*Official* Zimbabwe in West Indies

[WindieWeathers]

I agree that Imran Khan is well worth a look, especially in the longer form of the game. As for the fast bowlers, it really is difficult as the only one who demands selection after his performance this season is Pedro Collins and I am reluctant to support someone who turned their back on West Indies selection just 2 years ago.

I think Gibson should try and find the time to organise a fast bowling camp where he can have a really good look at several candidates and give them fitness programmes, goals to aspire too etc. The likes of Bess, Gabriel, McLean, Bennett, Pascal, Dawes, Russell and Holder would all benefit from something like that and Gibson could get more of an idea of what they could bring to the table.

In terms of express fast bowlers, Pascal (when in good rythm), Bess and Gabriel are the most promising but they simply have not done enhough to earn selection. I agree that Delorn Johnson is a good prospect who has been disadvantaged by politics in the Windward Islands system but we simply can't pick him yet, left arm angle or not. If he comes back next year and dominates than fair enough but he certainly should not be chosen yet.

Sometimes you have to take a chance or two, didn't Edwards lack experience when he was picked? also Baker had a better season than Collins imo and the stats back that up.

 

[TT Boy]

Sometimes you have to take a chance or two, didn't Edwards lack experience when he was picked? also Baker had a better season than Collins imo and the stats back that up.

And it showed. Fidel didn't become a decent test bowler until about eighteen months back.

 

[Beamer]

Sometimes you have to take a chance or two, didn't Edwards lack experience when he was picked? also Baker had a better season than Collins imo and the stats back that up.

Sorry I forgot Baker who took 13 of his 20 odd wickets in one match against CCC on as terrible wicket. I might be biased against Baker because I have never seen a more ordinary bowler play a test for the West Indies.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Sorry I forgot Baker who took 13 of his 20 odd wickets in one match against CCC on as terrible wicket. I might be biased against Baker because I have never seen a more ordinary bowler play a test for the West Indies.

Which is why we shouldn't be considering Collins if he can't even do better than Baker at Fc level right now!!.

What do you think about the wicketkeeper situation? will Ramdin get another chance? i hope not, i hope we give Jahmar Hamilton a go, a young talented kid who has experience in the English system and has come on leaps and bounds this season with the bat, his glove work is also top class.

 

[Beamer]

Ramdin is a neverending problem tbh. He is clearly the best wicket keeper in the region (only Walton comes close) and he has a lot of talent with the bat, it's just that he goes through phases where he produces absolutely nothing.

If Walton, Hamilton, Dowrich and Devon Thomas have a stand out season next year or dominate at A team level Ramdin will be in big trouble but for now he has to stay in Test cricket. However in ODI cricket I would be tempted to try a few others if Ramdin repeats his incompetent death performances of the last few months.

In other news the Bravo brothers are back in the squad whilst Andre Fletcher and Dwayne Smith have been dropped. Sarwan is inexplicably left out despite being fully fit. Maybe they dont want to risk him against Zimbabwe but I would beg to differ considering how competitive these matches have been.

 

[maxtop123]

Hi, new west indies fan to this forum.

Beamer is right about Sarwan . Don't understand the selectors on that one really. As for quick bowlers, don't know about Pacal, afteer 23 matches surely he should have had a better haul of wickets by now especially ass he actualy does bowl a fair few overs.

As for talent versus production, it's a fine balance. Some players can come in and make an impact. Others cannot and some in spite o FC production never cut it at the international level.

Personally I think taking a chance with a bowler has potentially better pay off than with a batsman who is more likely to be better served having had a few seasons.If it ws te few season argument we never would have had Holding nor Croft nor Garner. Selecting is an art.Very difficult to get it right sometimes.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Hi, new west indies fan to this forum.

Beamer is right about Sarwan . Don't understand the selectors on that one really. As for quick bowlers, don't know about Pacal, afteer 23 matches surely he should have had a better haul of wickets by now especially ass he actualy does bowl a fair few overs.

As for talent versus production, it's a fine balance. Some players can come in and make an impact. Others cannot and some in spite o FC production never cut it at the international level.

Personally I think taking a chance with a bowler has potentially better pay off than with a batsman who is more likely to be better served having had a few seasons.If it ws te few season argument we never would have had Holding nor Croft nor Garner. Selecting is an art.Very difficult to get it right sometimes.

