***Official*** West Indies tour of Australia, Jan–Feb 2024

[Flem274*]

See previous comments. Huge difference between someone dominating all FC cricket for years and just not getting picked for increasingly strange reasons, and guys averaging 37 who have two good seasons... and then quickly demonstrate whey they average 37 in the Shield when picked

Yep I read those after I posted.

Still, guys can improve. Mitchell was a fringe player for ND averagin 35ish before a surprise one off test then his move to Canterbury for a God mode season, and Watling was a completely mid domestic opener. As much as I think he's going to get found out, Macewell went from averaging literally something like 9 to three format NZ player within 12 months.

Australian cricket always has stronger bones than ours so I'm pretty confident there are players in your system who are currently mid af who will pull it together at around 30 years of age.

Ryan Harris went from crappy medium pacer to world #2.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Like their victories over England in the past decade have...

They beat a good side today.

 

[Line and Length]

Like their victories over England in the past decade have...

There's a difference between beating the World Champions on their home turf and beating an out-of-form England on your own tracks.

 

[Kirkut]

Wouldn't feel too bad if I was an Aussie fan, one of those thunderous spells of fast bowling that cannot be negotiated.

 

[Burgey]

Also, massive shout out to the two fellas who dug wi out from 5/60 day one. Joseph will rightly get the plaudits, but they made a game of it out of what looked like being a procession. Quite a few blokes stood up for them

 

[Beamer]

Test cricket

Also life. This is the first day of the test I didn't get up at stupid o'clock to watch the first session..... that'll teach me.

Conversations about what this means can wait, I'm just going to enjoy this feeling.

 

[Slifer]

Well guess I'll be eating my phone because in my wildest dreams I didn't expect wi to win a test in Australia.

The batting is still woeful and that needs to be addressed but what a game. Curious to know what a WI XI looks like assuming all players are fit?

As far as upsets in my lifetime, only SL winning a series in South Africa beats this (that i can recall). India winning at the Gabba with their 3rd Xi is up there as well.

 

[Burgey]

Test cricket

Also life. This is the first day of the test I didn't get up at stupid o'clock to watch the first session..... that'll teach me.

Conversations about what this means can wait, I'm just going to enjoy this feeling.

Enjoy it mate. Was a great test.

 

[Flem274*]

Also, massive shout out to the two fellas who dug wi out from 5/60 day one. Joseph will rightly get the plaudits, but they made a game of it out of what looked like being a procession. Quite a few blokes stood up for them

Yeah on paper the batting looks a bit of a flop but those were mid af FC players and young lads well out of their depth who dug in and made something of the tour. We rightly celebrate the greats and the good players, but there should always be a strong respect for those players who find themselves in deeper water than they can handle but take on the challenge to swim.

 

[Spark]

Also, massive shout out to the two fellas who dug wi out from 5/60 day one. Joseph will rightly get the plaudits, but they made a game of it out of what looked like being a procession. Quite a few blokes stood up for them

Really only the top three who didn't make real contributions for them. Athanaze's knock even a useful little contribution when WI could have been in all sorts had Smith held on there

 

[Gnske]

Well guess I'll be eating my phone because in my wildest dreams I didn't expect wi to win a test in Australia.

The batting is still woeful and that needs to be addressed but what a game. Curious to know what a WI XI looks like assuming all players are fit?

Or interested for that matter. Holder is basically a Judas to this team

 

[ashley bach]

Been finished for about an hour now and still hasn't kicked in what really happened.

 

[Slifer]

Or interested for that matter. Holder is basically a Judas to this team

Tbf he did skip ipl a few times to play for the WI. But judas or not, I'm not sure he even makes the team now. Bowling should be: Joseph, Seales, Roach, Joseph A/ Motie

 

[Aidan11]

I didn't see who got MoM but I hope it was Shamar Joseph.

 

[Gnske]

Really only the top three who didn't make real contributions for them. Athanaze's knock even a useful little contribution when WI could have been in all sorts had Smith held on there

Chanders not making many runs was a bit of a letdown tbh, his last visit was very decent.

 

[Bahnz]

Or interested for that matter. Holder is basically a Judas to this team

Nah he’s their lord and saviour. With him Shamar wouldn’t have been picked and the Aussies would’ve won this by an innings.

 

[Gnske]

Yeah on paper the batting looks a bit of a flop but those were mid af FC players and young lads well out of their depth who dug in and made something of the tour. We rightly celebrate the greats and the good players, but there should always be a strong respect for those players who find themselves in deeper water than they can handle but take on the challenge to swim.

TBF as well, batting in the West Indies FC competition sounds pretty unenviable.

 

[Burgey]

Really only the top three who didn't make real contributions for them. Athanaze's knock even a useful little contribution when WI could have been in all sorts had Smith held on there

Yeah for sure. Australia fielding was poor first innings. I actually got the impression both sides found it hard picking the ball up at times. The seats at the the Gabba ar that weird arse colour. Lot of fielders on both sides looked hurried at times

I think it’s a decent wake up call for Aus re the batting, and also the ongoing reluctance to rotate the quicks at times. It’s a long summer.

But mostly the batting. They were in the **** both digs.

Also think it’s stupid to pick anyone with covid ffs, especially up in that **** hole with how humid it is. It’s an energy sapping illness even in a first world civilisation.l let alone Qld

 

[Starfighter]

One great thing about Joseph's bowling performance was seen someone repeatedly hitting the stumps. I'm sick of seeing innings and matches where practically every wicket is caught in the cordon.

I was hoping Richardson might have been able to do something like that for Australia but sadly it looks like that's not going to happen.

 

[Spark]

Yeah for sure. Australia fielding was poor first innings. I actually got the impression both sides found it hard picking the ball up at times. The seats at the the Gabba ar that weird arse colour. Lot of fielders on both sides looked hurried at times

I think it’s a decent wake up call for Aus re the batting, and also the ongoing reluctance to rotate the quicks at times. It’s a long summer.

But mostly the batting. They were in the **** both digs.

Also think it’s stupid to pick anyone with covid ffs, especially up in that **** hole with how humid it is. It’s an energy sapping illness even in a first world civilisation.l let alone Qld

That's almost certainly due to the pink ball re: fielders struggling to pick it up

One great thing about Joseph's bowling performance was seen someone repeatedly hitting the stumps. I'm sick of seeing innings and matches where practically every wicket is caught in the cordon.

I was hoping Richardson might have been able to do something like that for Australia but sadly it looks like that's not going to happen.

Yeah 100%. When you've got a bit of movement, that much pace and somewhat inconsistent bounce, keep it full, keep it straight, force a shot every ball.