*Official* West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010

[Lostman]

So the probable XI for the first test:

Chris Gayle
Adrian Barath
Darren Bravo/Devon Smith
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Brendan Nash
Dwayne Bravo
Carlton Baugh Jr (wk)
Darren Sammy
Sulieman Benn
Shane Shillingford
Kemar Roach

Lord help us!

Murali probably regrets retiring right about now.

 

[GotSpin]

Always a problem when you have Senior Bravo batting at six.

 

[Lostman]

Always a problem when you have Senior Bravo batting at six.

Only Chanderpaul saves this batting lineup from being worse than Pakistan's.

 

[GotSpin]

Will be interested to see how junior Bravo plays though. Could be a big future player.

 

[smash84]

Only Chanderpaul saves this batting lineup from being worse than Pakistan's.

No he doesn't :

With Mohammad Yusuf back in the line-up Pakistan batting > Windies batting.

 

[Flem274*]

Depends. MoYo has this habit of disappointing despite his impressive average whereas Chanderpaul is a bit of a lone ranger at times.

Younis Khan back however, would be awesome, though lack of openers will still hurt you guys. West Indies are fortunate to have Gayle very much established and a promising prospect in Barath, who hopefully puts in some handy contributions this tour.

 

[Craig]

I'll be honest, has Sammy ever captained any team? Aside from the under 13's of course.

 

[Prince EWS]

No he doesn't :

With Mohammad Yusuf back in the line-up Pakistan batting > Windies batting.

Hmm nah DWTA. If you got Younis back too then sure.

 

[GotSpin]

I'll be honest, has Sammy ever captained any team? Aside from the under 13's of course.

Windward Islands

 

[Migara]

SL might go for Mendis. That's too greedy IMO. It's the right time to introduce Sachithra Senanayake. If het gets the knack of it, we'll be seeing a hell of an off spinner for a decade. But as usual our select suckers may debut him in India or in Australia.

 

[Spark]

I thought the correct turn of phrase was muppets

 

[Lostman]

I thought the correct turn of phrase was muppets

the muppets were replaced recently.

 

[aussie]

Haha. Devon Smith quickly turning into the next Stuart Williams. Keeps going back to domestic cricket & smoking runs after continoulsy being picked & looking woefully short of international quality.

The whole Gayle being axed basically is because he didn't accept that board contract. That was a terirble message he was sending as WI captain.

I expect within the next couple months after Sammy who i expect will fall short of test quality. Will be axed & either Gayle will be reinstated as skipper or DW Bravo will become skipper. Since presuming the likes of Sarwan, Taylor, Edwards come back fit during the WI home season, along with Marlon Samuels regaining his batting form before he was banned. No way can Sammy fit into to the best Windies test XI.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Mildly surprised to see Sammy take the armband, I have to say. Whatever his merits as a skipper (never seen him captain a side, myself) the first thing a test captain should be is a guaranteed pick for the best XI and I don't think he quite is, is he?

Mike Brearley the exception that proves, etc.

 

[tooextracool]

On the positive side, glad to see Andre Russell in the side. Heard a lot of good things about him and hope to get the chance to watch him bowl.

 

[Tom 1972]

I think Gayle has too much "rockstar" about him to be the best guy to lead the Windies. It was just that Gayle was always first picked...

Captaincy - the rockstars are not usually the best call:
Clive Lloyd > Vic Richards
Mark Taylor > Ricky Ponting
I.Chappell > G.Chappell
Michael Vaughan > Strauss > Freddie
Fleming > Crowe

 

[tooextracool]

Fleming > Crowe as captain? Convince me.

 

[vcs]

I'd hardly call Ponting a rockstar.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'd hardly call Ponting a rockstar.

Compared to 'Tubby' Taylor.......

 

[roseboy64]

Sammy's not there for cricketing reasons anyway.