**Official** West Indies in England 2012

[flibbertyjibber]

Wasn't looking that comfortable at 4/50.

I did say in the end though as after the 4th wicket went down Bell and Cook played beautifully and never really looked troubled did they.

 

[Cabinet96]

'Stiff neck' sort of implies that he'll be full pace and fitness once the injury is healed. Its not like a shoulder injury where he'll have to work back into things. Unless I've misread Rampaul's action and all the pace comes from the neck.

So you're saying you think he'll be fit for the next test? I don't really know how bad stiff necks can get so didn't know if it would've healed by now.

 

[grecian]

Social seems to be getting a lot of bites recently.

Anyway, an interesting match despite the horrible pitch. Kemar Roach may be very good indeed on a surface that isn't a pudding. Yet so will Broad, outstanding performance from him here, really.

I normally like Nasser, but I couldn't believe how much smoke him, and some others, were blowing up Fidel Edwards' arse.

 

[benchmark00]

So you're saying you think he'll be fit for the next test? I don't really know how bad stiff necks can get so didn't know if it would've healed by now.

Must've took a viagra that got stuck halfway down his throat.

ark ark ark.

 

[FBU]

But on a related note, do England fans want Bresnan dropped? Tough one for me.

I'd prefer Finn as I like watching him bowl.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I'd prefer Finn as I like watching him bowl.

I am a huge fan of Finn and know in time he will take over as a regular but I guess if we have picked Bresnan for Lords which doesn't suit him they may as well pick him for TB which will.

 

[Jacknife]

Fkin hell, this is why the rest of the sporting world hate the English - some of their fans are horrible in victory and defeat

WI are one of the lowest ranked teams in world cricket and gave England a good game despite zero preparation, losing the toss, shocking selection and missing 3 or 4 of their best players

Cant wait for the Saffies to arrive so you can start whinging about how crap your team is again

Fishing as usual it seems, bless.

 

[Jacknife]

I am a huge fan of Finn and know in time he will take over as a regular but I guess if we have picked Bresnan for Lords which doesn't suit him they may as well pick him for TB which will.

Yes, I think if they were going to go the Finn route they would have done it at his home ground. With the next one being at Trent Bridge and if it plays anything like what it usually does, it will be tailor made for Bres.

I'm not too sure why Bresnan's name's getting pulled out, he didn't bowl poorly at all, he bowled a lot better than his figures suggest that's for sure, particularly in the first innings and those who watched all the overs he bowled they'll know that.

I guess if they want to see how Finn or Onions will go before SA come to town, they might rotate the bowlers around, I wouldn't have a problem with that at all but the main thing is picking the best side to win at TB. Hopefully if we can win the next test and go 2 up,then that will be the perfect time to give them both a game but we'll see.

 

[four_or_six]

I really don't get why everyone's on Bresnan's case, he's a bloody good player and seems to be underrated on here. I don't see any reason to drop him for Finn right now - I'm sure Finn will be in the team at some point this summer anyhow, as it's unlikely we'll get through without an injury to one of the current trio.

Anyway, was a bit edgy early on but from the time Cook and Bell got together it all looked under control. Shows the advantage of having so much quality and experience through our batting line-up now, especially in home conditions.

 

[Viscount Tom]

Finn's good but he's still quite raw thing is though I'd like to see him in the side by the India series in some manner because he seemed to be able to generate a fair deal of pace and seriously trouble batsmen when we were there in October, differences in format accepted.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah Finn might be more suited to ODIs. He's a lot like Morne Morkel, and Morkel's better in ODIs.

 

[Jacknife]

I don't think he's more suited to one day cricket, it's just that's where his chances have been to play the last year. I reckon the big reason he's made a impact in one day cricket is because he's managed to play quite a few games in a row and off the back of that he's generally got better and better.

I think he'll go on to have a very successful test career especially once he's fully matured in to that body of his and although he will become a very good one day bowler his future is definitely in Test cricket.

I'd bet when Finn's Morkels age he will be a better bowler.

 

[FBU]

I am a huge fan of Finn and know in time he will take over as a regular but I guess if we have picked Bresnan for Lords which doesn't suit him they may as well pick him for TB which will.

Maybe Finn will be able to get Chanderpaul out. He hasn't faced Finn before.

