Published: Apr 03, 2016, 04:35 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 03, 2016, 04:35 PM (IST)
West Indies take on England in the World T20 2016 final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad have given a piece of advice to the England bowlers as to how to bowl to Chris Gayle, who they believe is a threat. Gayle smashed a 48-ball 100 in their opening match of the tournament. That match happened to be England’s only defeat of the World Cup so far. Gayle has however failed to get into double figures in the next two opportunities he has had in this tournament. While he has not been firing, the likes of Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons and Andre Fletcher have been stepping up to the plate and delivering for West Indies. Full Cricket Score: England vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2016, Final at Kolkata
Pietersen believes that Gayle is a major obstacle for for England, who may stop them from getting their second World T20 title. “Chris Gayle is the king of the castle but West Indies have proved they are not a one man team,†Pietersen wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
“Pitching it full and straight to Gayle early on is the way to keep him quiet. He has been dismissed by full pitched swinging balls in the last two games and that is a key plan for knocking him over early on,†he added.
Broad, who was a key member of the England team in 2010, which won their maiden World T20 title believes that the England bowlers will have to attack Gayle’s stumps early on in the innings and also to use the bouncers occasionally. West Indies vs England, T20 World Cup 2016 final: Preview
“England had success with an early bouncer against Gayle in the past so don’t be surprised to see the bowlers go short early, with fine leg back, and bowl short at his right ear,†he wrote in The Daily Mail.
“No width, because he’ll uppercut you, so really tight to leg stump. You’ve seen some bowlers have success by bowling really full and straight at him. David Willey has been outstanding early on for England and although he’s a left-arm over bowler, he gets great shape on that new white ball, so you could see a slip in and a full swinging delivery. No tall man likes a really full ball early and Willey has taken wickets in the opening overs throughout the tournament,†Broad continued.
Jason Roy scored a 44- ball 78 in the semi-final against New Zealand to help England win with ease. Pietersen was full of praise for Roy and believes that him and a few other players brought in by Trevor Bayliss are the reason as to why England have tasted success lately.
