*Official* West Indies In Australia

[redhotchilipepa]

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West Indies skipper Chris Gayle is in doubt for next week's opening Test against Australia at the Gabba with the news he will rush home to be with his ill mother.

West Indies officials are hopeful that the hard-hitting left-handed opener, who will depart for his native Jamaica on Wednesday after his mum was admitted to hospital overnight, will be back in time for the first Test in Brisbane which starts on Thursday week.

"The management and players in the team as well as the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) are with Chris and his family at this time. We also want to wish his mother a speedy recovery," said team manager Joel Garner.

In Gayle's absence the tourists will be led by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin in their four-day match against Queensland which gets underway on Wednesday morning at Allan Border Field and they have also rested fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

West Indies have won the toss and will bat first, but the start of the match has been held up by 30 minutes by overnight rain which has left some areas of the centre wicket damp.

The Bulls meanwhile have left out quicks Ben Cutting and Scott Walter, who have each claimed six-wicket hauls this season in the Sheffield Shield, with former Australian fast bowler Craig McDermott's son Alister and Luke Feldman to both make their first-class debuts.

The match will also see West Indies batsman Brendan Nash facing his former team for the first time, the former Bull who was born in Western Australia now playing for the Windies having qualified because both his parents were born in Jamaica.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Those are all good points, but why appoint him before he's even been given the chance to coach a county or state side? Wouldn't it be better to let him coach with Somerset (who I'm sure would be delighted to have him) or WA for a year or two and see how he gets on there before giving him one of the biggest coaching roles in the country? You wouldn't pick a batsman for Australia before they'd played any FC cricket.

It all seems like a bit of a punt to me. He could go okay, but things could have been done so much better.

Because there's a massive, massive difference between being a specialist coach, and the coach of a side.

These guys have played with each other for years, have hit balls at training with each other for years. They'd know who has the ability to spot technical problems more than any of us hacks at home have an idea about, who make sweeping generalisations about Langer's personality as a reason for him not to be a good batting coach.

 

[aussie]

Agree with Vic. But dont see why AUS or Hughes specifically needs a batting coach. Seems like another brain failure by selectors & Neilsen.

 

[Uppercut]

Because there's a massive, massive difference between being a specialist coach, and the coach of a side.

These guys have played with each other for years, have hit balls at training with each other for years. They'd know who has the ability to spot technical problems more than any of us hacks at home have an idea about, who make sweeping generalisations about Langer's personality as a reason for him not to be a good batting coach.

It's true, which is why I'm not really being that critical. But as with the "selectors know best" line, it is kinda ignoring how often these decisions turn out badly. A year coaching Somerset or WA isn't exactly going to hurt.

Completely agree with your point regarding Langer's personality though. I was reading Gideon Haigh a few days back saying that the first time he met Shane Warne, Warne finished the interview by asking if he was anything like he expected. Haigh didn't know how to respond, and Warne said, "it's just because... people who have never met me seem to think they know me inside out."

Some of the comments about Langer being prickly or intense reminded me of that.

 

[Howsie]

Hopefully Gayle arrives back in time for the first test, I know him and his mother are very close though.

 

[howardj]

Because there's a massive, massive difference between being a specialist coach, and the coach of a side.

These guys have played with each other for years, have hit balls at training with each other for years. They'd know who has the ability to spot technical problems more than any of us hacks at home have an idea about, who make sweeping generalisations about Langer's personality as a reason for him not to be a good batting coach.

What? We should rely on CA's judgement and not question Langer's appointment (the man who has no coaching expereince) because we're not close to the team? I'd say that being close to the team and too 'pally-pally' 'buddy-buddy' has resulted not only Langer's job's for the boys appointment, but two other recent appointments which quite simply were not made on merit:

Andrew Hilditch - Just reappointed for the next two years. The head of the panel that has produced an incredibly amount of howlers over the past 12 months (i.e. Hauritz at the Oval; White in the Tests in India; our T20 World Cup squad; recalling Andrew Symonds for Melbourne when he was unfit and had made no FC runs; selecting no reserve opener on the Ashes tour).

Michael Clarke - A very ordinary T20 player appointed as captain.

Langer's is another ill-thought through, non-arm's length appointment.

 

[howardj]

Because there's a massive, massive difference between being a specialist coach, and the coach of a side.

These guys have played with each other for years, have hit balls at training with each other for years. They'd know who has the ability to spot technical problems more than any of us hacks at home have an idea about, who make sweeping generalisations about Langer's personality as a reason for him not to be a good batting coach.

