*Official* West Indies In Australia

[Hit_Wicket]

Disappointing for Hilfenhaus but gee McKay has enjoyed a meteoric rise since the Champions League.

Though with his form for NSW in mind, Bollinger surely deserves another opportunity.

 

[aussie]

From his performances over the past 18 months, yes.

Nannes better than McKay for sure. Plus i'd rate him over Bollinger even, the selectors disappoiting just see him as a T20 specialist.

 

[Julian87]

Nannes is not a better 4/5 day bowler than Bollinger.

 

[Burgey]

Would like to see Doug get a non-SCG/ Adelaide/ subcontinent run

 

[andyc]

Nannes better than McKay for sure. Plus i'd rate him over Bollinger even, the selectors disappoiting just see him as a T20 specialist.

Don't get your obsession over Nannes tbh. Why would the selectors not go for someone who has a very similar record, but is 7 years younger?

 

[NUFAN]

Disappointing for Hilfenhaus but gee McKay has enjoyed a meteoric rise since the Champions League.

Though with his form for NSW in mind, Bollinger surely deserves another opportunity.

Nah, McKay was earmarked for the next step making the Australia A side during the winter months.

His performances in the Champions League may have helped him get a spot in the ODI squad, but not in this squad.

He's definitely the logical selection, this almost certainly means Stu Clark's Australian Career is over.

 

[Noble One]

Nannes better than McKay for sure. Plus i'd rate him over Bollinger even, the selectors disappoiting just see him as a T20 specialist.

McKay has been the leading the Victorian pace attack for two seasons now. Nannes generally plays a more shock-bowler role (when fit), and has been nowhere near as effective as McKay.

 

[NUFAN]

Don't get your obsession over Nannes tbh. Why would the selectors not go for someone who has a very similar record, but is 7 years younger?

Yeah this, plus McKay is a better batsman and is actually fit at the moment.

 

[DingDong]

West Indies @ test cricket >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DingDong @ not posting pathetic drivel, tbh.

some might say he needs to pull his head in k.

both those were uncalled for ok.

 

[Matt79]

Is Mckay really the 5th best Australian test bowler now?

Sixth. Lee is also injured.

 

[Matt79]

both those were uncalled for ok.

Post something decent then.

 

[Flem274*]

Post something decent then.

DingDong trys his best k. Pull ur head in.

 

[Matt79]

You pull your head in.

 

[pasag]

Nannes better than McKay for sure. Plus i'd rate him over Bollinger even, the selectors disappoiting just see him as a T20 specialist.

No.

 

[shivfan]

Toss up between Dowlin and Nash if Sarwan makes it back. Could see Sammy or Tonge if Taylor isn't fit.

Personally, I don't see the point of a bowling attack of Roach-Rampaul-Tonge, with Bravo, Benn and Gayle as backup....

To me, it makes more sense to strengthen the batting. I would make one change to this side - Sarwan for Taylor, and Bravo to drop down the order. Bravo's batting has deteriorated in recent years, and there's no way he should bat in the top six, IMHO. I would allocate positions seven and eight in the batting order to Bravo and Ramdin, though I'm not decided on who should bat higher.

 

[shivfan]

Well played Barath. That was all over more clinically and quickly than seemed likely after an hours play today.

Windies really need Taylor to be ok and Sarwan to recover - I think they're a batsman short, so I'd be dropping Benn for Sarwan if he's fit. Barath and Dowdin look to be good additions to the batting line up.

Well, with Taylor out for the rest of the series, maybe that's just the move they'll make....

Bring in Sarwan as a replacement for Taylor, and beef up the batting. Especially on a batsman-friendly pitch like Adelaide, where it's likely that both Benn and Gayle will have a lot of bowling to do.

 

[Athlai]

West Indies without Edwards and Taylor need as many batsman as they can get.

 

[shivfan]

This Series is precisely what Test cricket did not need at this particular time.

Next to England, we're probably the Country that most supports Test cricket, and this Series gives journalists a golden opportunity to write negative articles about the longer form of the game. This negativity was encapsulated in a piece in the Courier Mail on Friday, by none other than boofhead journalist himself Ben Dorries, highlighting the poor attendance. He neglected to mention that last year's first day of the Gabba Test drew even less fans.

Anyway, I maintain that if England, South Africa or India had have fronted at the Gabba last week, we would have seen very healthy crowds. In Australia anyway, Tests are not in trouble if the opposition is strong.

That said, in February the ODIs between Australia and the West Indies will very likely have much bigger crowds....

 

[shivfan]

So JT is officially out for the rest of the test series and the selectors are meeting to decide on a replacement. Who de we think is going to replace him?

The centrally contracted fast bowlers who are not in Australia are:

Tino Best
Kevin McLean
Nelon Pascal
Lionel Baker

Now Best was given a contract as a reward for scabbing so he is surely not a realistic option. Lionel Baker was insanely ordinary in his previous international appearances so I would guess it is between McLean and Pascal.

Yeah, it looks like McClean is probably in pole position....

What about Andrew Richardson? I realise he doesn't have a central contract, but I would like to think that the WI selectors can think outside the box, if needs be.

 

[Woodster]

Personally, I don't see the point of a bowling attack of Roach-Rampaul-Tonge, with Bravo, Benn and Gayle as backup....

To me, it makes more sense to strengthen the batting. I would make one change to this side - Sarwan for Taylor, and Bravo to drop down the order. Bravo's batting has deteriorated in recent years, and there's no way he should bat in the top six, IMHO. I would allocate positions seven and eight in the batting order to Bravo and Ramdin, though I'm not decided on who should bat higher.

Agree witht he fact that Bravo and Ramdin should find themselves at number 7 and 8, and indeed another batsman is needed in this fragile line-up. I was impressed with Ramdin's batting, however, and he looked as though he had taken his game on a little since I last saw him properley tested.

Bravo continues to frustrate with the bat, and the shot he played in the second innings was completely brainless at best. He made no intentions to hit down on the ball and consequently picked out the fielder with unerring accuracy. You would think a player that appears to have a decent amount of talent with the bat (albeit unfulfilled) would be able to do whatever he likes with a Mike Hussey bouncer!

Of course it is important to take 20 wickets, but that has to be done on the back of a solid base, ie a competitive first innings total. There needs to be a balance met here for the WI, in selecting a bowling attack that carries enough threat to take 20 wickets, and get the runs on the board. With Bravo at 7, he can be supported in the bowling attack by Rampaul, Roach and Benn. A four man attack (can be construde as negative, but the need for a stronger batting line-up is more relevant) with Gayle, Nash, Sarwan etc chipping in with their own brand of part-time bowling, imo, it offers their best chance of playing a competitive Test.