 

[tooextracool]

It's certainly not a stupid thing to ask, there are after all lots of replacements who I'm sure will do a fine job. But I'd go with no. Bresnan obviously didn't have a great test, but I though he perhaps bowled better than his figures suggested. He hardly leaked runs for instance, and while Broad was getting wickets it meant that that was all that England needed from him. He's performed superbly well for England in tests though, the Ashes and India series the highlight. I try to shy away from the, "played 12 won 12", argument, because I feel it slightly undermines his performances, especially when he's called a, "lucky charm". But if you look at his record with bat and ball he's done very well.

I don't really think Broad and Swann's batting makes his less valuable, because I fell he's quite a bit better than them. Flower said in Sri Lanka that England lacked an all-rounder of Flintoff's class but claimed Bresnan, "was getting there", which to me indicates that Flower and England are trying to further improve Bresnan's batting which would lead to the ability to play 5 bowlers, something they may consider in India. For that reason I think it's unlikely that England will replace him in this series, as I think they believe he could be crucial in India. I feel that way too.

Yep, batting is what messed up, not the bowling. 398 was a paltry total against a one man attack and they really let them back in the game when they could have won it with an innings to spare. Pietersen's shot in the 2nd innings was atrocious given the match situation, though with him that is not something unusual.

Bresnan has done enough to earn a consistent run in the side. I get the feeling that he is still feeling his way back into form after injury and was a touch under cooked. Long term, I suspect that Finn is the man but I don't think he is test class yet and until then I'd much rather rotate with the wherewithal of Onions/Tremlett/Bresnan.

 

[Dan]

I think it's a pretty good reflection on England's fast bowling depth when one can seriously talk about a guy with a Test bowling average < 27 as the worst in the attack, and have a myriad of suitable options to replace him.

Has to be the best problem to have as a selector.

 

[WindieWeathers]

It's the sort of performance from the skipper that adds a bit of weight to the idea he's not quite there as a test player. He's a nearly good enough bowler, a fair-ish #8 & a patently decent bloke (not sold on his actual captaincy, as it goes), but I think for him to be guaranteed a start in every test hamstrings the Windies.

Shillingford will probably come in (although, tbh, Trent Bridge is a swinging ground), so that means one of Edwards or Gabriel will probably miss out. There's a case for dumping Edwards who looks down on pace and slightly underdone generally, but Sammy should at least be a part of the discussion too.

Funny you should say that because there are HUGE rumours on WI forums that Sammy will be OUT of the second test, word is it's an "injury" , also Gayle is expected to play in the second test aswell!! , so here is my team

Barath
Gayle
Edwards (c)
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Samuels
Ramdin (wk)
Rampaul
Shillingford
Roach
Gabriel

We might miss Sammy's slogging down the order but Rampaul is more than capable of getting a little 30 or 40 when he's in the mood and hopefully added runs from Gayle up top will make a big difference aswell, Fidel is finished as far as i'm concerned, just not good enough, hope to see Gabriel continue to progress aswell,

As for the game, well the guys showed great fight and it leaves me wondering what we could actually do when we have the full strengh eleven on the park? that day can't come soon enough, if we'd had Narine and Rampaul yesterday then i think things might have been a little different, i'm not bitter though, infact i'm more hopeful that we can start to move forward than i've ever been.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Have a nice life wondering then.

 

[uvelocity]

It's arguably a better team, and Sammy doesn't excel in either department, but from where WI was, to where they are now, to drop Sammy would send a pretty poor message.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

It's arguably a better team, and Sammy doesn't excel in either department, but from where WI was, to where they are now, to drop Sammy would send a pretty poor message.

Yeah, Scyld Berry had it bang on, he stopped them getting any worse but is now stopping them getting any better as they have players who may take them forward who is denying a place in the side.

 

[TT Boy]

Yeah, Scyld Berry had it bang on, he stopped them getting any worse but is now stopping them getting any better as they have players who may take them forward who is denying a place in the side.

Sammy is still better value to the team right now than Peter or Fidel, so should play until the Windies have a 3rd quick of reputable quality. Samuels, Ramdin and then Rampaul at 8, that’s pretty iffy. Dwayne Bravo would be a nice number 8, not good enough for top six, probably too good for 8 but batting average is closer to Broad than it is of a test batsman.