Taylor calls for “simple, basic cricket” Sport

FORMER JAMAICA and West Indies fast bowler, Jerome Taylor, says the regional side should return to the basic games of cricket if they want to have further success in the ongoing ICC World Cup T20 tournament.

The West Indies are staring at the scenario to give up the T20 World Championship and face relegation while the six-team first-place finisher is fifth with two points out of three games.

The team coached by Phil Simmons must win future games against Sri Lanka and Australia and hope the other results go their way so they have a chance to advance to the four finals.

With humiliating losses from England and South Africa and a slim win against Bangladesh, Taylor urges players to play simple cricket and refocus on saving their World Cup aspirations.

“Everyone has branded us as a force-hitting team and designed for us, but sometimes a simple basic cricket is needed to succeed, even in the short form of the game. We have to appreciate the duel of T20 cricket, and we can’t always count on punching because when it doesn’t come off, the team is under pressure.

PERSONAL ARRANGEMENT

Taylor, who was part of the West India team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup, says the next couple of days should be used as a half-minded re-tool.

“Sometimes during a loss, it’s best to pull your thoughts a little off cricket and just have conversations. Players are mentally exhausted and that little break can do the world any good. We know what the team can do when they are mentally ready, which helped us win back in 2016, Taylor added.

Taylor added that in the last campaign, the team was mentally ready for the challenge and preparing for the tournament was vital to the team’s success.

Unlike in 2016, when all batsmen made significant bets, the West India batting unit of this tournament has not yet fired and has recorded scores of 55, 143 and 142 so far in three games.

Taylor says batsmen need to better assess game conditions and implement better game awareness in the remaining matches.

“Batsmen need to understand that if it’s not your day, they should find a way to get around the punches and play what the surface gives.”