**Official** West Indies in England 2012

[uvelocity]

yeah pick your most talented, best attitude young buck, preferrably the guy you want to replace strauss in 18 months at the top and give him plenty of time.

 

[Howe_zat]

Uh how many times has Finn got Mukund out?

Yeah, didn't think so

 

[Jacknife]

I'm sure WI would love not having to face a bowler averaging 17 in the last year

Anderson-Broad-Bresnan. Easy.

EDIT: Really, unless you're going the CWB route this is probably the easiest selection job in the world right now. Just have to decide who your #6 will be and you're done.

Wouldn't they just, the idea of leaving out what probably has been England best bowler the past year is ludicrous imo, if he's fit he plays along side Jimmy.

As much as love Finn & Bres, they are simply not as good as Broad. I would like them to maybe rotate the bowlers if we manage to take the series early and give the likes of Onions and Finn a run out but you go with your best recognised bowler from the start.

I also think wickets and runs in the county championship can be overrated when it comes time to play Test cricket.

 

[Stapel]

Wouldn't they just, the idea of leaving out what probably has been England best bowler the past year is ludicrous imo, if he's fit he plays along side Jimmy.

As much as love Finn & Bres, they are simply not as good as Broad. I would like them to maybe rotate the bowlers if we manage to take the series early and give the likes of Onions and Finn a run out but you go with your best recognised bowler from the start.

I also think wickets and runs in the county championship can be overrated when it comes time to play Test cricket.

What about Tremlett?

If England would bowl Finn, Tremlett, Onions and Panesar, they'ld still have a decent attack. Obviously not like Anderson, Broad, Bresnan and Swann, but still. Typing that, makes me think about the batting quality of England's strongest bowlers!

 

[Pothas]

Think Stokes is destined to play that no.6 role for England at some point but don't know about his injury situation at the moment. Bopara is bound to get the nod for this test, he will be dropped after two tests of the SA series.

 

[Jacknife]

What about Tremlett?

If England would bowl Finn, Tremlett, Onions and Panesar, they'ld still have a decent attack. Obviously not like Anderson, Broad, Bresnan and Swann, but still. Typing that, makes me think about the batting quality of England's strongest bowlers!

Injured still as far as I know but if he wasn't and at his best, he'd be one of my three pacemen.

 

[Jacknife]

Think Stokes is destined to play that no.6 role for England at some point but don't know about his injury situation at the moment. Bopara is bound to get the nod for this test, he will be dropped after two tests of the SA series.

There was this on cricinfo the other day about his injury problem.

County Cricket 2012: Ben Stokes to have scan on back injury | Cricket News | County Cricket 2012 | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[vic_orthdox]

Surely if Bopara could pick a side to come in against, it'd be this mob. Reckon he'll get runs against them too.

 

[MW1304]

Last time we played, and subsequently dropped, Bopara in a marquee series preceded by a series against the Windies, we both discovered our latest world class batsman and won the series anyway. Hoping for a repeat of these events.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Surely if Bopara could pick a side to come in against, it'd be this mob. Reckon he'll get runs against them too.

I hope at least that West Indies' bowling attack will be decent. Decent would be enough to show up sad sack.

I reckon Sri Lanka or India would be easier to score runs against over in England. Other than the likes of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe etc. obviously.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'm sure WI would love not having to face a bowler averaging 17 in the last year

Anderson-Broad-Bresnan. Easy.

EDIT: Really, unless you're going the CWB route this is probably the easiest selection job in the world right now. Just have to decide who your #6 will be and you're done.

As much as you and I would like it, I don't think Finn v Bresnan will be at all simple. Wouldn't at all be surprised if they play Finn tbh.

 

[Howe_zat]

Why? Where's the precedent?

Flower sticks by his pecking order. It'll be Bres.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Honestly can't see it not being Bres. Short of injuries or resting Jimmeh's aging bones it'll be Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson.

 

[Cabinet96]

I just can't quite get it out of my mind that the media attention surrounding Finn might play a part in him getting selected. Obviously you'd hope this isn't the case and Flower and co. are hardly likely to get suckered into that sort of thing, but you never know, it might just send the thought into the back of their minds without them even thinking it's done so. And tbf Bresnan has had his injury problems recently. Can't have played more than a handful first class games since the last test of the India series. Whereas, in the meantime Finn has been dominating in the ODI team.

 

[MW1304]

Yeah I can see where you're coming from, seems like Finn has been impressing all the right people recently and was rightly next in line when Bresnan was injured, or there was some sort of cloud around his fitness, but you have to look at whether either Bresnan has done anything to be dropped or Finn has done anything to overtake him. I'd say he comfortably hasn't, not in the Test arena. I'm sure Flower & co. will do the right thing.

Just look at last year when the media were hammering out Bopara's case despite Morgan being the deserved imcumbent. The logical choice was made in the end, whatever Andrew Miller and the like were spouting on about.

 

[theegyptian]

Meh I think it will probably be quite close between Finn and Bresnan.

Bresnan struggled a bit when coming back from his last injury and could do with some runs and wickets in the next couple of weeks. He really hasn't played much cricket in the last 6 months.

Bresnan becomes a lot more valuable when broad doesn't play imo.

 

[FBU]

Honestly can't see it not being Bres. Short of injuries or resting Jimmeh's aging bones it'll be Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson.

Oi, no resting of Anderson. We only played 8 Tests last year compared to 14 Tests in 2009 and the same in 2010. A bowler needs to be bowling. I want 50 Test wickets this year from him.

 

[Cabinet96]

Baring strange things, Anderson should clean up early summer.

 

[Spikey]

Statement by Chris Gayle

I wish to advise that as of today, May 2nd, 2012, I have written to Somerset CC and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them for the 2012 Friends Provident Championship. I made it clear to them that my decision was made because of my commitment to West Indies cricket and to West Indies cricket fans, and because: “...I believe that it is time for the WICB to make a decision which will provide a clearer view of my own future.”

I understand that by making this decision, it may place me in a position of considerable risk, since I am foregoing a signed contract, without any guarantees whatsoever, with only the hope that I will be selected to play for the West Indies again.

I have now satisfied all of the requests of the WICB and their selection panel, with whom I met via teleconference yesterday, and to whom I reiterated previous assurances given to the Board regarding my availability. So that there is no doubt, I confirmed to the selectors that I was available for West Indies duty in all forms of cricket, immediately following the conclusion of my contractual obligations to my IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.

This has been a difficult time, and I wish to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me, my family and friends, and in particular cricket fans worldwide who have continued to show appreciation for me wherever I have played. I look forward to once again putting on the maroon, and resuming my international career and my service to West Indies cricket.

IPL pool matches end 20th of May, final is on 27. Gayle's team is currently 6th, with them needing to finish in the top 4 (iirc) to make the semis

Test Dates are:

1st test - May 17 - Mon May 21
2nd test - May 25 - Tue May 29
(tour match here)
3rd test: Jun 7 - Mon Jun 11

so he should probably play the 3rd, might sneak into the 2nd and will play the ODI's.

 

[uvelocity]

laugh if they don't pick him.