West Indies vs Australia

[smash84]

yeah but the default settings for CW are test cricket unless stated otherwise

 

[salman85]

The Windies were unbeaten in a Test series from 1981 thru to 1995....

That's an unbeaten run that the Aussies were never able to match. That's why it was such big news around the world when the Aussies finally beat Richie Richardson's team in 1995.

I didn't know about that.now THAT is some test stat that might not be broken in a long LONG time.Image having an unbeaten run for 14 years.

 

[Blaze 18]

Australia have the longest winning streak though, don't they?

 

[Ikki]

I think Australia has a distinctly better batting line-up and although WIndies might edge it as a whole as an attack, I think Warne and the variety he can bring makes up for that. Also, I'd love to have seen Ponting against that attack. For me Ponting is the best player of pace I've seen. I also think McGrath's uncanny ability to remove the openers can put too much pressure on Viv. Whereas I believe even if both Hayden and Langer are out early Australia still has the enough fire-power to launch a big score.

 

[Ikki]

Australia have the longest winning streak though, don't they?

Australia also won a far higher proportion of matches IIRC - which probably adds to the reason why it would be hard for them to achieve that kind of record as the WIndies did because they were more likely to lose when they put so much stock in winning. Also, I'd say that during Australia's reign at the top there were better teams. Pakistan, India at home, S.Africa and WIndies herself were a force in the 90s - early 00s.

 

[smash84]

I think Australia has a distinctly better batting line-up and although WIndies might edge it as a whole as an attack, I think Warne and the variety he can bring makes up for that. Also, I'd love to have seen Ponting against that attack. For me Ponting is the best player of pace I've seen. I also think McGrath's uncanny ability to remove the openers can put too much pressure on Viv. Whereas I believe even if both Hayden and Langer are out early Australia still has the enough fire-power to launch a big score.

Viv was very very good against pace. From most accounts he seems to be a better player of pace bowling than even Ponting and watching his videos does suggest that he was a brute of a man against pacers. Would have been a great battle for him to face McGrath. He did have some trouble against Lillee but he also took Australia to the sword a fair few times and gave Lillee and Co a hammering.

Australia also won a far higher proportion of matches IIRC - which probably adds to the reason why it would be hard for them to achieve that kind of record as the WIndies did because they were more likely to lose when they put so much stock in winning. Also, I'd say that during Australia's reign at the top there were better teams. Pakistan, India at home, S.Africa and WIndies herself were a force in the 90s - early 00s.

Pakistan of the 00s was pretty **** tbh.

The biggest advantage that Australia have is Warne. A spinning wicket would mean that Australia would make short shrift of the WI line up.

 

[salman85]

Viv was probably the greatest player of fast bowling ever IMO.Ponting is up there,but Viv could take a pacer to the cleaners like no other man.

 

[archie mac]

Personally would take Viv over Ponting any day of the week

 

[L Trumper]

Warne and Gilchrist may give some advantage to Aussie side. But I am not sure of hayden's ability to counter the all out pace attack.
One advantage WI side will have is when push came to shove they can draw a match(or series) by any means necessary.

 

[bagapath]

warne and gilchrist add an edge to the bowling and batting lineups of the australian team for sure. a match winning batsman at no.7 is a scary thought for any opposition. west indies were infamous for collapsing against leg spinners of all kind (qadir, holland, hirwani). and warne was the greatest of them all. so it wont be easy for them against these two greats. they never had to deal with anyone this good when they had their time at the top.

but lee is a chink in the armour. you cant have a 30+ average guy bowing at richards, lloyd and greenidge as a front line bowler. also gillespie (avg 27+ against non minnows) is a pie chucker compared to the west indian pacers.
garner, marshall, holding and ambrose look like an impregnable fortress to me.

overall, very very very close. either team could win 4-3 over a seven test series. i would back the west indies, though.

 

[Howe_zat]

Think you've been a bit harsh on Gillespie there, even if removing minnows inflates his average a bit, managing 27 in the modern era over a lengthy career is more than decent. Think you have a point overall though.

 

[smash84]

Holding, Garner, Ambrose, and Marshall..........awesome firepowere

 

[vcs]

In any matchup between ATG teams, having Bradman in one will eventually prove too much of an advantage for the other to overcome. But WI's full-strength pace battery would be amazing.. Holding, Marshall, Ambrose and Garner all so good in their specific roles with the new and old ball.

EDIT : Except there's no Bradman. /facepalm

It's very, very even.

 

[Debris]

Voted Australia basically on their greater ability to force a win. Very little in it though.

 

[bagapath]

Think you've been a bit harsh on Gillespie there, even if removing minnows inflates his average a bit, managing 27 in the modern era over a lengthy career is more than decent. Think you have a point overall though.

may be, it is. but the other five fast bowlers - marshall, mcgrath, ambrose, holding and garner - are way above his league. forget the numbers. dizzy was never as big a force in cricket as the names mentioned above any which way one looks at it. he is the gomes in the greenidge, richards, lloyd line-up.

if you bunch them department-wise

greenidge, haynes = hayden, langer

richards, lloyd, richardson, gomes = ponting, m.waugh/martyn, hussey, s.waugh

dujon < gilchrist

holding, garner, marshall, ambrose > mcgrath, lee, gillespie, warne

 

[Howe_zat]

Oh yeah, I'm not disputing that he's got nothing on Holding and Marshall. Just saying he was a good bowler, no real need to criticise his average and that.

 

[Ikki]

Viv was very very good against pace. From most accounts he seems to be a better player of pace bowling than even Ponting and watching his videos does suggest that he was a brute of a man against pacers. Would have been a great battle for him to face McGrath. He did have some trouble against Lillee but he also took Australia to the sword a fair few times and gave Lillee and Co a hammering.

Viv's career was pretty much over by the time I saw him bat so he wasn't in my mind when I said that but I'd say that generally Ponting is his equal in that department. Viv's dominance was more in your face - Sehwag-esque - bludgeoning pace bowlers everywhere. Whereas Ponting, IMO, looked so imperious against pace bowlers it was like they couldn't phase him. It's kind of epitomised in his pull-shot. It is glorious but it looks effortless.

Pakistan of the 00s was pretty **** tbh.

The biggest advantage that Australia have is Warne. A spinning wicket would mean that Australia would make short shrift of the WI line up.

That's why I talk about the 90s-early 00s. Pakistan was a very good side, and had a very good bowling line-up as well. I agree with you regarding Warne. He could be Australia's trump card.

 

[Furball]

In any matchup between ATG teams, having Bradman in one will eventually prove too much of an advantage for the other to overcome. But WI's full-strength pace battery would be amazing.. Holding, Marshall, Ambrose and Garner all so good in their specific roles with the new and old ball.

EDIT : Except there's no Bradman. /facepalm

It's very, very even.

I'm not sure Bradman tilts the scales to such a great extent in a hypothetical All Time matchup against the West Indies, as his Bodyline average was merely Tendulkar-esque.

 

[vcs]

Yeah, that's a good point. But you'd think he'd adapt, given that he averaged 58 when it was a hugely controversial and completely novel tactic.

 

[Ikki]

richards, lloyd, richardson, gomes = ponting, m.waugh/martyn, hussey, s.waugh

Can agree with the rest but not this. I think having Ponting and Waugh makes Australia better in the middle-order.