West Indies will look to build momentum when they face England in their second match of the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup today, with first ball scheduled for 09:30hrs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Following a positive start to their campaign, the Caribbean side are keen to fine-tune key areas as the tournament gathers pace. Speaking after a training session in Mumbai, all-rounder Jason Holder struck an upbeat yet realistic tone, emphasizing consistency, discipline and improvement as the team’s main focus.
“We took a lot of boxes in the first game,” Holder said. “But we keep challenging ourselves in each department. We know we can improve as the tournament goes on.”
Holder highlighted the importance of maintaining a steady attitude across all facets of the game — batting, bowling and fielding. While pleased with the overall performance so far, he admitted that lapses in the field had cost the team and needed urgent attention.
“We’ve been letting ourselves down and dropping a few chances. That’s definitely an area we can improve on,” he noted. “But all in all, I’m really happy with how we started. It’s important for us to continue to build.”
The West Indies camp has also placed strong emphasis on clarity of roles as they prepare for the challenge posed by England, one of the pre-tournament favourites. According to Holder, understanding and executing individual responsibilities will be key to producing a united team performance.
“Role clarity and role execution are very important,” he explained. “Everybody knows what’s required of them personally. The challenge is for each individual to execute their role and bring it together collectively for the team.”
The clash against England promises to be a high-intensity encounter, with both teams boasting explosive batting line-ups and varied bowling attacks. On a Wankhede surface known for its true bounce and fast outfield, execution under pressure is likely to decide the outcome.
Head coach Daren Sammy echoed those sentiments while underlining the scale of the challenge posed by England. Describing the fixture as a familiar and fiercely competitive rivalry, Sammy expects another high-scoring battle.
“It’s a battle. It’s going to be a battle,” Sammy said. “We’ve always been entertainers, and England has also been entertaining. Over the last few years, England is probably the opposition we’ve played most T20s against.”
Sammy pointed out that both teams are well accustomed to each other’s strengths after multiple five-match series in recent seasons, often producing run-filled encounters. With Wankhede traditionally offering a batting-friendly surface, he believes smart decision-making will be crucial.
“The surface here tells you that you need to put some good runs on the board if you bat first,” he noted.
Reflecting on West Indies’ 2016 T20 World Cup triumph, Sammy acknowledged that the global game has evolved, with power-hitting now a universal trait.
“Back then we were known for our six hitting, but the world has caught up. Everybody hits sixes now, and they run really well between the wickets,” he said. “We have a lot to do, but we might just have to hit more sixes again, something we were able to do when we dominated during that era. Tomorrow, we’ve got to be smart.”
As West Indies aim to reinforce their credentials in the competition, consistency in mindset and performance will be central to their ambitions when they take the field today.
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