KOLKATA, Apr 2:
They dampened the local spirits by knocking out India but a resurrected West Indies cricket team will bring its own brand of joie-de-vivre to the ICC World Twenty20 summit clash when they take on a transformed England in what promises to be a battle of power-hitting here tomorrow.
The exuberant Caribbeans, who almost did not come to the tournament owing to a pay dispute with their Cricket Board, have been nothing short of phenomenal so far.
A shock loss to Afghanistan in the group stage is the only setback they faced in the course of what is turning out to be a fairytale run.
“We think it is us against the world,” captain Darren Sammy has declared twice so far, in a veiled reference to the bitter standoff with the Cricket Board during which the players were accused of putting money over country.
On the other side is England, a team which, like the Windies, got no mention in the pre-tournament favourites list, barring the one given by Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar.
There will be little to choose between both the sides who will be bidding to become the first nation to clinch the WT20 silverware for a second time, with England having won the tournament in 2010, followed by the West Indies two years later.
Eden Gardens will host its first World Cup final since 1987 when the Mike Gatting-led Englishmen had lost to the Aussies by an agonising seven runs in the ODI version of the tournament.
Now, 29 years later, the Englishmen will play another World Cup final at the same venue and will look to exorcise the ghosts of that infamous Gatting reverse sweep.
With a 4-9 win loss record against the explosive West Indies, England may start as dark horses but Eoin Morgan’s ice-cool leadership has made them a potent force.
England too followed a similar pattern though theirs have been a story of consistency since they put their campaign on track after overwhelming South Africa by two wickets chasing out an astounding 230.
Not so long ago, touring South Africa in the build-up to the WT20, England had lost the Twenty20 series 0-2 and ODI series 2-3 and with their struggles against the turning ball it was unimaginable to think of them making it all the way.
But they have quietly made rapid progress in the tournament especially after their epic chase against South Africa in the Super 10 where Joe Root anchored their innings with his 44-ball 83. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel