After losing the three-match Test series 2-0, West Indies will look to salvage some pride in the upcoming three-ODI series that begins on Saturday. With Chris Gayle all set to return after 15 months of no international cricket, the Windies should be pretty excited about the ODIs.
Gayle's comeback is sure to bring a turnaround, maybe not in results but surely in attitude, as will the return of Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo. The likes of Bravo, Pollard and Gayle make up a formidable batting order and the Caribbean kings will also get a lot of confidence from their 228-run win against Middlesex in a warm-up on Wednesday.
In the bowling department, Ravi Rampaul is the best bowler for the Windies and has the ability to move the ball both ways. Tino Best, who became the highest scorer in Test history at No.11 in the third and last match at Edgbaston last week, can also torment the batsmen with sheer pace. Bravo can chip in with some useful overs in the middle of innings. Mystery spinner Sunil Narine, who bagged the headlines with Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently concluded Indian Premier League, will also have a lot of eyes fixed on him.
England on the other hand will be without Kevin Pietersen, who announced his retirement from ODIs and T20s some ten days ago. How the Three Lions will fare without their best limited-overs batsman in recent times remains to be seen. Ian Bell,
12:21 AM, Jun 01, 2008
