It’s been almost 5 years since the last T20 World Cup ended. West Indies are the only team to claim two T20 WC titles, and they are the current champions as they won the last tournament in 2016 under Darren Sammy. Even though it looks like a distant past, they still have the power hitters (the brand of cricket they are known for) in their team. They have Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo, who were there during the last World Cup.
T20 is completely a different beast than the ODI. T20s will not have frequent changes to the script and will not give teams time to come back. But the approach the current ODI champions play with will suit this format completely. Moreover, with the group they are in, where the Asian powerhouses are missing, they are clear favourites for the semi-finals.
Match Conditions
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Date and time: October 23, 2021 | 7.30 PM IST
Weather: It is going to be a hot day with no rain expected.
What can you expect?
This is interesting. It is going to be an entertainer of the highest standards. With most of the players from the West Indies side part of different IPL sides, they have a slight advantage of getting accustomed to the conditions very early in the tournament. Still, with the way the English top-order batted against India in the warm-up game, I expect it to be a high scoring event. Once again, expect the unexpected.
Playing XI Probables
England
From the warm-up matches, we can conclude that the English top-order will look like this: Roy, Buttler, Malan, Morgan, Bairstow, Livingstone, and Moeen Ali.
Followed by four bowlers for which they will have a little uncertainty in picking. Mark Wood and Adil Rashid came back really strong in the 2nd warm-up game picking 7 wickets within them. With two spinners already in the side (Moeen and Livingstone), they might go with two other pacers – Willey and one of Woakes or Jordan.
Team: Roy, Buttler (WK), Malan, Morgan (C), Bairstow, Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Wood, Jordan, Willey, Rashid
West Indies
West Indies are a side known for their powerful hitters in the team. They might want to open with Simmons and Lewis, followed by Gayle at 3 and then Chase, Hetmyer, Pooran, Russell & Pollard. Also, there is Dwayne Bravo, for whom they might sit down Chase.
On the bowling unit, Hayden Walsh was the pick of the lot and will feature in the Playing XI. They have interesting choices of pace bowlers in Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul, and Oshane Thomas. Two of these three will play.
Team: Simmons, Lewis, Gayle, Hetmyer, Pooran(WK), Russell, Pollard(C), Bravo, Rampaul, Walsh, McCoy,
Fantasy Suggestions
The first game in this venue in this tournament. We have to wait and see how the new pitches are going to be. Pitch report will be crucial. Watch it before going into your Dream11 picker.
UAE pitches, lately, are meant to be a chasing ground. Pick top-order batsmen from both teams with powerplays going to be a hunting ground for both side openers.
Pick out bowlers who usually bowls the 16-20 overs from the team that bowls first. It is one of our ten mantras to pick the best fantasy team.
Pick out players who were in good form in the recently concluded IPL.
Dream11 Team
Wicket keepers: There are multiple wicketkeepers to pick out from. Buttler is an obvious pick. You can add one of Bairstow and Pooran to your squad, depending on who bats first. Picking middle-order batters from the team batting second in a T20 game doesn’t make sense.
Batters: I am going with the other openers and the No.3 batsmen from both sides.
All-rounders: Andre Russell for his bowling. I doubt Dwayne Bravo will have a bigger influence in this game with the pitch already on a slower side.
Bowlers: Pick two pacers and two spinners. As I already have Russell, I go with Wood, Rashid and Walsh.
Captaincy pick: This is the first game on this ground, and it is not easy to predict. For the safer side: Pick a top-order batter who bats second as Captain and pick a bowler who bowls the death overs in the first innings as the vice.
