**Official** Australia in West Indies

[Jono]

I hate matches like this simply because not particularly good bowlers become nigh on unplayable and sides such as the West Indies (who don’t have a chance at the best of times) have precisely no chance of winning. If the Australian batsman struggle than how can a bunch of kids and technically inept batsman such as Gayle expect to haul down 200 +? It’s impossible and at least on a road the weaknesses that Marshall, Gayle, Bravo et cetera have are nullified and the contest becomes far more even because any batsman worth their salt stands a chance of making hay.

Why is it fine for batsman not particularly good to 'make hay' but bowlers can't? What if the WI weren't playing, and a team with better batsmen were? Would it be a different situation?

 

[TT Boy]

Rain has come; hopefully it continues and saves the West Indies the embarrassment of being bowled out for 70 of 45 overs.

 

[roseboy64]

The West Indies bowled well and and have batted awfully in response to that statement. ^^^

 

[TT Boy]

The West Indies bowled well and and have batted awfully in response to that statement. ^^^

Australia got over 200 for the loss of five wickets after being 40 odd for 3 of 20 and the wheels came off in the last ten for the second time in a week. Aside from what Taylor and Powell did with the new ball it wasn't that good.

 

[TT Boy]

Why is it fine for batsman not particularly good to 'make hay' but bowlers can't? What if the WI weren't playing, and a team with better batsmen were? Would it be a different situation?

No, it would be probably just as dull as the recent VB (or CB? who knows) series.

In regard to batsman making hay, it’s precisely a subjective opinion which is I prefer ODI wickets to be on the good side of decent for batting. This wicket was atrocious and the diminutive crowd within the ground are treated to slow death cricket i.e. the result is beyond doubt yet the game continues for another two and half hours.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hopes

Should be opening the batting though.

Got to love the fact that Ponting has said White is Australia's next ODI spinner, but hasn't bowled in 35 overs and Clarke has taken 3 wickets.

 

[headhunter]

Benn was really going for it there towards the end

 

[NZTailender]

Because you don't always open with your best players? Hussey is a fine finisher and has an inhuman record at five. Certainly not the worst idea ever, but just because he's in form doesn't mean you put him at the top.

Well actually... he averages a very great 46 at 5.

Has an inhuman average of 117 batting at 7

 

[roseboy64]

Australia got over 200 for the loss of five wickets after being 40 odd for 3 of 20 and the wheels came off in the last ten for the second time in a week. Aside from what Taylor and Powell did with the new ball it wasn't that good.

Really? Australia scored around 70 runs in the last ten. That's decent considering they had wickets in hand due to the Hussey/Clarke partnership.And it was Hussey adn Clarke who kept things together despite some good bowling up until a point then the last ten.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Australia got over 200 for the loss of five wickets after being 40 odd for 3 of 20 and the wheels came off in the last ten for the second time in a week. Aside from what Taylor and Powell did with the new ball it wasn't that good.

Australia played a couple of loose shots against the new ball. All Taylor and Powell did for the most part was put the ball in the right areas. And that's what Bravo and Sammy did too. I think you're a bit harsh on them. If Bravo had held onto the chance off Clarke, which should have been a simple one, the Australia innings could have been a lot different. West Indies would have likely still lost, mind.

 

[sideshowtim]

Hopes

Should be opening the batting though.

Got to love the fact that Ponting has said White is Australia's next ODI spinner, but hasn't bowled in 35 overs and Clarke has taken 3 wickets.

I hope White is doing 80% bowling and 20% batting in the nets for the next couple of years if this is the case.

 

[brockley]

I don't see how white willsucceed.
1 he hardly bowls for his state when he does he is ineffective
2 ponting doesn't trust him.
Ponting only bowls him when things are safe.
We all know when ponting doesn't bowl someone something is up.

 

[Perm]

Good innings from Hussey, Clarke and White in the middle order for Australia. The Hussey-Clarke partnership in particular allowed Australia to attack in the death overs. Also nice to see some of the West Indian bowlers prospering, Powell and Bravo in particular.

 

[pasag]

Real top effort from Australia, Hussey is all class and the boy with the golden arm continues to impress with the ball. Funny, we were just discussing that in this thread. WI could have won that though, if they would have dug in and used their brains.

The sightscreen issue at the start was pitiful though, like the other ODI when the same thing happened and like the water logging issue in the Tests, it's become a bit of a joke. Then you had a dog on the field towards the end there as well

Seemed to be two and a half people at the ground as well.

Also, big congrats to Ponting on a fabulous achievement.

 

[Langeveldt]

Is Xavier Marshall the worst international cricketer going at the minute? Opening batsman, average of 9 after 13 games?

 

[TT Boy]

Michael Clarke, "I think the pitch is probably one of the worst that I have played on in international cricket"...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23939642-23212,00.html?from=public_rss

 

[pasag]

Is Xavier Marshall the worst international cricketer going at the minute? Opening batsman, average of 9 after 13 games?

Watch the Test series?

 

[Perm]

Probably talking ODI cricket, hence why he stated his ODI average and games played.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

In fairness he has a shoulder injury and has received two good balls from Lee to boot. Not sure why he's facing the first ball tbh. Gayle needs to stand up.

 

[James90]

Richard can probably think of a reason.

He is an interesting case though Marshall. Still writing him off as an international cricketer but it's not impossible that he might make something of himself.