the driving forces behind the Windies' resurgence, with 20 wickets, averaging 28.3, with a five-wicket haul. What has made the left-arm spinner so successful? It is his ability to read the conditions quickly.
“I think it's just about reading the conditions and trying to adapt as quickly as possible. I think it's a pitch where if you really go searching, sometimes you can miss your length. Sometimes you may think it's an easier position, so they might just lay down and roll over. But at the end of the day, you still have to put in the hard work, you still have to execute and go about your game the right way and then you can get the results,” he added.
West Indies have also been bolstered by the return of Andre Russell, who has proven to be a clutch player already in the tournament. Across the two games, Russell has scored 30* and 15, while still picking up three wickets with the ball. With Daren Sammy at the helm, they have already shown to have a stable core, with a real opportunity of lifting the coveted trophy for the third time.
“And to have guys like Andre Russell and you know head coach Darren Sammy there guys who've been there done that, it's an extra boost for us. It's a confidence booster and you can never beat experience going into these sort of tournaments guys who've been there done that you're always a step ahead of oppositions who may not have this sort of people in their camp so it's a boost for us.”
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