Shai Hope set to continue as WI’s engine-room; expected to flick on fourth gear

Shai Hope. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

West Indies ODI skipper Shai Hope is expected to keep his position at number four in the upcoming series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe gets closer, Hope has taken on a new role as an ‘aggressor’ at number four. He has only batted at four 11 times in his ODI career and only twice in 2023. However, in March 2023, he scored an unbeaten 128 off 115 balls against South Africa. 

Hope stated that he will continue to play at number four in West Indies’ first bilateral series game against UAE in Dubai. He claimed that the position would bring a little more stability to his team and also told there could potentially be some changes in the batting line-up for the upcoming series. He is confident that he will remain in the number four spot for an extended period of time, which will ideally benefit the West Indies.

“It’s a ticklish one, but I’m happy to bat wherever the team needs [me to]. Going forward, I think No.4 would give us a bit more stability. In the past, we’ve had some tough time 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 to 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 West Indies,” Hope said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Hope has been the highest ODI run-scorer since the end of the 2019 World Cup, with 1931 runs at an average of 52.18. However, during this time, the 29-year-old has had a strike rate of only 74.90, the lowest among batters from Full Member nations with at least 1000 runs.