Akeal Hosein: Enough room for two left-arm spinners in Windies squad

AKEAL Hosein believes there is room for two left-arm spinners in the same West Indies squad, saying Gudakesh Motie and himself can play alongside each other. He is disappointed that some think they can't feature in the same starting XI in a West Indies team.

In cricket, captains often prefer bowlers with different skill sets to provide more bowling options in attack.

Trinidadian Hosein and Guyanese Motie proved that they can both deliver in the same match during the fifth and deciding T20 match between West Indies and England at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. Hosein grabbed 2/20 in four overs and Motie ended with 3/24 in four overs which helped West Indies to a four-wicket win and seal the series 3-2 after it was square at two wins each.

The series ended a memorable year for West Indies in the T20 format as the regional team were unbeaten in series with wins over South Africa, India and England.

West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell has used Hosein and Motie in different roles. Hosein often opens the bowling and Motie's primary role is to bowl in the middle overs.

Speaking to Newsday, Hosein said, "I think we have a good relationship. One thing that I hate is that the public or whoever tries to paint a picture that we are challenging for spots and this and that. We play two different roles and at the end of the day I don't see why people always say we can't play two left-arm spinners or we can't play two off spinners."

Hosein said when two left-arm batsmen open the batting for a team or two right-handers it is not scrutinised as much. "I think it's foolish. I think once guys are performing well and they are performing their role then they deserve to be in a team...this picture is only being painted with left-arm spinners, that it's a rivalry. It's been plastered a lot between me and him, but there is no bad blood."

Hosein and Motie often share ideas. "We have been back and forth on the field. We would run across the field just to give a piece of advice before whoever takes up the ball to bowl...we hide nothing from each other. Whatever we have to do as players to make sure that our unit goes forward and that we are successful. At the end of the day I think we are doing it."

West Indies, World T20 winners in 2012 and 2016, will be eyeing their third title at the 2024 World T20 tournament, which will be held in the Caribbean and the US.

Hosein likes the West Indies chances. "I've been saying this before we won those three series (in 2023), we can win this World Cup and we have that added push behind with it being home and I think we are heading in the right direction. It is just for guys to stay hungry, stay fit and I think once this unit stays together I think we can do some great things."

Hosein said Powell's democratic leadership style and the core of the team staying together in recent years have contributed to the strong showing in the T20 format.

In the latest International Cricket Council T20 rankings, Hosein is ranked a career-high fourth. Motie, with only five T20 matches under his belt compared to Hosein's 44, enters the top 100 for the first time at 91st.

On the rankings, Hosein said, "It is a good feeling, improving from where I finished last year, last year I finished sixth. It is always good to see improvement and I am trying to get to the top of the ladder."