Vivian Richards has criticised the West Indies’ approach during their World Cup campaign.
According to the iconic former captain, the Windies have been “one dimensional” while he also hit out at the lack of intensity shown in their defeat to Bangladesh earlier this week.
Despite posting an imposing 321/8 on the board, the Windies went down by seven wickets to Bangladesh in Taunton, suffering their third defeat in five matches, and remain on three points in the points table.
Their lone win came against Pakistan in their opener three weeks ago.
Jason Holder and his men have been criticised for their persistence with short-pitched bowling, which worked well against Pakistan and to a certain extent against Australia, but didn’t pay off against a strong England line-up and backfired completely against Bangladesh, who had no problems in dealing with those deliveries on a flat track.
“There didn’t seem to be any planning, where if this particular plan isn’t going to work, then what about plan B, plan C or whatever the case is... We are too one dimensional,” Richards was quoted as saying by The Antigua Observer.
“It (short-pitched bowling) worked against Pakistan, and when you’re coming up against other teams, sometimes it may not work, and there just didn’t seem to be any particular planning or any particular strategy or any intensity of West Indies wanting to win that match and defend that particular total (against Bangladesh).”
Bangladesh were propelled by all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan, who smashed an unbeaten 124 from 99 balls, and Liton Das, who carved out 94 not out off 69 balls. The pair shared a record unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 189.
The Windies were ragged in the field as well with half-chances missed, while their bowlers failed to build pressure and sent down a plethora of loose deliveries.
Fielding too is an area that needs improvement, Richards pointed out.
“I personally thought it was a score they should have been looking to defend, and there just wasn’t any intensity in the field. There were some half-chances, and especially with the two guys who batted so well for Bangladesh.”
