The West Indies, known for their big hitters, fast bowlers, and athletic fielders, have been the ultimate poster boys of T20 cricket. Although they are two-time world champions, their global appeal and influence on the format suggest they should have dominated the world stage even more. Co-hosting the 2024 T20 World Cup provides them another chance to prove their reputation despite their current global rankings.
Their first opponents are Papua New Guinea (PNG), who appear to be easy challengers on paper. However, given West Indies’ unpredictable reputation, an upset cannot be ruled out. PNG may have an ageing squad, but their experience and nothing-to-lose attitude could make them dangerous. A slip-up against PNG could jeopardize West Indies’ chances of progressing to the next round. Most West Indies players are coming off a hectic IPL schedule, which should be beneficial, but they’ll need to quickly adapt to the slower home conditions.
Match Details
| Date | Sunday, June 2, 2024 |
| Time | 10:30 AM (Local) / 20:00 PM (IST) / 14:30 AM (GMT) |
| Venue | Providence Stadium, Guyana |
| Pitch Report | Expect a slowish surface with the highest total at the venue in the last 13 years being 169/5. Possible passing showers and some cloud cover, but generally sunny. |
Head-to-Head
The two teams have never faced each other in a T20I match.
Team Watch
West Indies Update
Jason Holder, ruled out due to injury, replaced by Obed McCoy.
Tactics & Matchups
PNG hasn’t played a Full Member team since January 2023. West Indies might exploit this by letting Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph unleash their pace early on.
Probable XI
Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer/Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Moite, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph/Akeal Hosein
Papua New Guinea
Tactics & Matchups
Left-arm spinner John Kariko, PNG’s leading wicket-taker in the latest cycle, will be crucial. He has prior experience in these conditions from the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.
Probable XI
Tony Ura, Sese Bau, Assad Vala, Lega Siaka, Hiri Hiri, Hila Vare, Chad Soper, Kiplin Doriga, Alei Nao, Kabua Morea, Semo Kamea
Location
Did You Know?
- Since the 2022 T20 World Cup, PNG has won 14 out of 18 T20Is, boasting the second-best win percentage among all teams, just after Uganda.
- Rovman Powell has the second-highest win percentage as West Indies’ captain after Daren Sammy.
- Andre Russell has scored 632 runs at an average of over 45 and a strike rate of 207.89. With the ball, he has picked up 34 wickets at a strike rate of 13.6.
Highlights
- Match Importance: Crucial for West Indies to secure a win to boost qualification chances.
- Weather Conditions: Possible passing showers but mostly sunny.
- PNG Edge: Experience and the nothing-to-lose mentality could make them unpredictable.
West Indies must navigate the challenge posed by PNG carefully to start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on a positive note. Fans can expect an intriguing encounter as the Caribbean giants face off against the spirited PNG side.