***Official*** West Indies in Australia

[garage flower]

Any thoughts on the Windies team for tomorrw? I'd be tempted to include both Dwayne Bravo AND Dwayne Smith with just 2 "specialist" bowlers....but not that tempted:

Gayle
De Smith
Sarwan
Lara
Chanderpaul
Samuels (last chance to prevent Hinds's return - I remain deeply unconvinced by him)
Bravo (possibly not good enough with either bat or ball, but then neither are many of the specialists. Also helps that he's just about the best fielder in the world.)
Ramdin
Powell
Edwards
Collymore

My expectations are so low that I'd almost be satisfied just by seeing Windies cling on for a 5th day defeat. Realistically, what I want to see is a team playing consistent, committed cricket every session of every day (which would probably be just enough to cling on until day 5!).

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Any thoughts on the Windies team for tomorrw? I'd be tempted to include both Dwayne Bravo AND Dwayne Smith with just 2 "specialist" bowlers....but not that tempted:

Gayle
De Smith
Sarwan
Lara
Chanderpaul
Samuels (last chance to prevent Hinds's return - I remain deeply unconvinced by him)
Bravo (possibly not good enough with either bat or ball, but then neither are many of the specialists. Also helps that he's just about the best fielder in the world.)
Ramdin
Powell
Edwards
Collymore

That basically HAS to be the team. Dwayne Smith is not good enough to displace anyone in any Test team, other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. Wavell Hinds isn't fit. Tino Best is terrible at the moment. Jermaine Lawson isn't match fit, and is quickly proving that he shouldn't be on tour at all. Oh, for Mr. Bradshaw...

 

[roseboy64]

I'd think Samuels might bat at 5 and Chanderpaul at 6. Not much difference anyway. Both good with the tail.

 

[roseboy64]

Not even close. I'm sure Richard or TEC have far more in a row than I.

Marc too.

 

[Nate]

Good team there IMO. Go the Windies!

 

[age_master]

Australia needs Boof in the middle order atm i reakon

Hussey
Hayden
Ponting
Lehmann
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
McGrath
Macgill

 

[SquidAU]

Australia needs Boof in the middle order atm i reakon

Hell yes.

BRING BACK THE BOOF!!

 

[aussie]

Australia needs Boof in the middle order atm i reakon

Hussey
Hayden
Ponting
Lehmann
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
McGrath
Macgill

agreed, but we have to admit thats he's not going to be recalled

 

[Josh]

Now. To play MacGill or not to play MacGill.

I say no. I generally always will unless it's at the SCG.

 

[age_master]

Now. To play MacGill or not to play MacGill.

I say no. I generally always will unless it's at the SCG.

Macgill over Bracken every time for me.

 

[Mister Wright]

Macgill over Bracken every time for me.

Seconded.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I really don't like MacGill. His wicket-taking nature is good to watch for the part-time cricket fan but his frequent lack of quality control turns me off him completely.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd think Samuels might bat at 5 and Chanderpaul at 6. Not much difference anyway. Both good with the tail.

What from Samuels' experience makes you say he's good with the tail? Chanderpaul is a far better bet.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

What from Samuels' experience makes you say he's good with the tail? Chanderpaul is a far better bet.

With the current state of the WI tail, I'd suggest Ricardo Powell to bat with them - gets in, ends 20* (6)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

With the current state of the WI tail, I'd suggest Ricardo Powell to bat with them - gets in, ends 20* (6)

The problem being that Ricardo Powell:

1. doesn't get in
2. gets out

 

[tooextracool]

Are you talking about his batting or bowling here?

his batting obviously, his bowling is far from threatening anywhere in the world.

 

[Eclipse]

Caribbean class can rule again

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17260965-23212,00.html

I agree with Waugh there..

 

[Slow Love™]

Caribbean class can rule again

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17260965-23212,00.html

I agree with Waugh there..

I'm not sure I buy the whole "Gayle has to stop looking so laid-back" part of it all. I think a lot of this kind of perception (in terms of interpreting laziness from his affect) is cultural - also, it didn't seem to affect Desmond Haynes much at all, and you could argue at times that Viv looked overly casual at the crease. Sometimes these things get unfairly accentuated when a team's losing.

I do think that the whole dawdling aspect of things (both in terms of the batsmen and the bowlers between overs) really needs a lot of improvement, and there needs to be more general sharpness in the field. This will be Bennett King's job, and if he can't show improvement in these areas, his value will have to be questioned.

Ultimately, IMO they just need better bowlers (and perhaps a more skilled or charismatic captain). They simply don't have the tools to be a really good test side right now.

 

[roseboy64]

What from Samuels' experience makes you say he's good with the tail? Chanderpaul is a far better bet.

Just what I've heard from experienced cricket heads who've seen him play.

 

[roseboy64]

Caribbean class can rule again

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17260965-23212,00.html

I agree with Waugh there..

Pretty much agree also.