*Official* West Indies In Australia

[shivfan]

So, what do you guys think?

Should the WIndies go into Perth with an unchanged team, or should Gavin Tonge come in for one of Darren Sammy or Ravi Rampaul?

 

[pasag]

Not a huge North fan but:

a) let's wait till he actually fails or
b) someone markedly better comes along

before we start getting out the axe. Neither of those two things have happened yet.

 

[social]

So, what do you guys think?

Should the WIndies go into Perth with an unchanged team, or should Gavin Tonge come in for one of Darren Sammy or Ravi Rampaul?

Sammy should go

 

[pasag]

So, what do you guys think?

Should the WIndies go into Perth with an unchanged team, or should Gavin Tonge come in for one of Darren Sammy or Ravi Rampaul?

Doesn't seem like Gayle has too much confidence in Sammy, would be very suprised if he's there at Perth.

 

[stephen]

Not a huge North fan but:

a) let's wait till he actually fails or
b) someone markedly better comes along

before we start getting out the axe. Neither of those two things have happened yet.

Yeah I think it's a little premature to be talking about axing him. He's had quite a good start to test cricket and managed to survive that viscious spell from Roach on Tuesday afternoon with his wicket in tact.

 

[Howsie]

So, what do you guys think?

Should the WIndies go into Perth with an unchanged team, or should Gavin Tonge come in for one of Darren Sammy or Ravi Rampaul?

Sammy out, Tonge in. Sammy's bowling isn't really needed and that 44 he scored is a once in every six innings type of score, (I wouldn't back him to score runs in Perth). Benn and Rampaul have shown to be decent bats and both Tonge and Roach have FC 50's so they should be able to stick around if needed (or hit out).

 

[Uppercut]

which was during 2 x 2 hours in the Ashes when our whole batting order fell like a pack of cards and cost us the match. 2 low scores chasing 500+ in the 4th innings, meh..

Had some poor luck in a couple of those innings too. Middled the ball onto his pad in the first innings at the Oval then was stumped by a milimetre in the second.

I think TEC is taking a leaf out of aussie's book and, having already determined that North is incapable of scoring runs against good bowling, concluded that any bowling North does score runs off is bad.

 

[Woodster]

Yes although it may appear harsh to drop Sammy after a single Test, he looked below the requisite standard with the ball, when you only bowl at 120kph you need to either be exceedingly accurate with the ball with good change-ups, or swing/seam the ball on a consistent basis, unfortunately in this Test he didn't fit into either category. His batting was a bonus in the first innings, and also an important knock, but as said previously, Rampaul has shown his capabilities with the bat, and Benn can hang around if need be. A more penetrative bowler in Tonge may be of more use in Perth.

Have been really impressed with Kemar Roach so far, despite his stats not being too good to look at. He has bowled with consistently good pace, troubled the very best, has exceptional control for a 21 year old inexperienced quick, and has excellent seam position. His action is so smooth it looks impossible that he should be able to deliver the ball at 150kph, but he does so comfortably. One thing that Colin Croft brought up though is his lack of a proper follow through, he almost comes to an abrupt stop once he has let go of his delivery, surely a bigger follow through will enable him to maintain his fitness. He is a real prospect for the WI.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ripping picture on the front page of the Age's sport section, with Roach in follow through and the shot actually looks like he's Paul Adams in the middle of bowling.

EDIT: Sort of like this, but a bit more extreme.

 

[Woodster]

Yes it is similar to Jimmy Anderson I presume with his head down and facing the other way.

 

[Ikki]

Ponting wary of dangerous Roach | Cricket News | Australia v West Indies 2009/10 | Cricinfo.com

Punter giving Roach plenty of respect.

 

[Flem274*]

Roach is certainly one hell of a find. I'm surprised he has such a middling first class record. Looking forward to seeing him bowl at the WACA, if only he had some mates in Taylor and Edwards to bombard the Australians with, or even someone like Andrew Richardson or Nelon Pascal whom I've heard good things about.

 

[Cruxdude]

Maybe he is the new Flintoff, bowls well without getting wickets.

 

[Top_Cat]

Maybe he is the new Flintoff, bowls well without getting wickets.

