Hope backs WI to reach 500
New Delhi: Shai Hope believes the West Indies are one of the frontrunners to breach 500-run total in one-day internationals, once unthinkable but now a real possibility. World Cup hosts England, current record holders having blasted 481 against Australia at Trent Bridge last year, are also chasing the milestone - but Hope believes his teammates have what it takes to trouble the history books. "It is definitely a goal we can try to achieve at some point. Definitely, it would be great to be the first team to cross that 500-run mark and I am sure we have the batting firepower to do it," Hope said after warm-up game against New Zealand.
Bouncers to be the wicket-taking ball: Cummins
London: Australian pacer Pat Cummins is not expecting much swing from the English, saying the quicks will have to depend on bouncers as the wicket-taking delivery. "I just looked at some data before that out of all the ODI countries, (England) has got the least swing out of all of them over the past 20 years," Cummins said. "Not really (expecting swing). Maybe a couple of overs. When the ball is hard you still feel like there might be a little bit of nip. But it's pretty flat. "Bouncers we're going to have to use well, that's a real wicket-taking ball. Other than that, it's just trying to bowl good balls."
WI strength lies in batting
Mumbai: Former West Indian batsman Daren Ganga feels the strength of the Jason Holder-led Caribbean team lies in batting. West Indies begin their campaign against Pakistan on May 31. "A win is always good before going into a main tournament. Jason Holder and the think-tank will be thinking about the combination that they will select for the first game against Pakistan. The strength of this West Indies team lies in its batting," Ganga told reporters. Ganga, who played 48 Test matches, also felt that the spin option for West Indies, is not as potent as other teams. "You can tell from the way in which they have gone about the business of playing that warm-up game. What will be the concern will be the bowling and how penetrative that bowling is. You can see that the spin option is not as potent as other teams in this World Cup," he noted.
Mashrafe backs Shakib ‘to do something big'
Cardiff: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza feels that star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will come good at the World Cup. The number one ODI all-rounder had a rather off day with both bat and ball in their warm-up game against India which Bangladesh lost by 95 runs. He went for 58 runs in his six overs and picked up two wickets. While batting, he was bowled on the very first ball he faced. "Shakib (Al Hasan) had an off day but he has the experience to come back in a great way," Mashrafe was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "I think he will do something big in this World Cup."
Hardik takes every role up with a smile: Rahul
Cardiff: K L Rahul has heaped praise on his close friend and India teammate Hardik Pandya, saying the all-rounder revels in taking extra responsibility for the team. Rahul, who sealed the number four spot for the World Cup opener against South Africa with a fine hundred on Tuesday, said Hardik has grown immensely as a cricketer over the last two years. "Being a fast bowling all-rounder he plays an important role in the set-up of the team, no matter what format. He does have the skill and everybody knows he has the skill. But how he has used that skill and grown in the last two years," said Rahul after his stellar knock against Bangladesh in India's final warm-up game. Hardik's role will be critical not just with the bat in the death overs but also as a pacer. Rahul backed him to have a successful tournament. "He is somebody from who the team expects a lot and he always takes the responsibility thrown in at him. Give him any role and Hardik takes it up with a smile on his face. He wants to do it for the team and gives his all. That's what makes him who he is. Someone who gives hundred percent each time he is on the field," he added.