*Official* South Africa in West Indies

[shivfan]

I admire your optimism, Windie....

As for me, I'm spending more time following Caribbean athletes in the Diamond League. At least there they're world beaters. I'm not torturing myself with this sorry bunch!

Well, as everyone knows, I'm a Chanderpaul fan, but I'm concerned at his decline in recent times. That said, I still maintain that he should play all the matches of this series, and then a decision by taken about his form after that. I'm also disappointed at the manner of Nash's batting in the second innings, which was out of character. It's sad that Gayle was the only batsman capable of hitting a half-century in the entire match.

As far as I know, Roach, Taylor, Sarwan and Barath are all still injured, which does not provide us with many options for the Test in St Kitts....

 

[Teja.]

Morkel's probably been their most dangerous this year in terms of taking wickets and roughing up the batsmen. Steyn is fast and moves the ball but Morkel continually unsettles the batsmen. When they toured Australia, Morkel wasn't in his best form but most Aussie batsmen interviewed said they least liked facing him.

Steyn has taken 32 wickets in 5 games @ 18.12 with a wpm of 6.4 and a SR of 33.5(!) including an immortal match-snatching spell against India with 3 5w and 1 10w

Morkel has taken 23 wickets in 5 games @ 23.04 with a wpm of 4.6 and a SR of 42.7 with his only 5w coming against England at Cape Town in a draw.

No doubt Morkel has been exceptional but Steyn has been divine.

 

[WindieWeathers]

I admire your optimism, Windie....

As for me, I'm spending more time following Caribbean athletes in the Diamond League. At least there they're world beaters. I'm not torturing myself with this sorry bunch!

Well, as everyone knows, I'm a Chanderpaul fan, but I'm concerned at his decline in recent times. That said, I still maintain that he should play all the matches of this series, and then a decision by taken about his form after that. I'm also disappointed at the manner of Nash's batting in the second innings, which was out of character. It's sad that Gayle was the only batsman capable of hitting a half-century in the entire match.

As far as I know, Roach, Taylor, Sarwan and Barath are all still injured, which does not provide us with many options for the Test in St Kitts....

"Optimism" Mike? it's easier to take when you already know what's coming, i was saying before the Zimbabwe series that these guys are finished but everyone started jumping on my case, there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough, if the whitewash happens i believe the status quo should be let go and a new bunch brought in with the intention of getting them prepard for the Sri Lanka series in December,

Gayle hinted that it might be the same team for the next Test , if that's the case then **** it, i'm not gonna bother watching it, it's almost beyond embarrssing now seeing them chuck away every great opportunity and then fall like a stone when it's time to step up.

 

[andyc]

WW, please don't avoid the filter. This is the second time in the last couple of days I've seen a post of yours where you've done it. If you're going to swear, either asterix all of it or just type it out and let the filter take care of it.

 

[WindieWeathers]

WW, please don't avoid the filter. This is the second time in the last couple of days I've seen a post of yours where you've done it. If you're going to swear, either asterix all of it or just type it out and let the filter take care of it.

Pardon me Andy, i didn't know about the filter stuff.

 

[GotSpin]

"Optimism" Mike? it's easier to take when you already know what's coming, i was saying before the Zimbabwe series that these guys are finished but everyone started jumping on my case, there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough, if the whitewash happens i believe the status quo should be let go and a new bunch brought in with the intention of getting them prepard for the Sri Lanka series in December,

Gayle hinted that it might be the same team for the next Test , if that's the case then **** it, i'm not gonna bother watching it, it's almost beyond embarrssing now seeing them chuck away every great opportunity and then fall like a stone when it's time to step up.

Like the WICB CEO mentioned, I think every WI fan should simply be prepared for successive and embarrassing losses for a while. Simply tossing out all the players they have now and bringing a whole lot of new ones in a couple months time won't realistically change anything unless they are some amazing talent. WI fans should be focused on the future rather than the present losses.

As such, future talent should be nurtured and gain experience rather simply being sacrificed at the international level at a young age. I feel Gibson has this in mind IMO, especially with the creation of the academy and the continuous WI A tours. Players like lil bravo etc should have time to sharpen their game at a first class level and as a result, are ready to dominate straight away when they come onto the international stage rather spend years wandering around the wilderness. It'd be worth the losses now to have complete cricketers playing in a couple years time rather than these panicky quick fix options

 

[WindieWeathers]

Like the WICB CEO mentioned, I think every WI fan should simply be prepared for successive and embarrassing losses for a while. Simply tossing out all the players they have now and bringing a whole lot of new ones in a couple months time won't realistically change anything unless they are some amazing talent. WI fans should be focused on the future rather than the present losses.