What? We should rely on CA's judgement and not question Langer's appointment (the man who has no coaching expereince) because we're not close to the team? I'd say that being close to the team and too 'pally-pally' 'buddy-buddy' has resulted not only Langer's job's for the boys appointment, but two other recent appointments which quite simply were not made on merit:

Andrew Hilditch - Just reappointed for the next two years. The head of the panel that has produced an incredibly amount of howlers over the past 12 months (i.e. Hauritz at the Oval; White in the Tests in India; our T20 World Cup squad; recalling Andrew Symonds for Melbourne when he was unfit and had made no FC runs; selecting no reserve opener on the Ashes tour).

Michael Clarke - A very ordinary T20 player appointed as captain.

Langer's is another ill-thought through, non-arm's length appointment.

 

[shivfan]

Hopefully Gayle arrives back in time for the first test, I know him and his mother are very close though.

Realistically, I don't see Gayle coming back in time for the first Test....

This bit of sad news has exposed the weakness in the selectors picking Dowlin over Simmons. Who will open in the first Test with Barath? Dowlin or Nash?

The WI selectors had better fly Simmons over quick time....

 

[Jarquis]

Barath with a 20 ball duck. Good knock

 

[shivfan]

Yeah, it just goes to show how much the Windies have come to depend on Gayle when it comes to opening the batting....

Personally, I think this tour match should determine who out of Dowlin or Deonarine should come in for Gayle. And I hope the WICB flies a replacement out soon, because given his state of mind, I don't think Gayle should return to Australia from Jamaica.

This would be my new Xi for the first Test:

1) Barath
2) Nash
3) Sarwan
4) Deonarine
5) Shiv
6) Bravo
7) Ramdin
8) Taylor (if fit)
9) Benn
10) Rampaul
11) Roach

Also, I'm a bit disappointed that cricket media such as Gayle have relegated the story about the WI captain returning home because of a sick parent to the backpages. For example, cricinfo have bumped the story off their front pages for a non-story about Lords NOT being renamed....

When Michael Clarke had a sick parent that affected his participation, the news coverage was so much more extensive. It just goes to show what I've always felt - cricinfo cares more about the Big Three of India, England and Australia, and really pays scant attention to cricket in the poorer Test-playing countries.

 

[four_or_six]

I think for Cricinfo it does depend where you are as to what stories you get. I've noticed quite a bit recently that I'm getting more English stories higher up the front page, even county stories in the off season. Before you'd get the international stuff higher up whatever. Not sure if that's the reason for it.

 

[jondavluc]

I think for Cricinfo it does depend where you are as to what stories you get. I've noticed quite a bit recently that I'm getting more English stories higher up the front page, even county stories in the off season. Before you'd get the international stuff higher up whatever. Not sure if that's the reason for it.

I think it does Chris Gayle going home for his mum is the first article on my computer.The lords story is also right down near the bottom.

 

[shivfan]

That would explain a lot, then....

Though why cricinfo would think that the non-story about Lords not changing its name would be of more interest to them than Gayle rushing home to be next to his critically ill mother, is beyond me....

The BBC seems to think the same thing, too.

 

[Top_Cat]

Also, I'm a bit disappointed that cricket media such as Gayle have relegated the story about the WI captain returning home because of a sick parent to the backpages. For example, cricinfo have bumped the story off their front pages for a non-story about Lords NOT being renamed....

When Michael Clarke had a sick parent that affected his participation, the news coverage was so much more extensive. It just goes to show what I've always felt - cricinfo cares more about the Big Three of India, England and Australia, and really pays scant attention to cricket in the poorer Test-playing countries.

Gayle is first story on Cricinfo for me, Lords is waay down the list. But hey, don't let sour grapes spoil a decent whine.

 

[grecian]

Anyone seen McDermott Junior? seems to have inherited some talent from his father, but also the gingerness.

Swings and roundabouts, I guess.....

 

[Nate]

Been a bit of discussion on him in the AD Season Thread. He's sharp enough for an 18 year-old, hustles in like his dad, swings it away a touch on a length, bowls a decent yorker.

 

[Top_Cat]

Been a bit of discussion on him in the AD Season Thread. He's sharp enough for an 18 year-old, hustles in like his dad, swings it away a touch on a length, bowls a decent yorker.

He's basically a slower clone of his Dad. If he adds 5Km/h and develops an off-cutter, he will BE his Dad.

Reckon Billy was less accurate at 18-20 but he was quicker than Ali. TBH, as long as he keeps that beautiful shape away from the bat happening, reckon he'll go well.

 

[Andre]

Ponting (c)
Katich
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger.

Fairly predicable in the end; you'd have to assume that is the end of the line for S Clark.

 

[pasag]

Bolly, Bolly, Bolly, Bolly

 

[Burgey]

Anyone think they'll play 4 quicks?

Don't reckon so personally.