West Indies will continue their tour of Ireland with the first T20I on Thursday, taking place at the Bready Cricket Club Ground. Following an ODI series that ended in a tie, the West Indies faced a tough challenge in England, where they experienced six consecutive defeats. Despite these setbacks, the team is optimistic about reversing their fortunes against the Irish in their home conditions.
West Indies is expected to maintain an opening partnership of Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis, despite the pair facing difficulties in the recent matches in England. The team recognizes the potential of this duo and is willing to give them another opportunity to perform. Captain Shai Hope, who showcased his batting skills in England with 97 runs at an impressive strike rate, will occupy the number three position in the lineup.
The middle order will feature explosive hitters such as Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, and the in-form Rovman Powell. Hetmyer has shown promise with a quick 26 runs off just eight balls in his last appearance, while Powell’s outstanding performance in the final T20I against England, where he scored 79 runs off 45 balls, positions him as a critical player for this match.
The all-rounder roles will be filled by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder, both of whom have proven their value to the team. Holder notably made a significant contribution with 70 runs at a strike rate exceeding 200 in the preceding T20s. West Indies’ spin attack will likely be led by Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein, with Motie bringing variations to the middle overs and Akeal specializing in powerplay bowling.
There is some uncertainty surrounding the selection of pacer Alzarri Joseph, who struggled in the England series with poor performance metrics, including conceding 156 runs at a high economy rate. If the team decides to bench him, Matthew Forde may step in as a replacement.
The probable playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland includes: Evin Lewis, Johnson Charles, Shai Hope (C/WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, and either Alzarri Joseph or Matthew Forde.
With renewed hope and a potent lineup, the West Indies aim to secure a victory against Ireland as they look to turn their recent fortunes around.