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Looking to open its account in this World Cup, the West Indies and the Netherlands face-off on Monday with contrasting levels of confidence.
In the normal course, the two-time champion would have brushed aside its rival without much ado. However, the crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa and the unavailability of all-rounder and vice-captain Dwayne Bravo for the rest of its campaign has surely laid the West Indies camp low at the moment.
Only a triumph against a hopeful Netherlands can make things better for Darren Sammy and his team.
Given the opposition's bowling resources, the batting line-up led by Chris Gayle must be hoping to come good and be better prepared for the tougher battles ahead.
Must-win situation
Unlike the Netherlands, the West Indies is tipped to qualify to take a quarterfinalist spot from this group.
That also makes this match a must-win situation for it. Given its unpredictable form, the West Indies can never be sure of its prospects against teams like India and South Africa but it will have to aim for the maximum against the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland for a place in the last-eight stage.
The West Indies will obviously have the advantage of knowing more about the playing surface. Stroke-makers at the top of the order will find it easier when the ball is still new and hard. Thereafter, much depends on the stroke-selection of the batsmen since the bounce varies progressively.
Chasing the target seems a natural choice of the captains in conditions where dew becomes a factor in the second half of the match. Therefore, the toss may well influence the course of the contest.
“We know what to expect from the pitch and also what we need to do. We will step out on Monday with a different attitude and a different frame of mind to do it for the fans back home,” was how Sammy chose to express his confidence on Sunday.
Injury woes
The World Cup plans of the West Indies have suffered serious blows soon after it arrived in India with injuries to in-form opener Adrian Barath and an improving wicketkeeper-batsman Carlton Baugh.
With all-rounder Bravo, too, making a pre-mature departure for home, one can well imagine Sammy's predicament.
Dutch rely on batting
The Netherlands — a combination including a coach who played in Australia, a skipper of Kiwi descent, and players born in South Africa, Pakistan, Namibia adding to the minority of home-grown talent — relies more on its batting. It clicked against England at Nagpur but the surface here may not be batsman-friendly. The Dutch team had played a few practice games in the Capital late last year as part of its World Cup preparation.
The dependable 30-year-old Ryan ten Doeschate — the latest catch for Kolkata Knight Riders — will have to deal with the added pressure of showing the way after his century against England. With the vast experience of limited-overs cricket in Australia, New Zealand and England, this Port Elizabeth-born all-rounder is an obvious inspiration for the team.
Though the batting line-up including Alexei Karvezee, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Grooth and skipper Borren has some depth, it remains to be seen how they cope with the situation after the bowling power-plays. This will surely be the key.
The worry for the Netherlands is its bowling resources. Lahore-born Adeel Raja, part of two World Cup squads, too, is back after serving a two-year suspension for a failed drug test.
This off-spinner may well get a game in place of medium-pacer Bernard Loots.
A victory for the circumspect West Indies will mean its first step towards the knockout stage. For the optimistic Netherlands, a triumph will be a historic one — a first against a Test-playing nation in the World Cup.
The teams (from):
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devon Thomas, Kieron Pollard, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Nikita Miller, Kirk Edwards and Andre Russell.
The Netherlands: Peter Borren (captain), Alexei Karvezee, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Ryan ten Doeschate, Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Grooth, Mudassar Bukhari, Pieter Seelaar, Bernard Loots, Berend Westdijk, Adeel Raja, Atse Buurman, Bradley Kruger and Eric Szwarczynski.
Umpires Amish Saheba and Simon Taufel Third umpire: Richard Kettleborough
Fourth umpire: Asoka de Silva
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe
Match starts at 2.30 p.m.
In the normal course, the two-time champion would have brushed aside its rival without much ado. However, the crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa and the unavailability of all-rounder and vice-captain Dwayne Bravo for the rest of its campaign has surely laid the West Indies camp low at the moment.
Only a triumph against a hopeful Netherlands can make things better for Darren Sammy and his team.
Given the opposition's bowling resources, the batting line-up led by Chris Gayle must be hoping to come good and be better prepared for the tougher battles ahead.
Must-win situation
Unlike the Netherlands, the West Indies is tipped to qualify to take a quarterfinalist spot from this group.
That also makes this match a must-win situation for it. Given its unpredictable form, the West Indies can never be sure of its prospects against teams like India and South Africa but it will have to aim for the maximum against the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland for a place in the last-eight stage.
The West Indies will obviously have the advantage of knowing more about the playing surface. Stroke-makers at the top of the order will find it easier when the ball is still new and hard. Thereafter, much depends on the stroke-selection of the batsmen since the bounce varies progressively.
Chasing the target seems a natural choice of the captains in conditions where dew becomes a factor in the second half of the match. Therefore, the toss may well influence the course of the contest.
“We know what to expect from the pitch and also what we need to do. We will step out on Monday with a different attitude and a different frame of mind to do it for the fans back home,” was how Sammy chose to express his confidence on Sunday.
Injury woes
The World Cup plans of the West Indies have suffered serious blows soon after it arrived in India with injuries to in-form opener Adrian Barath and an improving wicketkeeper-batsman Carlton Baugh.
With all-rounder Bravo, too, making a pre-mature departure for home, one can well imagine Sammy's predicament.
Dutch rely on batting
The Netherlands — a combination including a coach who played in Australia, a skipper of Kiwi descent, and players born in South Africa, Pakistan, Namibia adding to the minority of home-grown talent — relies more on its batting. It clicked against England at Nagpur but the surface here may not be batsman-friendly. The Dutch team had played a few practice games in the Capital late last year as part of its World Cup preparation.
The dependable 30-year-old Ryan ten Doeschate — the latest catch for Kolkata Knight Riders — will have to deal with the added pressure of showing the way after his century against England. With the vast experience of limited-overs cricket in Australia, New Zealand and England, this Port Elizabeth-born all-rounder is an obvious inspiration for the team.
Though the batting line-up including Alexei Karvezee, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Grooth and skipper Borren has some depth, it remains to be seen how they cope with the situation after the bowling power-plays. This will surely be the key.
The worry for the Netherlands is its bowling resources. Lahore-born Adeel Raja, part of two World Cup squads, too, is back after serving a two-year suspension for a failed drug test.
This off-spinner may well get a game in place of medium-pacer Bernard Loots.
A victory for the circumspect West Indies will mean its first step towards the knockout stage. For the optimistic Netherlands, a triumph will be a historic one — a first against a Test-playing nation in the World Cup.
The teams (from):
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devon Thomas, Kieron Pollard, Sulieman Benn, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Nikita Miller, Kirk Edwards and Andre Russell.
The Netherlands: Peter Borren (captain), Alexei Karvezee, Wesley Barresi, Tom Cooper, Ryan ten Doeschate, Bas Zuiderent, Tom de Grooth, Mudassar Bukhari, Pieter Seelaar, Bernard Loots, Berend Westdijk, Adeel Raja, Atse Buurman, Bradley Kruger and Eric Szwarczynski.
Umpires Amish Saheba and Simon Taufel Third umpire: Richard Kettleborough
Fourth umpire: Asoka de Silva
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe
Match starts at 2.30 p.m.