**Official** West Indies in England 2012

[Cabinet96]

Steyn v Watson expected to be a thrilling contest.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Am looking forward to tomorrow, being self employed really helps when trying to catch test match cricket.

Windies to be 50-5 if they bat first at lunch.

 

[Woodster]

Am looking forward to tomorrow, being self employed really helps when trying to catch test match cricket.

Windies to be 50-5 if they bat first at lunch.

Yes if WI do bat first you cannot help but think Jimmy and co may get into them early on. Have booked tomorrow and Friday off work, but haven't bothered with Monday, not under-estimating WI just cannot see it going into the last day with conditions, WI preparation, etc.

 

[theegyptian]

I'm actually a bit nervous. All the English cricket press are saying West Indies are terrible and really downplaying them but they are a better team than the one that came here in 2009 imo and Sammy and Gibson have been doing a good job with what they've got. In 2009 Gayle was captain but his attitude was terrible and affected the whole team- the current team isn't as talented but they are more together and want to be here.

They'll need luck but I think it's whithin the realms of possibility that they win a test match - I feel like the bowlers especially will surprise the british press/public. The batting is highly reliant on Chanderpaul and Bravo and both need amazing series if West Indies are to compete.

 

[Cabinet96]

I slightly wonder if England will lack a touch of intensity.

 

[Shoggz]

Well, I shall be there. Let's hope it doesn't rain..

Like theegyptian, I'm a bit nervous. England always play better when they're underdogs and our media have rubbished the West indies so much, you have to feel that they'll be hugely motivated..

 

[Howe_zat]

Well, I shall be there. Let's hope it doesn't rain..

Like theegyptian, I'm a bit nervous. England always play better when they're underdogs and our media have rubbished the West indies so much, you have to feel that they'll be hugely motivated..

Not remotely what we've seen from the last three years at least.

 

[Jacknife]

I slightly wonder if England will lack a touch of intensity.

I'd be very surprised if that was the case after the events of this winter, I'm sure they'll be wanting to lay a marker down for the rest of this summer early on.

 

[Jacknife]

I'm actually a bit nervous. All the English cricket press are saying West Indies are terrible and really downplaying them but they are a better team than the one that came here in 2009 imo and Sammy and Gibson have been doing a good job with what they've got. In 2009 Gayle was captain but his attitude was terrible and affected the whole team- the current team isn't as talented but they are more together and want to be here.

They'll need luck but I think it's whithin the realms of possibility that they win a test match - I feel like the bowlers especially will surprise the british press/public. The batting is highly reliant on Chanderpaul and Bravo and both need amazing series if West Indies are to compete.

I'm nervous before every England game and this one will be no different.

 

[Woodster]

Not remotely what we've seen from the last three years at least.

While the press may have written off chances of a WI victory, there's no chance that Flower and Strauss will allow this England side to relax and just think by turning up we should stroll home, especially not after a disappointing winter.

I think WI have players to really compete for sessions of play maybe even for a full day or so, but over the course of a Test match I cannot envisage anything other than England gradually getting on top of WI. The visitors of course more prone to the odd shocking session that can lose a Test there and then, especially in these conditions with their batsmen.

I can see the odd eye catching cameo from Bravo, a stoic Chanderpaul resistance, but without the match defining innings', and or two other decent contributions without really pushing England as hard as they have their more recent opposition.

For England it's important Strauss gets back in the runs and builds his confidence ahead of SA, and I'd like to see Bell dominate a Test or two with his sumptuous strokeplay. As for the bowling attack, I expect Anderson, Broad and the third seamer, to get us out of any trouble that our batsmen may run into on the odd occasion, with Swann regularly accounting for Powell, Deonarine, and maybe to a slightly lesser extent, Bravo and Chanderpaul.

I may be underrating the WI chances but I expect them to be competitive but unable to really get the upper hand over the course of a Test match.

 

[Cricketismylife]

How effective is Swann usually at this time of year? Obviously I have seen him bowl in May, but trying to remember how much turn he usually gets etc

 

[roseboy64]

I'm actually a bit nervous. All the English cricket press are saying West Indies are terrible and really downplaying them but they are a better team than the one that came here in 2009 imo and Sammy and Gibson have been doing a good job with what they've got. In 2009 Gayle was captain but his attitude was terrible and affected the whole team- the current team isn't as talented but they are more together and want to be here.

They'll need luck but I think it's whithin the realms of possibility that they win a test match - I feel like the bowlers especially will surprise the british press/public. The batting is highly reliant on Chanderpaul and Bravo and both need amazing series if West Indies are to compete.

Let's see:

 WI 2012          WI 2009
              
Ramdin              Ramdin  
Barath               Gayle
Powell               Richards    
K Edwards         Smith 
Darren Bravo      Sarwan
Chanderpaul       Chanderpaul
Samuels            Nash
Deonarine          Deonarine
Fudadin             Simmons
Shillingford         Benn
Sammy             Bernard
Rampaul            Taylor
F Edwards         F Edwards
Roach             Sammy
Gabriel              Baker
                        Richardson
                        Pascal

Best XI out of that considering at that point in their careers:

Gayle
Smith
Sarwan
Bravo
Chanderpaul (2009)
Nash
Ramdin (2009)
Taylor
Rampaul
Sammy (2012)
Benn

The batting better of the 2009 team while the bowling has more upside in general from 2012 just feel Taylor a cut above and Benn> Shillingford.

 

[vic_orthdox]

You reckon Benn is better than Shillingford?

 

[Prince EWS]

You reckon Benn is better than Shillingford?

I'm equally bemused by that one.

 

[AaronK]

finally some real cricket.. I hate ipl season.. it is the worst time for cricket..

 

[Hurricane]

finally some real cricket.. I hate ipl season.. it is the worst time for cricket..

Say it in the ipl thread mate. I will back you up.

 

[theegyptian]

Let's see:

 WI 2012          WI 2009
              
Ramdin              Ramdin  
Barath               Gayle
Powell               Richards    
K Edwards         Smith 
Darren Bravo      Sarwan
Chanderpaul       Chanderpaul
Samuels            Nash
Deonarine          Deonarine
Fudadin             Simmons
Shillingford         Benn
Sammy             Bernard
Rampaul            Taylor
F Edwards         F Edwards
Roach             Sammy
Gabriel              Baker
                        Richardson
                        Pascal

Best XI out of that considering at that point in their careers:

Gayle
Smith
Sarwan
Bravo
Chanderpaul (2009)
Nash
Ramdin (2009)
Taylor
Rampaul
Sammy (2012)
Benn

The batting better of the 2009 team while the bowling has more upside in general from 2012 just feel Taylor a cut above and Benn> Shillingford.

I'm talking about the overall team rather than the individuals within it. But I don't see Roach or Shillingford in your composite team and although I'm not an expert on the life and times of Shivnarine Chanderpaul I'd suggest the current one is still doing pretty well. And if you want to move onto captains Gayle was an absolute tool in 2009 and all he was bothered about was missing the IPL - the current one Sammy at least has the teams best interests at heart.

 

[evanjonesaber]

Really looking forward to this game. England's batsmen really need to put on some performances after the last test series they played.

I don't know too much about the Windies bowling attack - anyone particularly pacey to look out for?

 

[roseboy64]

“I am trying not to focus on it too much, I am just happy to be here at Leicestershire. I do not have to worry about any coaches telling my fellow players that he wants me to fail and that he does not want me in the team." - Sarwan.

Guess he won't be called up soon.

 

[NUFAN]

England win the toss and decide to bowl. Bresnan as expected is playing.