West Indies captain Shai Hope suggested that he will continue to perform for the West Indies at number 4 and is happy to bat whenever the team needs.
The West Indies will take on the United Arab Emirates in a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday in Sharjah as a part of their build-up for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers set to commence from June 18 in Zimbabwe.
Shai Hope has been the highest ODI run-getter since the completion of the 2019 World Cup, with 1931 runs at an average of 52.18. During this time, though, he has had a strike rate of only 74.90, the lowest among batters from Full Member nations with at least 1000 runs. “It’s a ticklish one, but I’m happy to bat wherever the team needs me. Going forward, I think No. 4 would give us a bit more stability.
In the past, we’ve had some tough times in the middle overs, especially against spin. But in this series, you may see a bit of a change; the batting line-up may be a bit different from what we’re accustomed to. Yeah, I think No. 4 is the position that I’ll stay at for a period of time, and hopefully that continues to work for the West Indies,” Hope said.
Hope credited his boundary-laden innings in East London to improved situational awareness as well as his power game.
Hope encourages the rest of the West Indies batting lineup to play with similar freedom rather than focusing solely on wicket protection.