*Official* Australia in West Indies Thread

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

what is Steve Waugh going to say at a press conference?? no, we're playing a bunch of spastics??

So you're saying I should disregard Steve Waugh's assessment of a team because he has been forced to say it?? Alright...whatever you say.

i dont think so. The windies are still in decline. Lawson isn't THAT bad, but he is not test quality.

Dare I say, as is Brett Lee...

Collins can not bowl at international standard, I dont care what anybody wants to say.

Tell the Kiwis that. I think alot of people consider International standard to be that of the top cricketers of the world, but in every sport at the top level, there a good player, great players and useful players. That said, I will never be caught making the claim that Collins is a special bowler, I've always been a bigger fan of Collymore.

on MacGill,

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

These arrogant comments are the reasons why so many non-[insert foreign country here] dislike the [insert foreign country here].

True to an extent.

 

[Eclipse]

They have been just as attacking as the pitch would allow at the start of an innings. Steve Waugh has had similar fields to Lara early in the innings. Even he hasn't been able to put 4 slips and a gully or such.

Yeah nether captain has placed many players behind the wicket because the ball is just not carrying.

Having said that there have been times when Lara has been very deffensive some of the feilds set to Gilchrist & Ponting in particular have really been aimed at cutting off the boundrys and nothing more. Again I am not critersizing him his choices were very limited.

 

[hourn]

Brett Lee is most certainly test standard bowler.

He's problem is his brain cells are few and far between.

While Australia are still winning though, it can only be good for him to get his head togetehr out there.

Jermaine Lawson isn't a bad bowler, but he's not yet ready to be leading an attack, he is a 3rd quick.

Vasbert Drakes is a solid 3rd quick, which is the role he's been playing.

Mervyn Dillon is the only bowler capable of opening the bowling in the West Indies currently that is in consideration, but then he's 12th man.

Pedro Collins - you say there are useful, good and great players at all levels. He's not even useful at test level. He's the product of a country obsessed with trying to get a left arm quickie to make some big waves in test cricket.

Tino Best will not do much in test cricket until he fixes his action. You go to the kiddies camp and you'll bowlers with actions like that. arms, legs everywhere. like watching a human helicopter take off.

Other guys who are reasonable bowlers are Reon King and Curtis Collymore (as you mentioned) and why they aren't playing (unless injured) is beyond me. And whats happened to Cameron Cuffy?? He is a pretty good bowler even if he is 30 plus. Is he injured??

King and Dillon is a reasonable bowling attack (nothing great but a much more potent threat than Lawson and Best) while if the Windies want to develop young Lawson or Best, or have the experience of Drakes, Cuffy or Collymore as their third quick, then that is not a bad attack.

Then to the spinners. They have to forget Banks. If they want to go for an experienced spinner than they're best option is probably Neil McGarrell (even if he is 30, he still could have 5 or 6 years left in his legs).

Why did he not get more of a chance, came in a few years ago, did well in 3 or 4 tests then hasn't been heard of since.

If they want to go for a young spinner then my bet would be on Sulieman Benn.

The batting isn't bad at all and they have it right. Gayle can bat, Smith looks like a reasonable prospect, but probably won't develop pat a solid opener. Ganga is in top form at the moment, although I think that is more a fleeting stint with fame but I could be wrong - either way he has eanred his spot. Lara is obviousbly Lara (although he is 34 and not gonna be around forever). Sarwan can bat - he is a gun. Chanderpaul adds experience in the mid to lower order. Jacobs/Baugh are handy keeper/batsmen.

The bowling is the problem for the Windies, although it would be about half as much of a problem if they picked the right players.

And we all know thats its the bowlers who will win the matches.

 

[V Reddy]

Lawson is a very good bowler. He was the only bowler who really threatened India in India. He got a lot of reverse swing in that series. And he that 5 wickets for 0 runs in Bangladesh. He will end up their no.1 bowler in a year or two.

 

[hourn]

last test underway.

4 overs gone, australia 0/20.

changes: Love (go LOVEY!!) in for Ponting for Australia. Dillon and Jacobs in for Best and Baugh.

Pitch is very hard, lots of pace and bounce, but very even so there is plenty of runs for the batsmen.

But there is plenty in it for the bowlers if they bowl a good line and length, but it is quite likely that it could flatten and just become another absolute road (could be wrong, but going off what we've seen so far in this series that is the likely path).

Dillon and Lawson are getting a bit of pace up (particularly Lawson) but they are very wayward, and Hayden and Langer are punishing them at the moment.

and once again Lara has gone quite defensive already - gully is already out, and there is no short leg, while a man is at deep backward square already.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I wouldn't call a leg gully and a short leg a defensive field....which he had for Langer throughout the short lived partnership.

BTW Hayden out to a poor shot for 14. Lawson's got him.

I don't think the pitch has that much pace. It has a good deal more bounce than we've seen already in this series though.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Langer dropped by Gayle. Some things are stubborn to change...

 

[hourn]

It was more the field to Hayden in the fifth over from Dillon. He took out the gully and short leg and had a deep backward square in and covered the off side drive.

It's more the bounce in the wicket thats giving support, but it's also coming through quite quick.

Just as i speak Langer is dropped again in slips.

 

[hourn]

They are definetaly struggling abit for pace when its on the right spot.

Whats this pitch usually do as it wears on?? I'd assume it'll flatten out into a road, which will make this opening session vital for both teams.

 

[V Reddy]

Lawson is doing it for WI . Hope he keeps on improving as the WI need him.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

A breath of fresh air from the Windies bowlers. Well done.

196/6

Gilchrist c Chanderpaul b Dillon 33

Omari Banks has bowled impressively. I'm shocked. I wouldn't have let him near a Test team.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Whats this pitch usually do as it wears on??

Well, I remember a fairly big score by Lara a few years ago...

 

[Langeveldt]

Australia limping along to 231/8

Lawson has a five for after snaring Lee down the leg side.

In Dillon and Lawson i think they have 2 very good openers, pity the pitches seem so dead though.........

 

[PY]

Lawson is indeed doing the business, got his 5 wicket-haul for 77 runs. Got 7 for 78 now . Bichel did ok again though. Got 34 off 39 balls.

Nice to see Australia not dominating one of the Tests in this series. Have to wait and see whether the Aussies pummel WI when they bowl. Have a feeling that the WI might just have a first innings lead. That would make things more interesting for next couple of days.8D

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Inspirational stuff from Lawson!

He bowled some wonderful bouncers, remniscent of Ambrose-esque aggression. Gillespie looked ****ed when he received a bouncer though. He also had some seemingly harsh words, so we may see some really fire from the Aussies tonight. It should be thrilling. Boy..the adrenaline is pumping now.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Gayle bowled second ball. Spectacular!

WI have to be careful that they don't turn a wonderful day for them, into an even performance.

 

[marc71178]

and this Windies attack featuring the fearsome pace duo of Pedro Collins and Jermaine Lawson, along with the devastaing spin of Omari Banks

Lawson - is that the Lawson who picked up 7-78 today?

 

[marc71178]

The length of the West Indian batting line up here (Jacobs scheduled to come in at 8!) is far greater than the Aussie line-up - a real chance for 400+?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lara and Chanders have to fire. I think Sarwan is starting to look much more settled than when he first returned from injury.

Plus, Vasbet to get 50+!