Doubt it'll be that way for long, tbh. Still finding his way but when he's on a length and swinging the ball away, looks very dangerous.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Roach is certainly one hell of a find. I'm surprised he has such a middling first class record.

A bit like Hauritz, he's benefited immensely from being in and around the West Indies team. But he played a significant amount of age level cricket, IIRC, so he's sort of a better prepared version of Fidel Edwards.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

So, what do you guys think?

Should the WIndies go into Perth with an unchanged team, or should Gavin Tonge come in for one of Darren Sammy or Ravi Rampaul?

Ravi Rampaul put in a big effort on the final day and really bowled a quality spell. That spell alone proved he's a better bowler than Darren Sammy, because Sammy's wickets are always somewhat incidental, whereas Rampaul actually looks threatening when he gets it right. Sure, he's not the finished product, but without Taylor and Edwards, he's certainly the next best option.

Tonge has to come in for Sammy though, as his bowling is a non-issue in this attack. Certainly the poor man's Bravo with the ball, and the very poor man's Bravo with the bat. That said, he should be scoring more runs than he does, with his shot-playing ability.

All that said, I doubt they'd change a "winning" team.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ponting has lived in NSW for about 10 years!

I thought people were talking State sides. Apologies for not knowing where Ponting lives. I know where Dave Mohammed lives though.

 

[aussie]

It's not such much accuracy as variety which is his big problem. Krejza used to just run in and bowl big turning offies, try to clean bowl the batters. Fine for grade level but he was found out fairly quickly at FC level. The last season or so, I think we're seeing a lot more variety from him. Has been bowling with decent pep in limited overs and FC games.

That said, Hauritz isn't just keeping his spot warm, it's his now. Krejza surely has to take a lot of wickets before he should be considered. The occasional 5-fer would help.

Fair enough. I saw that youtube video & his talks of him developing that doosra like delivery. So hopefully Hauritz doesn't keep his spot warm for too much longer, so that Crazy is playing in the Ashes next summer.

Not the only basis but a big one. What you're talking about happened almost three years ago now. Should largely be irrelevant to current selection.


What form? Have you seen his numbers this season? It's not about ability, it's about form. And Watto's form outstrips his by some margin.

The overinding factor here though is Watson long term cannot opening the batting, even though he looks good there. Only two players in the games history have opened & as all-rounders Trever Goddard & Barlow (Mankad too but he bowled spin of course) & unlike Watson never had such a serious injury record. As you should know to date Watto hasn't lasted more than year since 2002/03 without breaking down.

His best role is # 6 long term & as poster Andre said, some tough decision needs to made on him ASAP. He's an important player in the balance of team (5-man test attack), so we need be careful to no stress that fragile body out in this hectic modern day international schedule.

 

[Andre]

I agree with Corey that Watto has done really well opening the batting - but rather than it being a negative move him moving own the order, I'd almost see it as a reward and a nod to how well he has done and how important he has become because of his success, therefore putting him into a position that he will flourish in long term and go 'hey, it's your spot to lose now' rather than keeping a seat warm which you kind of get the feeling with him opening the batting.

On form, the only genuine candidate for the opening spot outside the current XI is Chris Rogers - and he'd be a massive long shot at best to get picked (school of Hodge, Noffke etc.). Despite how gooder player he is. With Hughes and Jaques not scoring runs Hussey is off the hook for a little while but my gut tells me that we need to make the tough call sooner rather than later and back a specialist opener, move Watto down to 4 and watch the team grow.

With regards to Krejza doosra, can't help but think the massive crack in the wicket it hit played a part in how good it look on video. Fact of the matter is he does not run through teams and doesn't show the ability to contain, which at least Hauritz does. Neither spinner has a particularly good strike rate - but Krejza is a lot more expensive. I know he's taken 12 wickets in a Test, but I reckon he'd have played 50-odd first class games by now and that is his only 5-fer. For a bloke who (unlike Hauritz) is talked up a massive wicket taker that isn't good enough because he bleeds runs.

Or he could just be mates with the Victorians and Noffke

 

[JBH001]

Yes it is similar to Jimmy Anderson I presume with his head down and facing the other way.

I LOL'ed.