***Official*** West Indies in Australia

[Mister Wright]

What a scratchy first test innings from Hussey - one best forgotten ASAP...

One test non-wonder.

 

[Mister Wright]

So what do people think the West Indians will be chasing in their first innings? With Churchy gone, they'd have to be an excellent chance to knock over Australia for under 350 now.

West Indies struggled to get the Qld lower order out, and its happened again today. If their over-rate hadn't been so poor they would have had the option to take the new ball late in the day with two tail-enders (although capable batsman) in.

 

[Jono]

I agree seems very generous will buy @ £3.00 a run.

Crosses fingers, toes & prays to a picture of Corey Collymore.

Your prayers may have just worked, at least for Collymore anyway

 

[Mister Wright]

Not denying that. Watson can be a very aggressive and dangerous batsman, but so far in his test career he's had problems with getting tied down.

That's because he's a BATSMAN. I feel he's caught in two minds batting at seven. He's either thinking, "I've got to stay in here and keep batting with the batsman" or, "I can't get out with the tail coming."

 

[luckyeddie]

Interesting to see that MacGill has been released from 12th man duties to be replaced by one Ryan Le Loux.

Is he a good fielder?

 

[Mister Wright]

It's been pretty good stuff from the Windies so far...although they've bowled a lot of 'hit-me' balls, they haven't done badly at all. 303/7 with Ponting out is a very good effort so far....atrocious over rate though.

I got the impression of watching the Windies against Qld that they are going to bowl some bad balls, but they have the ability to bowl the wicket taking delivery, and quite often.

 

[Mister Wright]

Haha I remember that shot from Sehwag. The commentators were laying into him after that shot, it was obvious Sehwag said had no respect for Bracken's bowling at all.

Bracken was ordinary at the Gabba, that's why he was dropped the next test for Brad Williams aka Butthole.

Williams for Bracken isn't much of an improvement.

The only chance India were of chasing those runs was for Sehwag and Tendulkar to open, and when Tendulkar didn't open, Sehwag should have got some batting practice like Dravid and Laxman did.

 

[Mister Wright]

LOL, were you at the game today, mate? I had a feeling that when we saw you you'd be bagging Clarke. I have to say though that at this stage, it's hard not to acknowledge the fact that there are some problems. If he doesn't do something impressive this series, it'll be interesting to see just how much patience the selectors have. I still think he's essentially got what it takes to be a big success in test cricket, but that doesn't necessarily mean he won't get a spell out of the team due to poor performance. Hell, it happened to Steve Waugh.

I hope he does really well though, myself.

Incidentally, how did you think Watson batted today?

What do you see in Clarke that will tell you he will be a big success? Seasons of averaging 45+ in domestic cricket? Or a flawless technique?

On Watson. I think it's no secret that I don't think the bloke is ready for test cricket. And if they are in the team, I don't think he should be batting at 7, it is disrespectful to a batsman.

I thought he batted well though, has a great defence, although the times he did get struck on the pad he wasn't really getting forward, although that has probably got more to do with Edwards good length than anything else.

 

[Mister Wright]

Interesting to see that MacGill has been released from 12th man duties to be replaced by one Ryan Le Loux.

Is he a good fielder?

Decent enough. But he's no Pratt...

 

[Jono]

Williams for Bracken isn't much of an improvement.

The only chance India were of chasing those runs was for Sehwag and Tendulkar to open, and when Tendulkar didn't open, Sehwag should have got some batting practice like Dravid and Laxman did.

Williams is worse IMO, but when you look at how they bowled at that time it was like arguing whats better stale cheese or expired yoghurt. Bracken is a much better bowler than him now IMO.

Yeah Tendulkar couldn't open because he was off the field while India were bowling for a while. That's why when Bracken got Chopra and Sehwag out in consecutive balls Sachin didn't come to bat at 4. The Gabba crowd didn't know though and booed when Sachin didn't come out.

 

[Mister Wright]

Williams is worse IMO, but when you look at how they bowled at that time it was like arguing whats better stale cheese or expired yoghurt. Bracken is a much better bowler than him now IMO.

Yeah Tendulkar couldn't open because he was off the field while India were bowling for a while. That's why when Bracken got Chopra and Sehwag out in consecutive balls Sachin didn't come to bat at 4. The Gabba crowd didn't know though and booed when Sachin didn't come out.

Oh, Ok. Fair enough. I didn't know that. There were a lot of Indians there, that's probably where the booing was coming from, the Aussies would have been booing Bracken for getting another wicket.

 

[Slow Love™]

What do you see in Clarke that will tell you he will be a big success? Seasons of averaging 45+ in domestic cricket? Or a flawless technique?

On Watson. I think it's no secret that I don't think the bloke is ready for test cricket. And if they are in the team, I don't think he should be batting at 7, it is disrespectful to a batsman.

I thought he batted well though, has a great defence, although the times he did get struck on the pad he wasn't really getting forward, although that has probably got more to do with Edwards good length than anything else.

I think Clarke has shown he has the talent and ability to stamp himself on a match at international level. And he's amazing to watch in full flight. His flaws are noted, but I still think they're mainly psychological, and as he's quite young, I think he can overcome them. Some players show a lot of promise but take a while to achieve the consistency (particularly in terms of application) required to succeed at the highest level - from memory, it used to be your opinion that he promised a great deal too, but that he just wasn't ready for test cricket at this stage. These days though, it sounds like you're writing him off on a more permanent level.

