*Official* West Indies In Australia

[marc71178]

Scores of 62,53,51,34 and 40 shows potential, but the two specialist openers would surely have registered a couple of three figure scores.

Why do you say that? Surely the only difference between opening the batting and not is in facing the new ball. Clearly Watson has managed to get over that hurdle so what difference is there between him and any of the others when the balls aged?

 

[Pothas]

Yeah you are right.

Selectors are most likely thinking that Watson has shown that he can 100s in ODIs so it's just a matter of time that he builds on his starts in Test Cricket. Not the right call in my opinion.

He is bound to get one in this series surley? not sure that really means much though.

 

[Uppercut]

North needs to be a little more consistent. In saying that though, he's taken to Test Cricket well. I really enjoy watching the way he goes about his innings. One of the centuries during the Ashes he scored was perfect, he was on like 7 off 55 balls or so, but he stuck with it and played beautifully.

More consistent? He's scored three centuries in his first seven tests mate, and fallen just short once more when he'd already done a fantastic job for the team, all of his games bar one being played on difficult pitches to bat on. Sachin Tendulkar, for comparison's sake, has scored 43 in 160 tests.

Looks to me like a polite request that Marcus North transform into Superman.

 

[roseboy64]

Guessing

Dowlin
Barath
Sarwan
Bravo/Nash
Chanderpaul
Bravo/Nash
Ramdin
Taylor
Benn
Roach
Rampaul

Deonarine's failure with the bat gets Benn in. Tonge and Sammy not playing this game means they're unlikely to get in.

 

[brockley]

This gabba wretch is unspin friendly,p[lease play 4 pacemen and north as the spinner 8 wkts at 30 this season,good enough,sarwan and chanerpaul get out.

 

[roseboy64]

Might see Sammy for Benn though.

 

[howardj]

I met my journalism idol (whilst I was in school anyway) today at the Windies game.

None other than the doyen of Aussie cricket reporting in Australia - none other than Mr. Robert Craddock.

A genuinely nice man.

 

[howardj]

Kettle (little Billy) McDermott looks the goods by the way.

Comfortably predict that both he and his younger brother will have long FC careers.

 

[Noble One]

Kettle (little Billy) McDermott looks the goods by the way.

Comfortably predict that both he and his younger brother will have long FC careers.

Agree. Obviously I didn't see how he bowled over the past four days. But from the coverage of his performances in the FRC, looks to have a very solid set of fast bowling skills. If he can add a little more pace as he bulks up, that outswinger of his will become a very dangerous weapon.

Biggest threat to his development is the abundance of pace bowling options in Queensland. Fully fit, the choices of Cutting, Harris, Swan, Rimmington, Laughlin, McDermott, Hopes, Walter and Sullivan in Queensland is just ridiculous.

 

[shivfan]

Guessing

Dowlin
Barath
Sarwan
Bravo/Nash
Chanderpaul
Bravo/Nash
Ramdin
Taylor
Benn
Roach
Rampaul

Deonarine's failure with the bat gets Benn in. Tonge and Sammy not playing this game means they're unlikely to get in.

That's the way I see it too....

Bravo didn't do much with the bat in the Queensland game, so I'd rather see him at six, and Nash at four. I don't think Sammy's an improvement on Benn, so I'd rather go with the spinner for this match. After all, Gayle won't be playing, and if Benn is omitted, who's going to bowl spin? Sarwan?

 

[Andre]

I met my journalism idol (whilst I was in school anyway) today at the Windies game.

None other than the doyen of Aussie cricket reporting in Australia - none other than Mr. Robert Craddock.

A genuinely nice man.

He seems like a cracking bloke and character actually - have commented on his blog a couple of times and he's always given good response. Really seems to genuinely love his cricket too, he gets very passionate when I see him talk about the game.

 

[roseboy64]

That's the way I see it too....

Bravo didn't do much with the bat in the Queensland game, so I'd rather see him at six, and Nash at four. I don't think Sammy's an improvement on Benn, so I'd rather go with the spinner for this match. After all, Gayle won't be playing, and if Benn is omitted, who's going to bowl spin? Sarwan?

And Benn's spin will make a difference? Not really.

 

[stephen]

In an ideal world the top seven for Australia would look like this:

Rogers
Jaques
Ponting
Katich
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin

Yet Jaques was unfairly dropped from his CA contract having really done nothing wrong when given the opportunity and Rogers had his file marked NTPFAA after having a single mediocre test.

Once Ponting and Hussey retire, then would be time for Hughes and Watson to enter, with North sitting on the fringes (after all, Clarke's back is hardly reliable).

Instead we've had schitzophrenic selections that have not done anything to inspire faith in any of the newer players, except the injury prone Watson. Imagine if Jaques or Rogers had been given the chances that Watson has had.

Then again, Jaques has always been shafted with selections - in 05/06 when he was breaking records domestically, averaging 96 in ODDs and was given a sole opportunity in which he was very nearly the first Australian batsman to make a century in his first ODI he still was never given a real run in either form of the game. Feel real sorry for the bloke to be honest.

 

[Matt79]

Agree Jaques has copped some harsh ones, but baffling to suggest that North doesn't merit, on performances delivered, his place in the team. Similarly, don't really see why Rogers should be ahead of Hughes anymore - he shouldn't be far behind or in any way out of calculations, but Hughes has done enough in FC and in his tests to date to suggest he merits his place in the selectors priorities.

It basically comes down to whether you think Watson, as an all rounder is worth his place in the team. I think his batting is good enough that even if he's not the beat candidate as a batsman alone, then as a package he's worth the slot. And if he ends up taking Hussey's spot in the middle order in the end, rather than as an opener, even moreso.

 

[Uppercut]

Watson over Hussey?

Tough call, but I'm inclined to go for Hussey. So, so many more runs on the board. With Watson you're hoping that he's both good enough for test level (which I'm only 50-50 on) and in some kind of form. With Hussey, you know he's good enough because he's shown it so often over his career. You're just hoping he's on form.

Countering that is Watto's bowling. How much of an issue is that? Not realllly enough for me to swing it.

 

[roseboy64]

Gayle likely back for the first Test.

 

[Julian87]

That's great news. What XI is likely to play for the Windies in that case?

 

[roseboy64]

Gayle
Barath
Sarwan
Dowlin
Chanderpaul
Nash
Bravo
Ramdin
Taylor
Rampaul/Sammy/Tonge
Roach

 

[Julian87]

I'd play Sammy ahead of Benn for the Brisbane test if Gayle plays.

edit: not if they'll bring Gayle in for a bowler...

 

[Athlai]

Would go

Gayle
Dowlin/Barath (both went quite well, either worth a spot)
Sarwan
Nash
Chanderpaul
Bravo
Ramdin
Sammy
Taylor
Roach
Rampaul

Need Sammy for the batting IMO, Gayle's bowling is as good as Benns anyway. Attack looks a little toothless without Edwards. Could possibly drop Sammy and throw in Barath or Dowlin down the order, Bravo is good enough for the 4th bowling option and Gayle with the spin. They may be tempted to keep Sammy or Benn in without Edwards in the team though.