What will become of Dwayne Bravo?

[wpdavid]

He has more bowling talent than you people make out, he can crank it up to 135kph and has a mean bouncer.

Yeah, I think his bowling has been slightly hard done by on this thread. fwiw I'd play him at 7 as one of a four man attack. That way WI are les likely to lose their last 6 for less than 50, and ppor sides have to start out by being harder to beat.

I know that theoretically leaves them a bowler short, but I see their best bet as similar to mid1990's SA with McMillan as their 4th bowler.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, I think his bowling has been slightly hard done by on this thread. fwiw I'd play him at 7 as one of a four man attack. That way WI are les likely to lose their last 6 for less than 50, and ppor sides have to start out by being harder to beat.

I know that theoretically leaves them a bowler short, but I see their best bet as similar to mid1990's SA with McMillan as their 4th bowler.

problem is, bowling is the teams biggest defect for me, to leave out a proper bowler for an allrounder theoretically could make a bad situation much worse.

 

[Richard]

If it's an Adam Sanford-style bowler, I don't think it'll really make them too much worse TBH.

And TBH, I don't see that Bravo is a significantly worse bowler than any of the Collymores, Powells, Lawsons, Edwardses, Taylors, etc. The one bowler in the Caribbean I'd say has the unquestionable ability to be clearly better than him is Pedro Collins, and he seems destined never to have a proper Test career.

 

[Richard]

What's been everyones favourite Bravo moment so far in his career?

For mine it was the caught and bowled to get Shane Warne out fully stretched to his left I think at the Adelaide Oval.

Mine was a celebration - think it was when he took a catch of some sort, can't remember when. Was Taylor Dent-esque.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Was Taylor Dent-esque.

The Tennis player?

 

[Richard]

Yeah, he once managed to get a return winner from Wayne Arthurs in Wimbledon 2002 having been aced about 30 times by the third set, having got about 10 returns at best in court and won about 3 points on the Arthurs serve. He proceeded to hare around his side of the court exchanging hi-fives with practically every member in the front row.

Was the most astonishing celebration I've ever seen in sport, including even the denounement of Ebdon vs Lee in the unscheduled third session in the Embassy World Championships of 2001.

 

[ozone]

IMO, Bravo has no worries for his test place ATM. He may only be a 'bits-and-pieces' player, but he is still one of the best players the West Indies has to offer. I agree he should probably be included as a number 7, but the team just doesn't have the bowlers to be able to do this as they would be unable to take 20 wickets in a test.

 

[Salixiscool]

Bravo seems to be recieving a lot of flak for his bowling...

But compared to the current WI pacemen he's actually alright.

Bravo's average: 43.37
Powell's average: 43.62
Edward's average: 43.01
Taylor's average: 39.68
Sammy's average: 12.25

Granted the WI bowlers aren't exactly great though

 

[ozone]

He's bowling alrite, compared to th other West Indians. I suppose this means his place is not in doubt but the reason he gets so much stick is becasue he has the potential to be so much better than he is being. A bowling average of 43 is not going to win awards or win his side test matches.

 

[roseboy64]

Can't really use their averages to rate WI players. In a decent system they would have not got selected so early.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

All bar Powell were selected extremely early. Edwards had bowled in one innings over one or two FC matches when he was picked, IIRC. Jerome Taylor burst onto the scene as a teenager and had one good debut season and was picked. Broke down with injury months after. Dwayne Bravo was fast-tracked into the side too, though he's one of the best prepared of the young crop. The system of preparation for cricketers in Trinidad is perhaps the best in the region, and its evidenced by the professionalism of the youngsters by the time they reach senior domestic level.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The one bowler in the Caribbean I'd say has the unquestionable ability to be clearly better than him is Pedro Collins, and he seems destined never to have a proper Test career.

Had a fantastic domestic season at the start of the year. Was unplayable at times, but the selectors decided not to pick him for the World Cup or England anyway. And now that he's finally been recalled, he's woefully short of form. No room for him in the side while the incumbent are firing.

He's also signed on with Surrey as Kolpak for next season, which would eliminate him from WI eligibility if he goes through with it.

 

[roseboy64]

Wouldn't blame him. Not exactly a spring chicken anymore.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Only 31. Not a quick bowler. Can play another 4-5 years at least one would think. And definitely one of the best 5 bowlers in the region.

 

[thierry henry]

For all the talk about his bowling being suitable to ODIs, he's pretty bloody expensive....sorta reminds me of guys like Jeetan Patel and Mark Gillespie who are apparently ODI specialists but go for 5RPO+...

 

[Richard]

He's back!