***Official*** West Indies in Australia

[Scaly piscine]

Giles is actually pretty accurate when he focuses on it.

Na, he isn't, he bowls far too many short balls. Of course he makes his margin of error smaller with his angle of attack, but even so he's not that accurate tho he doesn't bowl many full tosses.

 

[Adamc]

Best banned from training session
That's odd, I thought he was one of the more enthusiastic (if not disciplined) members of the WI squad. Good to see Bennett King taking it seriously, though the offence does seem fairly minor.

 

[Mister Wright]

On Saturday, he was genuinely quick and also looked decidedly better with the bat whilst he was there than all others, including Hayden and Maher..

Better than Maher? Please!

 

[Mister Wright]

Best banned from training session
That's odd, I thought he was one of the more enthusiastic (if not disciplined) members of the WI squad. Good to see Bennett King taking it seriously, though the offence does seem fairly minor.

I don't know if Bennett has given him that punishment because he feels Best is enthusiastic and will be gutted for missing out, but you would reckon with a team that is struglling that you would want all the players training.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Indeed he is.

He performed the role asked of him in the Ashes - part of the team strategy.

Except he's in the team to take wickets when the pitch is turning, and he didn't do that.

 

[social]

Better than Maher? Please!

You will note that I said, "whilst he was there."

Obviously , Maher's innings was much more valuable but he certainly did not look as good as Watson during the time they shared together at the crease.

 

[social]

Except he's in the team to take wickets when the pitch is turning, and he didn't do that.

Exactly.

Giles was decidedly ordinary (bar a couple of spells) during the Ashes.

His overall figures reflected the way that he bowled and, alarmingly, Michael Vaughan was more threatening on the odd occasion he turned his arm over.

 

[aussie]

going back on topic, it will be interesting to see how Edwards bowls, after all its the 1st time the aussies will be seeing him & with his pace slingy action he could be quite a handful especially if the conditions in Brisbane stay overcast & the pitch has a tinge of green...

 

[howardj]

going back on topic, it will be interesting to see how Edwards bowls, after all its the 1st time the aussies will be seeing him & with his pace slingy action he could be quite a handful especially if the conditions in Brisbane stay overcast & the pitch has a tinge of green...

Just on that...the biggest myth with Australian pitches, is that the Gabba is a 'greentop' for Test Matches. For Pura Cup games - yes, batting first can be a fate worse than death. However teams do not get sent in at the 'Gabba in Test Matches (no Nasser, I haven't forgotten about you, but look what happened when you did send them in) and get rolled. After the first hour, the 'Gabba is a ripper of a Test pitch to bat on.

Teams batting first at the Gabba in recent years:

2004: NZ 353 (Oram a century)
2003: Aust 323 (Langer a century)
2002: Aust 492
2001: Aust 486

The related idea that MacGill and Warne both cant play at the 'Gabba because the pitch seams, or is a 'greentop' is a load of outdated nonsense.

 

[howardj]

There's some disturbing intelligence suggesting that Hodge is coming into the 'Gabba Test squad to replace Watson. What a bad mistake. Watson is six years younger; has a better FC batting average than Hodge; and can bowl.

 

[Adamc]

There's some disturbing intelligence suggesting that Hodge is coming into the 'Gabba Test squad to replace Watson. What a bad mistake. Watson is six years younger; has a better FC batting average than Hodge; and can bowl.

I'd find it more disturbing if Stuart Clark plays, as he seems to be suggesting. Interestingly, if they make either of those changes, it will be the seventh time in as many Tests that the bowling lineup has changed.

 

[howardj]

I'd find it more disturbing if Stuart Clark plays, as he seems to be suggesting. Interestingly, if they make either of those changes, it will be the seventh time in as many Tests that the bowling lineup has changed.

If a quick has to come in, then I'd pick (somewhat reluctantly) Bracken.

 

[howardj]

There's now some conflicting intelligence which suggests that Watson will stay in the team, even without MacGill. Brad Hodge, it appears, will remain sidelined.

 

[SquidAU]

The Test side has been named, with Hodge getting dropped for Bracken.......

Test squad named

 

[vic_orthdox]

The Test side has been named, with Hodge getting dropped for Bracken.......

Test squad named

Inevitable. The selectors tend to prefer having the 12th man as a bowler, and I think now that they've blooded Watson, he needs to be given a good shot in the side, just as Brad Hodge should have if he got the guernsey. Hodge now will probably be relegated to this generation's "Jamie Siddons", very unlucky to never played International cricket.

 

[Jono]

Poor Hodge, ah well.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Courtney Browne has retired from cricket, for the few who are interested.

 

[roseboy64]

Well few here but I'm sure lots of Bajans like him despite his failings.

 

[SquidAU]

Inevitable. The selectors tend to prefer having the 12th man as a bowler, and I think now that they've blooded Watson, he needs to be given a good shot in the side, just as Brad Hodge should have if he got the guernsey. Hodge now will probably be relegated to this generation's "Jamie Siddons", very unlucky to never played International cricket.

12th man tends to be a bowler especially during the home summer.

But, it's good to see the selectors letting Watson get a longer and more consecutive run in tests.

 

[shaka]

glad to see MacGill in the squad, hope he is given a test place.