Welcome to the forum man!! , and i totally agree with your notion about the bowlers, saying "make them wait for two seasons before they get a chance" is ridiculous to me, if they are in good form and talented then that's good enough for me.

 

[WindieWeathers]

What's everyones team for the 3rd ODI? mine is....

Gayle
Barath
Darren Bravo
Chanders
Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
Pollard
Ramdin
Benn
Rampaul
Roach

I don't think we need another spinner in this game, Gayle looked dangerous against them so he and Benn can take care of the spin, with Deonarine around to add more if needed, having the Bravo bro's back is also a boost, i'm hoping Darren can prove himself and give Gibson something to think about, having Dwayne back is obviously a massive boost too.

 

[Beamer]

Hi, new west indies fan to this forum.

Beamer is right about Sarwan . Don't understand the selectors on that one really. As for quick bowlers, don't know about Pacal, afteer 23 matches surely he should have had a better haul of wickets by now especially ass he actualy does bowl a fair few overs.

As for talent versus production, it's a fine balance. Some players can come in and make an impact. Others cannot and some in spite o FC production never cut it at the international level.

Personally I think taking a chance with a bowler has potentially better pay off than with a batsman who is more likely to be better served having had a few seasons.If it ws te few season argument we never would have had Holding nor Croft nor Garner. Selecting is an art.Very difficult to get it right sometimes.

Welcome Maxtop, it's nice to see you on CricketWeb. I completely agree with your notion that taking a chance with a young bowler is more likely to work than a young batsman. Especially if they have had a breakthrough season of huge proportions. I remember Jerome Taylor dominating the regional season when he was just 18. His bowling had all the attributes to be test class at the time but his body just wasn't up to it. If the selectors see a young bowler with the tools to work with it is important that they also feel he is physically ready for the challenge of constant international cricket.

As for throwing in young batsman before they have had much experience, I think they have to display exceptional attributes for that to work and even then it is an enormous risk. For example, Xavier Marshall was thrown in on the basis of youth team runs and the compact nature of his strokeplay. We all know how disastrous that move proved to be. The only young batsman who I would even consider exposing to international cricket at the moment is Kraigg Braithwaite because he not only displays the right technique but his main strength is his concentration and ability to bat for long periods. Even then, I would prefer he have at least one decent FC season or A team tour before being thrown in at the deep end.

 

[Beamer]

What's everyones team for the 3rd ODI? mine is....

Gayle
Barath
Darren Bravo
Chanders
Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
Pollard
Ramdin
Benn
Rampaul
Roach

I don't think we need another spinner in this game, Gayle looked dangerous against them so he and Benn can take care of the spin, with Deonarine around to add more if needed, having the Bravo bro's back is also a boost, i'm hoping Darren can prove himself and give Gibson something to think about, having Dwayne back is obviously a massive boost too.

I pray your right and also that the pitch doesn't assist the spinners anywhere near as much. Personally, I would choose Miller ahead of Benn if it came down to one spinner in ODI cricket but I accept there is not a huge amount between them (and that you don't rate Miller very highly, much like I don't rate Benn).

Having Dwayne Bravo back is a huge boost, especially in the field where we have sometimes lacked the spark he can provide with a bit of cajoling or an exceptional piece of fielding. I also have much more faith in Little Bravo then Fletcher, I just hope he shows us all what a talented batsman he is.

 

[shivfan]

Hi, new west indies fan to this forum.

Beamer is right about Sarwan . Don't understand the selectors on that one really. As for quick bowlers, don't know about Pacal, afteer 23 matches surely he should have had a better haul of wickets by now especially ass he actualy does bowl a fair few overs.

As for talent versus production, it's a fine balance. Some players can come in and make an impact. Others cannot and some in spite o FC production never cut it at the international level.

Personally I think taking a chance with a bowler has potentially better pay off than with a batsman who is more likely to be better served having had a few seasons.If it ws te few season argument we never would have had Holding nor Croft nor Garner. Selecting is an art.Very difficult to get it right sometimes.

Good to see you, mate....

Apparently, according to RJR Sports, Sarwan failed a fitness test. Maybe he aggravated an injury playing for Guyana in that four-day match. It's a pity, because his experience is needed in this side, where aside from Gayle, Shiv, Barath and Deonarine, the other batsmen are not producing the runs consistently.

