KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – WEST INDIES stand at a crucial juncture today (Mar. 9) as they face Zimbabwe in the third of five One Day International matches, needing a victory for the series lead and to prove that they are still a capable first class squad.
Between internal turmoil and a wave of injuries to top players, West Indies had gone roughly six months without a single international victory until they defeated Zimbabwe last Saturday (Mar. 6) by four wickets in Guyana.
Prior to that, the team suffered a stinging series of defeats during their Australian tour and subsequently scored their lowest Twenty20 score in history against Zimbabwe in Trinidad. The loss was due in large part to a forceful spin attack from the visitors, which they continued in the first ODI of the series for a nail-biting two run victory.
With the series now tied at one match apiece and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo making his much anticipated return to competition after three months away from the game due to injury, West Indies Head Coach Otis Gibson expressed confidence that they West Indies be able to firmly push the momentum in their favour today.
“[Bravo] has only just come back and already you can feel the energy he brings. He is a very important player and already the players have perked up with him around,” the coach said ahead of the match.
Excluded from the squad will be spinner Sueliman Benn and David Bernard, with Ravi Rampaul being called up to as a replacement bowler for Benn.
Dwayne’s brother Darren Bravo had looked like another possible addition to the squad, but was left off in the final decision.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, only made one change to their side from the first two ODIs, sitting out seamer Chris Mpofu and calling up legspinner Timycen Maruma.
Mpofu bled 30 runs from four overs in the second ODI, though some have argued that Zimbabwe have severely weakened the depth of their bowling attack by excluding him.
Today’s match, as well as the other two remaining ODIs, will be played at the Arnos Vale Ground.
