**Official** England in The West Indies

[garage flower]

It has? Smith scored a hitormiss hundred and has looked totally out of it otherwise. Edwards started superbly but was clearly overworked given his age and lack of FC experience. Taylor has done very little thus far as has Baugh. It's like film IMO, we may be ruining them by exposing them too early. Sarwan was young when he debuted, but he had a fair deal of FC experience at that stage.

I don't agree with this policy. You pick your best players and Dillon is certainly better than Sanford if no one else.

Yes, I think it has. Many of the players who've been thrust into international cricket in this way have shown clear potential. Fidel Edwards has already produced a couple of match-winning performances and Dwayne Smith scored a quickfire unbeaten century to help save a test match, away from home, against the 2nd best team in the world.

Yes, the likes of Edwards and Taylor may have been overworked and players have been found out at times, but the policy has unearthed players of real potential.

Time will tell whether they are being "ruined" by the early exposure. I don't see any evidence of that happening at this stage.

 

[Craig]

It is the WICB's or the ECB's descision to make this match non FC?

 

[twctopcat]

I think it's because of the fact that they're fielding twelve players in the field, therefore cannot constitute a proper FC match. It's only 3 days as well, though i don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[Craig]

3 day matches arent a problem. CC matches were 3 day matches as well, until the ECB brought in 4 day cricket in 1993 or 1994.

Anyway, I know it has 12 players, my point is who's decision to make it 12 players per side.

 

[Tom Halsey]

One assumes that is is Englands, to give more players a go.

 

[PY]

Glad to see Michael Vaughan turning his arm over for 3 overs.

I hope this is a sign that he will use himself as the negative-lockdown-of-one-end bowler instead of picking Giles. Can't see the use of playing Giles to be honest so I'd go with 4 main-stream bowlers and Freddie for the Tests.

Not a slight on Giles himself as I am a fan but the pitches I don't remember being very helpful to tweakers.

On an aside, Butcher is crocked.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Yes, sounded nasty.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

It is the WICB's or the ECB's descision to make this match non FC?

England insisted on playing 12 players, thus nullifying FC status.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Time will tell whether they are being "ruined" by the early exposure. I don't see any evidence of that happening at this stage.

Given injury et al regarding Taylor, I think it already has happened. Having seen him bowl recently, I can't see him properly recovering from that injury.

 

[Craig]

Glad to see Michael Vaughan turning his arm over for 3 overs.

I hope this is a sign that he will use himself as the negative-lockdown-of-one-end bowler instead of picking Giles. Can't see the use of playing Giles to be honest so I'd go with 4 main-stream bowlers and Freddie for the Tests.

I always believe you should play your best bowlers. If they are all seamers then so be it.

Vaughan can bowl, I dont know why he doesnt like doing it.

 

[Tom Halsey]

It could be the captaincy, as he might be trying to show he is not bowling himself when there is no need.

 

[Craig]

I dont see how captaincy affects him not bowling. Jayasuriya had no fear about bowling himself.

 

[tooextracool]

heres what cricinfo had to say abt englands performance on day 2

England struggled with the ball on the second day of their tour-opener against Jamaica at Sabina Park, but the on-field action was overshadowed by a freak injury to Mark Butcher in the morning session.

heres what www.ecb.co.uk had to say

Despite a chance injury to Mark Butcher in the field, England made good progress on the second day of their tour match against Jamaica at Sabina Park. They bowled out the home side for 281 with the help of five catches by wicket-keeper Chris Read.

contrasting opinions from 2 sites that usually have the same reports on every match

 

[marc71178]

I always believe you should play your best bowlers. If they are all seamers then so be it.

If they are all seamers, I play 4 and an extra batsman.

 

[tooextracool]

i noticed collingwood got a chance to bat in the 2nd innings even though he wasnt in the starting XI. i didnt know substitutes could bat?!!

 

[Rik]

i noticed collingwood got a chance to bat in the 2nd innings even though he wasnt in the starting XI. i didnt know substitutes could bat?!!

Since this isn't a FC game I don't think it matters. Butcher is unlikely to be fit for the 1st Test so they give Collingwood some practise, since he's the most likely replacement for Butcher. Substitutes are allowed to play as long as the opposing captain doesn't have a problem with it; Matthew Fleming of Kent allowed Sussex to replace one of their players with James Kirtley who had been released by England, and who arrived late, for the rest of the match, commenting: "The Law's an ass"

 

[marc71178]

Actually Rik, if I remember correctly he didn't have a choice in the matter - the playing conditions were changed to allow a full substitute where someone was released by England after the match started.

I think the captain's consent only refers to substitue fielders.

As it is, this is 12 a side (or 13 on 12 now!) so wouldn't be governed by FC rules.

 

[Richard]

England insisted on playing 12 players, thus nullifying FC status.

Understandible, but nonetheless a shame.
Wonder if CricInfo would have covered it had it been FC? I've seen them cover joke-games before (Sixes, ACB\CA Chairman's-XI games, etc.) but it does seem strange.
They covered Carib Beer games, did they not?

 

[Richard]

Perceived? Did you not see Dillon bowl in the South Africa Tests? With any luck at all he could have gotten 10-12 wickets at least in those two Tests he played.

In one session he bowled so well that he could have had 4 or 5 in that session alone.

Yes, he could, but that's just cricket.
If he hits the edge - good, well bowled, you got a wicket (assuming the catch was taken :saint: ) and deserved it. If you miss the edge - good try, better luck next time eh?
Simple as that. I'm confident Ambrose or Walsh, among others, would have managed to hit the edge after all those play and misses.
Playing and missing is bowling well, but still, you can't be considered extrovertly unfortunate unless you've actually had catches dropped off those good balls.
Playing and missing will happen - you've just got to keep hitting the same area.

 

[Richard]

Not so much of a surprise to me - he's now facing seam attacks on flatter wickets.

A far cry from Murali on bunsens.

Remember, though, this game means nothing.
His failures in the Championship in 2003 are more meaningful.
If he makes runs in the Tests on flat wickets against seam-attacks that don't include an all-time great, full credit to him.