Yes, Gilchrist coming up the order ahead of Watson smacks of coddling, and suggests the selectors don't have any confidence in Watson actually performing. It's OK to groom a player, but if you're going to do that in the international arena, they have to be thrown to the wolves, so to speak. The most disturbing thing for me today was the way Fidel's eyes lit up when he was bowling to Watson. I don't think he rated him.

 

[Jono]

Oh, Ok. Fair enough. I didn't know that. There were a lot of Indians there, that's probably where the booing was coming from, the Aussies would have been booing Bracken for getting another wicket.

LMAO! That's gold my friend, gold.

 

[Mister Wright]

I think Clarke has shown he has the talent and ability to stamp himself on a match at international level. And he's amazing to watch in full flight. His flaws are noted, but I still think they're mainly psychological, and as he's quite young, I think he can overcome them. Some players show a lot of promise but take a while to achieve the consistency (particularly in terms of application) required to succeed at the highest level - from memory, it used to be your opinion that he promised a great deal too, but that he just wasn't ready for test cricket at this stage. These days though, it sounds like you're writing him off on a more permanent level.

Yes, Gilchrist coming up the order ahead of Watson smacks of coddling, and suggests the selectors don't have any confidence in Watson actually performing. It's OK to groom a player, but if you're going to do that in the international arena, they have to be thrown to the wolves, so to speak. The most disturbing thing for me today was the way Fidel's eyes lit up when he was bowling to Watson. I don't think he rated him.

I thought he did show a lot of promise when I saw him first play at test level. However, since his golden patch in his first 5 tests he has shown glaring weaknesses, more technical than psychological in my opinion to pace bowling. You cannot dispute the fact that his first class average should not have got him anywhere near the test side with players like Hodge, Love, Symonds and even Watson with better figures as domestic batsman. These guys all deserve(d) a consistent run in the test side, and then if they didn't perform go for youth. It isn't like these guys are old Hoge, Love & Symonds are 30-31 so would give at least 2 or 3 years of good serive until the likes of Clarke, Watson, Rogers & Marsh are ready to take the step up to test level. I don't see what this rush is to get youth into the side. Fair enough if they're smashing runs galore with a healthy average, i.e. Jaques, but if they aren't they shouldn't be making the leap before they are ready.

 

[Top_Cat]

Y'know, your bagging of Clarke is becoming rather like AMZ's automaton response to any criticism of Murali.

"Spidey senses tingling........... Clarke failed again! Woo hoo yeah!"

Yawn. Really.

Incidentally, ripper of a middle-session spell from Corey Collymore. I never thought much of him before today but the facts are clear; they showed where he was pitching the ball and the pattern was mighty small so he was very consistent. Combine that with some movement off the deck either way and you have a dangerous bowler. You just have to look at his wickets; Hayden LBW to a ball seaming back in; Clarke, caught behind to a ball moving away; Katich, caught behind to a ball which cut away and hit the seam too. Outstanding stuff.

 

[Mister Wright]

Y'know, your bagging of Clarke is becoming rather like AMZ's automaton response to any criticism of Murali.

"Spidey senses tingling........... Clarke failed again! Woo hoo yeah!"

Yawn. Really.

And people who keep blindly supporting him when he is clearly struggling at test level gets a bit tedious aswell. The statistics speak for themselves. Why don't you back up some of your claims of what a great player he is?

When he starts performing consistently and earning his place in the side, is when you'll find me giving him some credit, but until then put your seatbelt on TopCat, because we're in for a long ride and I wouldn't want you to get hurt.

 

[Jono]

Y'know, your bagging of Clarke is becoming rather like AMZ's automaton response to any criticism of Murali.

"Spidey senses tingling........... Clarke failed again! Woo hoo yeah!"

Yawn. Really.

To be fair to him, whilst he is a bit obsessive with it like a pitbull, he isn't talking crap either. There is a weakness there, and he has struggled in the past 12 months.

 

[Top_Cat]

And people who keep blindly supporting him when he is clearly struggling at test level gets a bit tedious aswell. The statistics speak for themselves. Why don't you back up some of your claims of what a great player he is?

I'm not blindly supporting him. I'm saying it's too early to just drop the guy and he'll need some time and that there are few other alternatives to bat 4 right now. All of the alternatives put forward have far fewer years left at top-level cricket than Clarke has so I don't really see the point in just dropping him, particularly since he was far from the worst batsman during the Ashes series and today got a great ball.

When he starts performing consistently and earning his place in the side, is when you'll find me giving him some credit, but until then put your seatbelt on TopCat, because we're in for a long ride and I wouldn't want you to get hurt.

 

[honestbharani]

I watched the match till lunch, then switched over to the India game. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the West Indian fight back. I watched the game till lunch and I was thinking, here we go again. 100s for Ponting, Hayden and Clarke, quick 50s from the next three in the order, 600+ score for Australia, West Indies getting bowled out for less than 200 in both innings, McGrath and Warne picking up the lion's share of wickets. While some of them may yet come true, I am glad that the West Indies bowlers have shown good spirit and kept at it even after that demoralizing opening session. But I still think Lawson should have been kept out for Bravo. Anyone agree with me on that?

 

[Linda]

*coughwimpymiddleordercough*