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*Official* Champions Trophy Discussion Thread

Mr Mxyzptlk

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Life without Lara

The West Indies prepare to play their first one-day international match in a post-Lara era, under the captaincy of Ramnaresh Sarwan. The game pits former Champions Trophy champion and thrice finalists against lowly Zimbabwe.

Sarwan was in a confident mood at a training session in Ahmedabad. "We're all in good spirits," he said, "We learned a lot from [the warmup match against] India, and [we're] hoping to apply those lessons learned." The West Indies selectors face a difficult choice as to the composition of the seam attack, but Corey Collymore is expected to partner Daren Powell as the Windies' only two specialist seamers for the opening fixture. Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith will be relied upon as support. Dave Mohammed will almost certainly return to the team.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya admitted the enormity of the task at hand. "[West Indies is a] good team," said Utseya, "It will be very hard, but hopefully the young guys can perform."

West Indies [probable]: 1. CH Gayle 2. S Chanderpaul 3. DS Smith 4. MN Samuels 5. RR Sarwan (c) 6. DJJ Bravo 7. DR Smith 8. D Ramdin (wk) 9. D Mohammed 10. DB Powell 11. CD Collymore

Zimbabwe [probable]; 1. T Duffin 2. T Hove 3. CJ Chibhabha 4. SC Williams 5. H Masakadza 6. F Kasteni (wk) 7. E Chigumbura 8. T Mupariwa 9. GB Brent 10. P Utseya 11. EC Rainsford
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Dwayne Smith=crap IMO. Good to see Dave Mohammed getting a game though.
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
The man can field, and bowl occasionally. That's better than every England bowler not named Flintoff (or Vaughan).
He's a slogger of a batsman and pretty average bowler, his fielding and supposed "all-round" ability are what gets him in the team.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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He's a slogger of a batsman and pretty average bowler, his fielding and supposed "all-round" ability are what gets him in the team.
He's a good bowler. On the good side of average. And his allround ability hasn't gotten him into an international team for about a year now. Get educated... the man has been picked for his bowling and fielding for months now, because he's been taking wickets... 8-)
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He's a good bowler. On the good side of average. And his allround ability hasn't gotten him into an international team for about a year now. Get educated... the man has been picked for his bowling and fielding for months now, because he's been taking wickets... 8-)
Take away his cheap wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and he averages over 45. He has been poor in 2007 and his 2006 numbers would be quite poor without Zimbabwe there to get his average down. I wouldn't call him a good bowler, but you obviously rate him.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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Take away his cheap wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and he averages over 45. He has been poor in 2007 and his 2006 numbers would be quite poor without Zimbabwe there to get his average down. I wouldn't call him a good bowler, but you obviously rate him.
He's turned in several quality performances with the ball over the past year. Having actually watched him bowl in international and domestic cricket, I can confidently state that he is a good bowler. Basically, I've seen him bowl far more often than you have. And given that last year I was disgusted with the mention of his name in any discussion of West Indies cricket, he's obviously done something right.
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He's turned in several quality performances with the ball over the past year. Having actually watched him bowl in international and domestic cricket, I can confidently state that he is a good bowler. Basically, I've seen him bowl far more often than you have. And given that last year I was disgusted with the mention of his name in any discussion of West Indies cricket, he's obviously done something right.
I'm not trying to question how much you have seen of him, that would be folly. From what I have seen of him at international level, which is a reasonable amount, he hasn't struck me as particularly good. Just keeping a specialist and better bowler out of the attack.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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I'm not trying to question how much you have seen of him, that would be folly. From what I have seen of him at international level, which is a reasonable amount, he hasn't struck me as particularly good. Just keeping a specialist and better bowler out of the attack.
In certain conditions though, Dwayne Smith is a very potent option. And the West Indies selectors now realize that if they're going to use him in that role, he needs to be used effectively.
 

Perm

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
In certain conditions though, Dwayne Smith is a very potent option. And the West Indies selectors now realize that if they're going to use him in that role, he needs to be used effectively.
In certain conditions being the key part of that, he can hardly be relied upon to deliver 10 quality overs if the pitch is a little flat or something like that.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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In certain conditions being the key part of that, he can hardly be relied upon to deliver 10 quality overs if the pitch is a little flat or something like that.
Did you read my comment in entirety? That's why I endorsed his selective use...
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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I did read it, but I haven't seen how he is any more potent than some of the bowlers the West Indies are leaving out.
In particular conditions he can be as potent, and given that he is a better batsman than most of the West Indies specialist bowlers, and a far better fielder than all, it's reasonable to include him. It's a very simple concept really.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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Chanders slams paltry Zimbabwe
Round 1: Pool B - West Indies vs Zimbabwe

Scorecard
Ball by Ball

The West Indies shook off the rust of their warmup match against India and commanded a 90-run victory over Zimbabwe in the opening Pool B Champions Trophy fixture.

Zimbabwe started well with the ball, taking the wickets of Devon Smith (6) and Chris Gayle (25) with a controlled performance. Gayle's dismissal, to a towering catch by Mupariwa at mid-off, was testament to the good bowling early on. The score was then 58-2 in the 16th over. Marlon Samuels was bowled for 11 and it was then 96-3 from 23.2 overs. And there Chanderpaul picked his moment to accelerate. From 48 off 62 balls at that stage, Chanderpaul took a four and a six off Sean Williams' next over. Ramnaresh Sarwan leaned into the left-arm spinner with 4 boundaries two overs later. Chanderpaul's last 75 runs took 65 balls and he scored 123 from 127 in total. Sarwan added 68 from 67 balls and the West Indies closed on 281-6.

Runs on the board, the result was never in doubt. Corey Collymore took early wickets to further the cause. Chimu Chibhabha scored 52 and Williams, Kasteni and Chigumbura made useful contributions, but Zimbabwe could manage no more than 191 when they were bowled out by the 48th over. Zimbabwe will now find it difficult to qualify for the second round, neeing a victory against England to do so. The West Indies will also play England looking for a win to secure passage to the main round of the tournament.

West Indies 281-6 (50 overs)
S Chanderpaul 123 [127], RR Sarwan 68 [67]
GB Brent 3-33 [10], EC Rainsford 2-51 [10]

Zimbabwe 191 all out (47.1 overs)
CJ Chibhabha 52 [78], E Chigumbura 36 [53]
DB Powell 3-34 [10], CD Collymore 2-35 [10]

West Indies won by 90 runs.
Man of the Match: S Chanderpaul
 

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