North Sound, Antigua – Christopher Barnwell says he is looking for consistency with bat and ball while Samuel Badree will look to build the pressure on Zimbabwe when they line up for West Indies against Zimbabwe in what promises to be an action-packed two-match T20 Series this weekend.
Christopher Barnwell. Photo WICB Media
The two were among the leading performers at last month’s Caribbean T20 tournament and earned call-ups for the two matches on Saturday and Sunday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. First ball on both days is 2 pm (1 pm Jamaica Time).
The world champions West Indies held a morning training session at the match venue on Thursday and afterward Badree – the wily leg-spinner – and Barnwell – a strongly-built batting allrounder – outlined their game plans for when they face the visitors.
“I’m looking forward with great expectations to the matches ahead. We had a good One-Day Series against the Zimbabweans where we won all three matches, and we will also look to win both Twenty20 matches,” said Badree.
“In T20 there aren’t really any underdogs. I will look to have two good games against them and continue to showcase my talents for the West Indies on the international stage. The key to bowling in T20 cricket is consistency and that helps to build the pressure on batsmen. I will look to maintain the pressure we have created.”
The 31-year-old schoolteacher from Trinidad made his T20 International debut last year against New Zealand and was immediately successful. He contributed significantly to the West Indies’ sensational run when they captured the ICC World T20 trophy in Sri Lanka last October.
Barnwell made his T20 International debut in 2011 and played four times that year. He has been recalled on the weight of some match-winning performances which took Guyana to the finals of the Caribbean T20 last month.
The 26-year-old said: “It is a wonderful feeling to be back at this level. I had a very good Caribbean T20 and I’m confident I will do well here against Zimbabwe. I feel I am in the right frame of mind and in good form with the bat and ball.
“I always believe I have it in me to win games. I have brought Guyana out of some difficult situations when the pressure was on, and I believe I can transfer those kinds of performances the international level, once I get the opportunity,” he added.
In additional to his powerful batting, Barnwell has the added skill of medium-fast bowling. He will line up alongside skipper Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard – who were all World T20 winners last year.
West Indies will have another training session on Friday morning at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
FULL SQUAD:
Darren Sammy (Captain)
Samuel Badree
Christopher Barnwell
Tino Best
Darren Bravo
Dwayne Bravo
Johnson Charles
Shannon Gabriel
Sunil Narine
Kieron Pollard
Denesh Ramdin
Andre Russell
Lendl Simmons