Jonhenry Wilson previews a one-off T20 between an ICC World XI and the West Indies to be played at Lord’s on Thursday 31 May.
The Windies and an International Cricket Council invitational XI, of sorts, are off to the so-called home of cricket in London, where they’ll contest a solitary T20I to raise funds for the five Caribbean stadiums damaged by Hurricane Irma last year.
The men in maroon will be captained by Carlos Brathwaite, whose form in the Indian Premier League was pretty impressive, while Pakistan veteran Shahid Afridi has had to replace injured Englishman Eoin Morgan as skipper of the ICC outfit.
ICC World XI v West Indies | Thursday, 31 May | Lord’s, London | 19:00
To Win Match
ICC World XI 21/20
Tie 35/1
West Indies 82/100
ICC World XI
While still hampered by a couple of has-beens, this is a more contemporary team that the ICC have put out compared to the one that went to Pakistan in September 2017. That squad had players largely beyond their sell-by date, such as Paul Collingwood and George Bailey. This time, Afridi and Luke Ronchi are in the mix – less irrelevant but still names on their way out.
It has been hampered by some late changes in personnel, too, with Mohammed Shami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Adil Rashid and Tom Curran added – and Shakib Al Hasan, Hardik Pandya and Morgan withdrawn. The late inclusion of the quartet has certainly bolstered the bowling ranks, but the absence of the Bangladesh and Indian all-rounders – and English left-hander – has evidently weakened the batting department.
Mitchell McClenaghan will have another chance to remain relevant on the international stage after snubbing a New Zealand contract, while Shoaib Malik – at the age of 36 years old – is keen to show the Pakistan selectors that his ability is still valid ahead of the next World Twenty20. There are four leg-spinners in the 12-man party, with Nepal 17-year-old Lamichhane arguably the most talented of the lot.
As was the case eight months ago, the ICC XI will face a big challenge to gel well – for just one match, rather than a series of three or four. Less recently Morgan and, as early as last week, Dinesh Karthik know what is required to unify and galvanise an otherwise fragmented squad on the back of their Indian Premier League insight. Curran, of course, has his Surrey experience of London conditions to capitalise on, too.
West Indies
The Windies have won two World Twenty20s, so they know exactly what it takes to beat the strongest opposition, let alone a team thrown together at the last minute with anyone available. That said, they’re going to need all their stars – Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Marlon Samuels and other – to deliver on cue. Thursday, too, will mark Andre Russell’s first West Indian appearance in almost two years.
He is a more mature cricketer than the man who was banned for a doping violation yesteryear. He will bring plenty of bravado with bat and ball, as shown for the Kolkata Knight Riders. There’s a personal challenge on the cards as well, for him to show his contemporaries that he is far more than just a global Twenty20 gun – and that he genuinely still has national ambition.
Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo had all hoped to be involved in what is effectively a charity event. The West Indies Cricket Board didn’t afford any of them the chance to play in the fundraiser, though, meaning those who were picked instead – Andre Fletcher, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, etc – have to justify the decision to omit the more experienced stars.
Samuel Badree was on the opposite team last time, turning out for the ICC XI. He’s back in home colours now and could offer his team some insight now of his adopted side then. However, the ICC XI has changed considerably since – and he’d be relying on what he gleaned about the overall culture of the collective more than the prowess of its individuals.
Verdict: West Indies 82/100
Brathwaite and company have far more recent T20 form and experience to draw on than Afridi’s men, who have pseudo home ground advantage, but lack the depth of personnel required to beat the two-time champions.
