SERIES REVIEW
Follow UsIn the midst of this edition of the Indian Premier League, Kieron Pollard announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 34. The decision shocked the cricketing fraternity as Pollard was at the peak of his fitness and had also performed for West Indies in the recent past.
However, their horrendous outing in the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates a couple of months back, where the reigning champions failed to qualify for the semi-finals, might be the tip of the iceberg for the veteran all-arounder in making this tough decision.
With a plethora of players like Chirs Gayle, Dwyane Bravo and Pollard budding adieu to international cricket since the mega event, West Indies were in a transition phase with Nicholas Pooran at the helm.
Over the years, West Indies have been a force to reckon with, especially in the shortest format of the game, and these three matches showcased their skills as they began rebuilding the team ahead of the World Cup Down Under later this year.
After Pollard's sudden decision that left Windies cricket high and dry, the three-match series against Bangladesh at home was the first real test for them. While the first encounter was abandoned due to relentless showers, West Indies, under the astute leadership of Pooran, produced an emphatic performance to outclass the visiting side in all three facets of the game and register a 2-0 win.
On the other hand, Bangladesh have plenty to ponder as they are yet to record a win in this multi-format series. They were dismal in the Test series and lost 2-0 before stepping onto the field for the shortest format with the hope of reviving their fortunes.
With minimal contribution from the senior players, Bangladesh struggled to get going away from home and will be itching to turn things around in a couple of days before the fifty-over format.
It is fair to say that the two sides are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and with an eye on the World Cup, here are some of the key talking points from the series.
Nicholas Pooran leading from the front
One of the most consistent players in the Windies batting unit, Pooran has shouldered the bulk of the responsibility of the side in the last couple of seasons.
The southpaw was in decent form in the recently concluded Indian Premier League and showcased his array of strokes in the two matches. In the second outing, he scored 34 off 30 deliveries to contribute to West Indies' massive first inning total of 193 for the loss of five wickets.
However, the highlight of the series was his brutal strokeplay in the final clash as he smashed the bowlers all around the park to score an unbeaten 74 off 39 deliveries studded with five boundaries and five huge sixes to guide the home team in a 164-run chase.
In the nine innings he has batted as the captain of the side, Pooran has scored 312 runs at an average of 44.57 and a strike rate of 143.1 compared to 989 runs in 43 innings at an average of 26.73 and a strike rate of 127.5.
With the added responsibility of leading, Pooran has excelled with the bat and behind the stumps to reinforce the belief in Windies cricket, especially in the format they revolutionised.
Mustafizur Rahman's dismal outing
While Pooran was the glue to the West Indies batting unit, the left-handed batter was barely challenged by Bangladesh's bowlers in the two innings. The visiting side expected a lot more from their premier speedster, Mustafizur Rahman, to create inroads in the opposition top-order.
However, the left-arm pacer has endured an indifferent form in matches away from home and failed to have any impact on the outcome of the game.
In the 16 outings away since 2019, he has managed to scalp only 12 wickets at a strike rate of 27.3 and conceded at an economy rate of 9.6 runs per over compared to 19 innings at home with 27 wickets and a strike rate of 14.3 and an economy rate of 6 runs per over.
His minimal returns will be a significant area of concern for Bangladesh heading into the World Cup as the pitches in Australia are conducive for pacers, and Mustafizur will be the lethal option for the Tigers in their bid to surprise top-notch teams.
Rovman Powell aces the finisher's role
Over the past decade, Pollard has been the finisher in the sides he had featured, and West Indies was no different. While Windies would miss his experience of playing in various franchise cricket and guiding the team in crucial situations, the team would also feel his vacuum down the order.
The right-handed batter has been one of the best finishers in this format, and now the Windies have handed over the baton to Rovman Powell, who has performed exceedingly well in his new role.
While he is still early into his craft, the right-handed batter smashed 61 off 28 deliveries with two boundaries and six maximums in the second game after stepping onto the field at five with only seven overs to spare.
The 28-year-old was at his brutal best as he displayed strokes all around the ground en route to his half-century to propel the home team to 193 runs in the first innings.
At the moment, West Indies look like a lethal side, especially with the bat, and the addition of Andre Russell to the mix will be a nightmare for the opposition bowling unit.
With West Indies finally regaining their mojo in this format, the upcoming World Cup promises to be a blockbuster on the fast and bouncy wickets in Australia.
