Former West Indies selector and England batter Roland Butcher believes that there will be a noticeable difference in the pitches between the US and the Caribbean during the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament group stages will be split between three US venues – New York, Dallas, and Florida – as well as all of the Caribbean.
Some teams, like Sri Lanka and South Africa, will start their group stage matches in the US before moving to the Caribbean for the latter stages of the tournament. Butcher pointed out that the pitches in the Caribbean tend to favor spin bowlers, with the ball turning sharply in recent matches.
In contrast, Butcher expects the pitches in the US to be the best of the entire tournament, comparing them to Australian drop-in pitches known for their even bounce and pace. He predicts that teams like India and Pakistan may thrive on these pitches and score plenty of runs, while the West Indies could struggle to post high scores.
Overall, Butcher believes that the different playing conditions between the US and the Caribbean could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the T20 World Cup.