The USA men’s cricket team will look to build on the positives from the recently concluded five-match T20 International (T20I) series against Canada, where they won by an emphatic 4-0 margin. As many as five debutants made way into the USA Cricket squad against Canada along with their experienced regulars, clearly with a view to try several combinations ahead of a busy season ahead. USAC play Bangladesh in a three-match series (May 21-25, 2024) just ahead of the World Cup, and the South Asians will surely present a challenge next-level-up. It might just be ideal, given USAC play both South Asian powerhouses India and Pakistan in the group stages of the world cup.
Some of the key positives that USA cricket will now look towards building ahead of the Bangladesh series and the most waited ICC T20 Cricket World Cup would include;
Andries Gous, Corey Anderson, Nitish Kumar. The three key-players for the USA in the Canada series. Brought in with an aim to lend flair and solidity to the top order, Gous amassed 111 runs at an average of 37, while Anderson was above 40 in the two times he played, including a crucial 55 in the final game, fighting back in a winning cause. Even Nitish weighed in with a swashbuckling match winning 64 in the only game he played. Their experience is sure to hold them in good stead
The emergence of Harmeet Singh Baddhan as a probable match-wining bowling all-rounder will warm the hearts of USA fans. The left-arm orthodox spinner and attacking lower-order bat took six wickets at an average of 12.66 and an economy of 5.56 while totalling 48-runs, including match winning efforts with both bat and ball individually. His “Player of the Series” award was thoroughly deserved. Steven Taylor, Aaron Jones, Nisarg Patel, Nosthush Kenjige, and Saurabh Netravalkar, stalwarts of USA cricket, enjoy the addition of talent with regular match winning contributions.
Monank Patel seems to have settled into his role of captaincy and enjoys leading from the front. He totaled 120 runs in the three games that he played, including his first two international T20I 50s in match winning-efforts, while effecting six dismissals behind the stumps. His bowling changes and field placements were positive, and the way the team rallied behind him augurs well for USA going forward.
