*Official* West Indies in Sri Lanka 2010

[smash84]

Wonder what kind of captain Sammy will prove to be. I'm guessing the Windies will want to score 550

They should look at at least 600. This pitch seems to be offering no assistance to the bowlers whatsoever. Might as well bat till you are all out.

 

[Howe_zat]

Agree completely. I think they were dying for an away series that didn't involve India though so I dont blame them for having the ODI series when they did.

I didn't mind that series by any stretch. It sounds like Malinga just isn't up to playing Tests right now, regardless of other plans.

(And I got to watch th Aussies lose, that was nice.)

 

[WindieWeathers]

How quick? Can he be a strike bowler like Jerome Taylor?

Yep he's very quick and it could be argued that he's got just as much potential as Roach, had a wonderful tour with our A-team in England where he took a few 4 and 5fers against India and England.

 

[Teja.]

Not playing Malinga is a ****ing joke.

Well played, Gayle.

 

[M0rphin3]

Looking forward to see Rusell bowl then. Dead slow wicket so he's gonna have some tough task ahead.

 

[M0rphin3]

Gayle whaddaplaya.

 

[shivfan]

Boy, am I glad I woke up early to watch this day's play....


Today was the Chris Gayle show - eight sixes and 26 boundaries, as the Jamaican hit a run-a-ball double hundred. And man, I enjoyed his celebration on reaching three figures!

But it was also good to see the young Trinidadians Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo notching up 50s.

I would like to see the guys reaching 650 at tea, and then declaring....

 

[shivfan]

Interesting debates for both sides starting XI's. I notice there's no room for Sulieman Benn in the sides picked on here, I would have thought with Dwayne Bravo able to offer the side some vital balance, it's a decent chance to go with Benn and Shillingford on a pitch that's likely to offer assistance to the spinners.
.

That's because he's suspended for one Test, after his antics against South africa....

I expect Benn to walk back into the side for the second test.

 

[shivfan]

Have Chanders at 3 and Nash at 4. Have the Bravo brothers at 5 & 6. They might enjoy coming out to bat with the Windies in a decent position.

Don't think Nash is good enough to play test cricket but if you are going to have the West Indies answer to Daniel Flynn somewhere, try and get him as high up as possible.

Shiv's too old to change....

Seriously though, I was never happy with him at five, but I'm much happier with him at four.

 

[Howe_zat]

Could easily see West Indies posting 600 here. Nothing in the pitch at all. On the other hand, there's no guarantee Gayle will keep going tomorrow, it's not often he fires twice in succession.

 

[Lostman]

Got to catch up on the highlights, seems Randiv got a beat down.

 

[Uppercut]

Sri Lanka are playing a particularly poor attack here. Gayle's innings seems almost unnecessarily violent.

WAG though.

 

[Howe_zat]

Got to catch up on the highlights, seems Randiv got a beat down.

Gayle vs Randiv

116 balls
119 runs
14 fours, 5 sixes
Run-rate 6.16

I'm surprised Randiv hasn't gone missing yet.

 

[Blaze 18]

Why isn't Malinga playing ? I hope he is not injured.

 

[GotSpin]

Read the last page

 

[Woodster]

Awesome knock from Gayle today, hit some monster sixes, after struggling a little at the start when it did seam about, but not for too long. His full focus was on Test cricket today, and he kept his discipline really well throughout the day, playing the spinners sensibly yet positively, and treated the pacemen at times with disdain.

Barath built on the promise he has shown in his brief Test career to date, and the similarities between Bravo jnr and Lara are evident. The high backlift, and his driving through the offiside very reminiscent of the great man.

But as for SL, it was very much a below par effort. They could not stem the flow of runs for any sustained period throughout the day, and lacked any real plans. Thushara was not the bowler I saw against New Zealand, his pace was military medium and once the seam movement had gone out of the new ball, he failed to hit the right areas consistently enough, erring in length in particular.

I like Prasad but he didn't have any great rhythm, and is probably best used in a five-man attack when he can operate as impact bowler, charging in for 4 and 5 over bursts, but in a two-man seam attack he needs to choke back a little.

The omission of Malinga is a worry. If he is injured, fair enough, but if there being over-cautious and resting him for the World Cup, it's a big disappointment for SL cricket.

 

[Howe_zat]

Having watched some highlights, the bowling today from SL was pretty tame. Some of Gayle's sixes were more dismissive than anything else. A damn easy Test début for Darren Bravo - flat deck, mediocre bowling, and Gayle on all cylinders at the other end.

 

[Lostman]

Gayle vs Randiv

116 balls
119 runs
14 fours, 5 sixes
Run-rate 6.16

I'm surprised Randiv hasn't gone missing yet.

Wow
Pacquiao vs Margarito was a much more even contest than that

 

[NasserFan207]

This could be a worrying glimpse into the post-murali future for SL.

 

[joels344]

Wow
Pacquiao vs Margarito was a much more even contest than that

Very true.