*Official* Match 36 - England v West Indies

[four_or_six]

I always think all the Wright-bashing goes too far. I know he's no superstar, but I just have this feeling that he's been good for us in a crisis quite a few times. I'm sure that's what he's doing in the squad.

 

[straw man]

Just read through the entire thread without knowing the final result. Thanks folks, it was entertaining.

All in all I'm happy England are still in the World Cup - they're guaranteed entertainment every match and I also have them marked down to beat Australia in the quarter final (it's destiny) before getting knocked out by someone else in the semi. Plus we'd miss the dulcet tones and occasional toy-throwing of CW's English posters

Bad luck for Bangladesh - at least their fate is in their own hands and if they beat SA they'll deserve that QF spot.

Windies... urgh. Last 4 wickets for 2 runs.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Massive Windies fail.

 

[Woodster]

You have to admire the battling qualities of this England side, it's those fighting attributes that have hopefully outweighed our evident weaknesses in this group stage and secured us a place in the quarter-finals. Though you never know, a Bangladesh and West Indies double in their remaining games could well sum up England's campaign.

We looked down an out with only 22 needed and four wickets in the shed, almost on our way through passport control, till we somehow got back into the game then finished it quickly.

 

[superkingdave]

Just read through the entire thread without knowing the final result. Thanks folks, it was entertaining.

All in all I'm happy England are still in the World Cup - they're guaranteed entertainment every match and I also have them marked down to beat Australia in the quarter final (it's destiny) before getting knocked out by someone else in the semi. Plus we'd miss the dulcet tones and occasional toy-throwing of CW's English posters

Bad luck for Bangladesh - at least their fate is in their own hands and if they beat SA they'll deserve that QF spot.

Windies... urgh. Last 4 wickets for 2 runs.

I'm not sure we will face Australia barring upsets. Unless Bangladesh or West Indies win we will finish 3rd and Australia can't finish second in their group IIRC barring rain offs

 

[MW1304]

Wright wtf. Tredwell wtf.

Still think they're both **** though.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Just watching the highlights on the BBC now...

What's happened to Ian Bell's footwork to the spinners?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Pollard's review. Oh dear.

 

[straw man]

I'm not sure we will face Australia barring upsets. Unless Bangladesh or West Indies win we will finish 3rd and Australia can't finish second in their group IIRC barring rain offs

Hrmm yeah it's looking pretty unlikely, despite the destinyness of the whole thing. Still possible though.

 

[GotSpin]

Like the look of Russell. Looks to hurry the batsman a lot more than the speed gun suggests he should. Seems to bowl that "heavy ball" comms are so found of.

Kudos to Wright too; super knock under real pressure. Took his time to play himself in and put the bad balls away with aplomb.

It's weird because Russell appears to bowl a lot quicker than the 130km/h suggests

The lack of batting depth really reared its ugly head for the Windies, even despite shock knocks from Sammy and Russell. Was one of those perfect situations for Shiv to knock the ball around. While Bishoo isn't a polished spinner yet, I'd consider dropping Benn for their game against India.

 

[Julian87]

Pretty obvious that they need to drop Sammy tbh.

 

[Julian87]

Also think they've shown that they needed to pick Deonarine.

 

[Furball]

I always think all the Wright-bashing goes too far. I know he's no superstar, but I just have this feeling that he's been good for us in a crisis quite a few times. I'm sure that's what he's doing in the squad.

I'd like Wright to go back to his county for a year and really work on his batting. While I still don't rate him particularly highly he's got the potential to be a useful, hard hitting batsman who also bowls the occasional spell of tidy medium pace.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah the Wright bashing does get excessive. What mostly bothers me about him is the way he's used, or rather not. He's often picked in a squad to be specialist 12th man - let's face it, they picked him today so reluctantly - and when he's in the side he's not being used for hardly anything, batting at 8 or so and bowling two or three overs.

I agree with Furball, I'd really like him to try and string some lengthy innings together in county cricket and prove his worth as a top six batsman.

 

[Furball]

Yeah the Wright bashing does get excessive. What mostly bothers me about him is the way he's used, or rather not. He's often picked in a squad to be specialist 12th man - let's face it, they picked him today so reluctantly - and when he's in the side he's not being used for hardly anything, batting at 8 or so and bowling two or three overs.

I agree with Furball, I'd really like him to try and string some lengthy innings together in county cricket and prove his worth as a top six batsman.

Talking about his OD batting. Unless he goes back to the Championship and bashes 2,000 runs by the end of May I don't ever see him being a Test option.

His county List A batting record is pretty shocking though. His bowling's ok for someone who'd be a part timer (100 wickets @ 39 isn't dreadful) but his List A batting average of 23 has to be better.

 

[TT Boy]

Massive Windies fail.

Indeed. Blew it big time. Why Roach wasn't brought back to finish the job with England 6 down or why they didn't play Chanderpaul or just relax when batting is beyond me. They went about the chase like England had scored 400 or something, just crazed, reckless and stupid batting. Once Gayle went, the writing was on the cards, you can't expect Pollard and Thomas to get you over the line. On Thomas, he seems to be even worse with the bat than Ramdin which is saying something.

Thought England would win but they had no right to given the score they got and the start the Windies got. Still a decent chance of getting to a semi final if they can avoid either Aus or Sri Lanka. They are pretty ****house but they have character.

 

[TT Boy]

Pretty obvious that they need to drop Sammy tbh.

He needs to go after the WC. Can only bowl out against the minnows, not a strike bowler, doesn’t keep a lid on things either and yesterdays slog was the first time he has come off with the bat in ages. Limited cricketer.

 

[TT Boy]

It's weird because Russell appears to bowl a lot quicker than the 130km/h suggests

The lack of batting depth really reared its ugly head for the Windies, even despite shock knocks from Sammy and Russell. Was one of those perfect situations for Shiv to knock the ball around. While Bishoo isn't a polished spinner yet, I'd consider dropping Benn for their game against India.

Yeah, I would go with that also. Benn is another minnow legend. The Windies have a lot of them in their side. India will dominate them.

 

[Migara]

There is no use plating a spinner who bowls wrist spin against India. Play Benn, I'd say, and drop Bishoo for Chanders. Roach, Russel, Sammy, Benn, Pollard and Gayle should be enough for 50 overs. Since there will be a good dose of spin bowling Chanders should play in the top order.

Like the Sammy experiment of a floating hitter. Can be used against part time spinners of India.

Smith, Gayle, Bravo, Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Pollard, Sammy, Thomas, Russell, Roach, Benn

 

[GotSpin]

There is no use plating a spinner who bowls wrist spin against India. Play Benn, I'd say, and drop Bishoo for Chanders. Roach, Russel, Sammy, Benn, Pollard and Gayle should be enough for 50 overs. Since there will be a good dose of spin bowling Chanders should play in the top order.

Like the Sammy experiment of a floating hitter. Can be used against part time spinners of India.

Smith, Gayle, Bravo, Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Pollard, Sammy, Thomas, Russell, Roach, Benn

I don't think Gayle is able to bowl at the moment