That's what I'm talking about, Windie....

In the first ODI, after half-centuries by Gayle, Barath and Shiv, the inexperienced middle order threw it away. Now, with the return of Big Bravo, this middle order should be strengthened. HOpefully, Pollard will bat more maturely in the remaining ODIs, since he's retained his place. It's good to see Smith being dropped, and Lil Bravo called into the squad. If he bats sensibly, there's a place in the ODI middle-order that's up for grabs.

In terms of Ramdin, there's no real challenger to him this season. The only wickie who made runs consistently this season, aside from Ramdin himself, is Baugh, and his glovework has always been questionable. Still, maybe it's improved to the level that he can do it for 50 overs without committing major blunders....

I quite like this squad. But, given the drought conditions in the region, the pitch is bound to assist spin, and Miller bowled well in the last ODI, so to me, both Miller and Benn play....

Gayle
Barath
Chanders
Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
Pollard
Ramdin
Sammy/Bernard
Miller
Benn
Roach

 

[shivfan]

Here's the story....

Sarwan out! ... But the Bravos return for final ODIs - - JamaicaObserver.com

"The 29-year-old right-hander, who recently returned to competitive action following a two-month injury layoff, has been given extra time to fully recuperate before making a return to the Windies squad. He has not played international cricket since last December after sustaining a back injury on the Test tour of Australia and subsequently aggravating the problem in the build up to the WICB regional first-class championship in January. CMC Sports understands that the West Indies selectors are not keen on rushing Sarwan back to action, especially with crucial campaigns in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship and South Africa series around the corner. A player with 83 Tests and 152 ODIs to his name, selectors are said to have opted to give Sarwan every opportunity to be fully fit for the bigger international engagements which are deemed more important than the current Zimbabwe series."

 

[GotSpin]

Personally I think taking a chance with a bowler has potentially better pay off than with a batsman who is more likely to be better served having had a few seasons.If it ws te few season argument we never would have had Holding nor Croft nor Garner. Selecting is an art.Very difficult to get it right sometimes.

Excellent point

 

[maxtop123]

Yeah, thanks, Beamer. Decided to stop lurking. I just wish we has some sort of programme for the yoing quicks. In the Ja/TT game, commentators seemed taken with Gabriel and Dawes. Dawes was clearly the quickest of Jamaica's fast bowlers and he did cause problems in the secnd innings even though he only had one wicket to show for his efforts. Granted, said batsman was beaten for pace.

Gabriel seemed to have bowled very well in his second spell as Russell did in the second innings.Bess had his moments still inconsistent and likely needs a partner or he'll be overworked for Guyana.Pacal up and down as usual.

Delorn Johnson does have some potential and the fact that he is left arm fast (not medium fast) is good. Was hoping Windwards would have given him more exposure. Seemed to have done to him what Jamaica did with Dawes.

With Ireland in Jamaica hopefully we'll expose the likes of Dawes, Russell and Horace Miller etc.Also with the counties in Barbados, hopefully the Bajans will expose the likes of Dowrich, Jason Holder, Braithwaite etc.

 

[shivfan]

Barath is struggling to make runs in the opening powerplays....

Gayle is having no such difficulty, though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Zimbabwe aren't even pretending anymore; they've dropped their one specialist seamer for yet another spinner. Five frontline spinners in this game with their #6 to bowl some part-time medium pace.

I like it really - I've always said that there's no point in picking a spinner just for the sake of it if he's not close to being one of your best bowlers for the conditions, but the same applies to quicks. Zimbabwe's four best bowlers in the touring party are all spinners so they should all play.

 

[Prince EWS]

Turn and bounce for Prosper. Was really worried about what Gayle could do to his bowling if he had one of those "I'm gonna bowl a long hop an over" days; great to see him get him out early.

 

[Langeveldt]

c'mon Zim!

 

[Stapel]

Just checked the score (60/1 after 20.0). Does the pitch justify the low run-rate?

 

[Prince EWS]

Just checked the score (60/1 after 20.0). Does the pitch justify the low run-rate?

Nah. It's certainly not a quick pitch by any means but Barath just gets really badly bogged down by spinners and a ring field.