We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI at Kensington Oval
Only one out of the last 5 ODIs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados has been won by the team defending. Interestingly, in the last two ODIs, the teams batting first couldn’t cross the 200-run mark, as they were bowled out well before the 50th over.
Time: August 17, 8.00 PM IST
Probable Playing XIs for West Indies & New Zealand
Probable XI for West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk), Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (c), Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul/Jayden Seales
Probable XI for New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell/Tom Latham, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell/Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
Power Players
It has been more than two years since Kane Williamson has played an ODI. Nonetheless, he has an average of 47 and will play the role of a sheet anchor for his side. When he last played against the West Indies, he got the Player of the Match award for scoring 148 off 154 balls. Overall, he has added 453 runs against them at 41 in 11 ODIs.
With Martin Guptill, it is always going to be all or nothing. Despite his hammer-and-tongs approach, his recent scores in the ODIs read 47, 115, 0, 51, and 106. Incidentally, his highest score of 237* in the format came against the West Indies.
Shai Hope has been the best batter for the West Indies in the ODIs for a few years. Amidst a few low scores, he has also slammed three centuries in his last 12 innings. At Barbados, he has collected 203 runs in 7 innings. He is also likely to reward fantasy players through his glovework.
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Smart Picks
Glenn Phillips has been the man in form for New Zealand in white-ball cricket lately. He was the leading run-getter (134 runs at 44, including the highest score of 76) in the T20Is against the West Indies. As far as ODIs go, he has batted only thrice and has scores of 47, 16, and 38.
Before going wicketless in the final T20I against the West Indies, Mitchell Santner had bagged consecutive three-wicket hauls in the first two games. He also picked 5 wickets in the recently concluded ODIs against Ireland. As we saw against the Netherlands, he can also wield his willow to good effect.
New or old ball, New Zealand will rely on their quality pace attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson for early and regular breakthroughs. While Southee has taken 17 wickets in the format against West Indies, Boult has 21 (the best of 7 for 34) to his credit. Meanwhile, Ferguson has picked 8 in only 4 outings.
Regardless of the format, Shamarh Brooks has impressed one and all through his temperament. Barring 6 out of 18 innings, he has got starts in every other game, including one hundred and three half-centuries.
Kyle Mayers has the ability to accelerate in the powerplay, as we saw in the ODIs against India. Besides scoring 114 runs in the series, he also picked up 2 wickets in the second ODI.
If the West Indies are to compete hard, they will need Nicholas Pooran to set the stage on fire with the bat. While he likes to throw caution to the wind, his recent scores in ODIs read 42, 74, 25 and 73.
West Indies vs New Zealand 1st ODI Match Preview
Both sides will lock horns for the first time in the format since the 2019 World Cup. Meanwhile, New Zealand have won the last 5 ODIs against the West Indies. Moreover, they also convincingly beat them 2-1 in the T20Is. Although the West Indies won the final game of the series, they will have to fire in all departments to compete with the formidable Kiwi line-up.