As such, future talent should be nurtured and gain experience rather simply being sacrificed at the international level at a young age. I feel Gibson has this in mind IMO, especially with the creation of the academy and the continuous WI A tours. Players like lil bravo etc should have time to sharpen their game at a first class level and as a result, are ready to dominate straight away when they come onto the international stage rather spend years wandering around the wilderness. It'd be worth the losses now to have complete cricketers playing in a couple years time rather than these panicky quick fix options

There has to be consequences GS, accepting defeat after defeat won't wash with the WI fans, no matter what that idiot "CEO" said, i'm not thinking of a complete overhall, i just want the whole top order changed, a team such as..

Barath
Brathwaite
Powell
Darren Bravo
Hughes
Dwayne Bravo (C)
Russell
Devon Thomas/Jahmar Hamilton (wk)
Shilly
Benn
Roach

And we could add in Taylor if it's not a spinners pitch, that top seven can all bat and so can the wicket keepers, we might get beaten still but at least these kids would play with their brains and have some pride, they'd also gain vital experience too, all of them bar Hamilton have either played for WI or the A-team already anyway so they aren't names who have been picked on a whim.

 

[popepouri]

Is the next surface going to be dead or will it be quicker?

 

[marc71178]

i'm not thinking of a complete overhall, i just want the whole top order changed, a team such as..

Barath
Brathwaite
Powell
Darren Bravo
Hughes
Dwayne Bravo (C)
Russell
Devon Thomas/Jahmar Hamilton (wk)
Shilly
Benn
Roach

So not a complete overhaul, just about 8 changes and dropping all of the actual good players for unproven ones.

Yet you call the CEO of the WICB the idiotic one?

 

[WindieWeathers]

So not a complete overhaul, just about 8 changes and dropping all of the actual good players for unproven ones.

Yet you call the CEO of the WICB the idiotic one?

You mean "the good ones" who are on the verge of being whitewashed at home? yeah we should keep them at all cost of course!! , i don't blame you for being naive to the situation though as you're not the one hurting from seeing your team lose all the time.

 

[Furball]

So you'd drop Gayle despite the fact that in Tests he's been brilliant since getting the captaincy?

 

[WindieWeathers]

So you'd drop Gayle despite the fact that in Tests he's been brilliant since getting the captaincy?

He's too hit and miss GF and i believe he's a divisive figure in the dressing room, he's also a man who can't seem to stand up and be counted when we really need him, instead of hitting 70 when we were pretty much already beaten where was he in the first innings? Chanders of two years ago would stand up in all situations and take the game by the scruff of the neck, Gayle on the other hand can't seem to cope when expectations are high.

 

[Furball]

He's too hit and miss GF and i believe he's a divisive figure in the dressing room, he's also a man who can't seem to stand up and be counted when we really need him, instead of hitting 70 when we were pretty much already beaten where was he in the first innings? Chanders of two years ago would stand up in all situations and take the game by the scruff of the neck, Gayle on the other hand can't seem to cope when expectations are high.

Averaging 69 Down Under with 2 tons in 3 Tests isn't standing up and being counted?

 

[WindieWeathers]

Averaging 69 Down Under with 2 tons in 3 Tests isn't standing up and being counted?

Were they made in pressure situations? it's easy to turn it on when we've already lost the game!!, and as i said it's not just about his performances, his attitude and ability to lead must also come into question.

If he stands up when we really need him in the next two Tests then fair enough, but i'm yet to be convinced that he will.

 

[kingkallis]

I think Richards did fine job in ODIs, why cant WI have him instead of Dowling?

Also Sammy > Rampaul I guess...

 

[popepouri]

I agree. Sammy would have got more out of that pitch.

 

[Shifter]

Both Gayle's centuries in Aus came under pressure situations. First, 165* in the second innings to help secure the draw when no one else made over 30 in that innings. Second was a quickfire hundred in the first innings.

His only really poor series in the last year has been the one in England where none of the West Indies bar Edwards decided they were going to show up.

Can't really complain too much about his batting over the last year or so.

 

[Prince EWS]

Still think Rampaul's a better bowler than Sammy but it's not by that much and the tail is epically bad at the moment. Sammy would strengthen the team even if he'd very marginally weaken the bowling.

 

[Jarquis]

WW, always brightens up my day.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Still amazed that South Africa continue picking Harris. Even if it is spinning he can't bowl people out. You can't rely on batsmen to continue committing suicide against him. So you've basically got an end blocker who's a crap batsman. Pointless. Surely there must be some ambition to pick someone who is actually half-decent at one of the three disciplines?