***Official** West Indies in England***

[Beamer]

West Indies getting owned by Steffan Jones - what a great sign for the upcoming test series.

And seriously, the thought of Chris Gayle opening the batting in a test match makes me cringe even more every time I think about it. He'll be there I know, but I really hope he has a run of outs for two reasons..
1. So I don't have to watch him for long in each match.
2. So he'll eventually do badly enough to be dropped.

Erm..... You do realise Gayle has averaged 45 in test cricket over the last 3 years dont you?

You must be a purist who hated the sight of leadfoot Gayle continuously bashing the England bowlers for 4's in the 2004 series.

 

[Richard]

Why would Rob hate that sort of thing? He's Australian.

He just doesn't rate Gayle - in common with most on this site - too highly, even though his recent average is of course impressive.

 

[Richard]

Katich is not the only unfortunate player, there is another man called Jason Gillespie for whom to get dropped all it took was a horrible tour of England in 05, and mind you Gillespie was one of the best fast-bowler of his generation.

I dunno, Gillespie hadn't been on top form for a little while prior to the England tour

Gillespie wasn't exactly unfortunate to get dropped when he was, he's just perhaps been a little unfortunate to get back. Nothing howler-proportion the way Katich in Sri Lanka was.

There's been no bowler of the last 12 months who's obviously merited selection less than him.

 

[Richard]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

 

[Prince EWS]

Erm..... You do realise Gayle has averaged 45 in test cricket over the last 3 years dont you?

You must be a purist who hated the sight of leadfoot Gayle continuously bashing the England bowlers for 4's in the 2004 series.

I'm quite aware he has performed - I just cringe at the thought of him doing so. It's so unholy. And I'm not English so you put your theories of bitterness to rest.

 

[pup11]

Good fightback by WI ending the day at 237-4, good knocks from Chandrapaul and Morton.

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

WTF are you on about?

 

[Athlai]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

Good stuff.

 

[Prince EWS]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

It was Devon Smith, not Dwayne. Other than that, well done though.

 

[The Big Cheese]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

Haha! nice work richard! good use of the word 'windians!'

 

[Pratters]

Anyway... my first description of a match for CW. Post your "WTF are you on about"s here.

After an interruption which lasted until after midday, Gayle then dragged on the medium-pace of Mark Turner and was gone for a 19-ball 24.

Don't think a then was necessary there.

The threat of rain was rarely too far away, but the interruptions appeared not to break the concentration of either.

have an effect would have suited it better than to break IMO.

Also, I thought the report could have been a lot smoother. There was a lot more shifting of tenses than I thought was necessary in such a small report for instance.

Also, cliches and usual talk should be avoided strictly even for routine reports like this.

 

[Fiery]

After an interruption which lasted until after midday, Gayle then dragged on the medium-pace of Mark Turner and was gone for a 19-ball 24.

Don't think a then was necessary there.

The threat of rain was rarely too far away, but the interruptions appeared not to break the concentration of either.

have an effect would have suited it better than to break IMO.

Also, I thought the report could have been a lot smoother. There was a lot more shifting of tenses than I thought was necessary in such a small report for instance.

Also, cliches and usual talk should be avoided strictly even for routine reports like this.

You forgot to give us his mark

 

[Pratters]

6/10 for an excellent attempt at first report.

 

[Fiery]

6/10 for an excellent attempt at first report.

*applauds Richard*

 

[pup11]

Rich, very good effort mate.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Squad announced, which everyone appears to have missed...

Strauss (capt)
Cook
Bell
Shah
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Prior (wkt)
Plunkett
Panesar
Harmison
Hoggard

Shah is cover for KP - looks like five bowlers with Plunkett at 8.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

This is going to be one of those moments where we look back and say "tail started at six"...

 

[Perm]

I would prefer having James Anderson over Liam Plunkett, but I can see how the selectors are thinking with such a long tail. Be interesting to see how Prior goes, I haven't seen much to suggest that he'll be much good but if he plays well then it will solve the wicket keeping dilemna for a little while. Pleased to hear that Flintoff wasn't made captain.

 

[simmy]

Strauss is the obvious and best choice.

Top 6 really need to score big runs because this tail is woefully long!

Saying that, Monty can deffo now bat.

 

[gettingbetter]

The England merry-go-round continues.

A few problems that I do have:

1. In general, England throw caps out like confetti at a wedding, in my opinion, there is a certain element of exlusiveness lost with wearing the 3 lions of the chest now. Nothing serious, just something that I have a qualm with consdiierng that this is the highest level of cricket

2. Considering that England have had Alec Stewart in their team for such a long-period of time, its quite amazing to note how many keepers they've used since....lets say the 1990s - once again nothing serious, just the watering down of the pride of wearing the England colours. In saying that, I would of rather seen Read in the team

3. This number 8 nonsense has gone too far. Your top 7 score runs, your bowlers take wickets. You guys might know that I am an advocate for Mahmood's inclusion in the team, even in this case, I would of rather seen Anderson in the team - the better bowler

On a side note, do you guys atleast think its interesting that Mahmood/Anderson did not get picked ahead of Plunkett considering that they both bowled better than him during the World Cup.