WEST INDIES A BEATABLE TEAM

Zimbabwe will in the next eleven days tour the West Indies for two tests, two Twenty 20 and three one day Internationals. The team has been selected and there is couple of youngsters set to make their debuts, specialist coaches not travelling and a lot of selection controversies set ablaze by the country's Sports minister  through the Sports and Recreaction Commission Board. Away from all of this it’s time to look on the bright side and start following what the opposition is doing at present.

The Darren Sammy captained West Indies is in Australia at the moment where they are finding the going tough to say the least. Their top order led by power hitter Chris Gayle, Kerian Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren and Dwayne Bravo is in great shape and will be a force to reckon with; assuming off cause that Ottis Gibson opts for using the same batting combinations against Zimbabwe then there might be a need for some sharp think required from the bowlers.

Chris Mpofu, Kegaan Meth, Kyle Jarvis have to search for that killer instinct and ability to focus under pressure, think about the kind of line required when bowling at these world class beaters. Gayle in particular enjoys the fast and furious, so with an attack that has a speed average of 132 km/h it should frustrate the big man from the Caribbean. However the spin department to be marshalled by Prosper Utseya, ray Price, Graeme Cremer and the two debutants Natsai Mushangwe and Tino Mutombombodzi simple turn will not do much but delivery variation will be key as evidenced by the number of lbw dismissals in Australia at the moment as the West Indians tend to struggle with fit movement.

The bowling attack which is currently comprised of forceful paceman Kemar Roach, teenager Jason Holder Sammy, Sunil Narine and sometimes Gayle has taken 15 wickets in the Australian tour so far. This makes these bowlers quite average but on a good day they can rise above the dead and injure our batting line up that lacks enthusiasm many a time and is known for its poor shot selection and execution. However with the form Brendan Taylor, Tino Mawoyo, Craig Ervine, Regis Chakabva and Vusi Sibanda are currently enjoying it remains to be seen how they intend to deal with this youthful attack in those West Indian wickets.

It will be important for Mountaineers and Sylhet Royals’ opener Hamilton Masakadza to get his groove back as he will be instrumental in championing Zimbabwe’s batting prows. He has been struggling with form of late but he is a tried and tested carder who cans still the show on any given wicket.

Let’s look at the last three One Day Internationals that the West Indians have played in the last two weeks. These are brief match reports of these games...............

First ODI in Australia, Set 267 to win after George Bailey's unbeaten 125 rescued the Australian innings, the West Indies were cruising at 159 for three in the run chase, before the return of Mitchell Starc to the attack turned the match again as the tourists were bowled out 212 in the 39th over.

Starc (5-32) had claimed the first three wickets in the West Indian innings, all lbw, to have them reeling at 33 for three, but when he came back into the attack the Australians were struggling, with opener Kieran Powell and Dwayne Bravo putting on a century partnership for the fourth wicket.

MATCH 2, Paceman Mitchell Starc helped consign West Indies to their third lowest total in one-day internationals as Australia's top order needed less than 10 overs to race to a nine-wicket victory. Man-of-the-match Starc captured five wickets for 20 and burly quick Clint McKay returned figures of 3-10 as the tourists were skittled for 70, having won the toss and elected to bat first on a baking hot day.

Australia's response was short and brutal with opener Glenn Maxwell blasting an unbeaten 51 and Usman Khawaja finishing on eight not out after pushing the winning single to wrap up victory in the opener of the five-match series.

MATCH 3, Shane Watson celebrated his return to international cricket with a sparkling innings of 122 before Australia secured a clinical 39-run win over the West Indies in the third ODI at Manuka Oval on Wednesday. The visitors looked on course at 214 for three with Darren Bravo on 86, but they lost both Bravo and Gayle one run apart, and even Andre Russell's 31-ball 43 could not stem the collapse as they lost their last seven wickets for 76 runs. Earlier, Australia posted 329 for seven.

Well with this kind of perfomance, am sure we can give the West Indians a run for their money. Although we must not forget that this is Astralia currently tearing them apart and making light weight of them.