India vs West Indies: West Indies have pitch, pacers to their advantage
West Indies still have more bowling options than India, on paper. (Source: AP)
West Indies have had a roller-coaster ride in the World Cup so far with an upset opening loss to Ireland even after posting 300-plus score. They then decimated Zimbabwe and Pakistan only to be embarrassed by the Proteas.
On Friday they take on the table-toppers India at the WACA, Perth and have a great chance to resurrect their campaign.
WACA is one of the quickest wickets in the world and the bounce and carry can favour the Windies pacers. A tall Jason Holder can exploit the conditions and so as the Jerome Taylor. Holder has often looked sharp in his first spell throughout the tournament.
The same holds true for Jerome Taylor who is the leading wicket-taker for Windies so far in the tournament. The Jamaican has accounted for 9 wickets at an average of 20.
West Indies also have the likes of Kemar Roach who is warming the bench. Roach is synonymous with pace and any body can guess how effective he can be at the WACA strip.
Apart from the fast bowlers, there is one man whom nobody is talking about. Chris Gayle has so far taken 5 wickets with an impressive average of 19! His primary role is to score runs with the bat but he can be used on Friday on the bouncy pitch and bowl his off spin cleverly.
There are the seam all-rounders as well in the form of military-medium pacers Darren Sammy and Andre Rusell.
The options available to Holder are in plenty as compared to Indian team which will solely depend on the pace quartet of Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav.
If the West Indies bowling manages to fire as an unit, India will surely be in for a tough time.
Source:: Indian Express
