***Official*** West Indies in England

[Richard]

I'm not sure I'd want Sidebottom back in the side tbh. He's always getting injured and has only really performed against a very weak New Zealand line-up. Take out the stats from his 2 series against the Kiwi's and his average goes up to a very poor 36. He's done ok in England against South Africa and West Indies, but I don't honestly think he's one of our best options, and I would actually rather see Harmy in the side ahead of Sidebottom.

You only need to have watched Sidebottom's games against NZ (and, let's be honest, WI and India in 2007) to have seen that that sort of bowling will be successful against any batting side, however good. Sidebottom's issue is whether he can regain an acceptable level of fitness, not whether he can bowl well enough.

That sort of bowling that we saw from Sidebottom in most of 2007 and early-2008 is better than Harmison has ever been capable of and almost certainly ever will be capable of. Harmison's continued selection has been and would be settling for mediocrity, whereas Sidebottom is potentially quite good - if, that is, he can regain the requistite levels of fitness, which is far from a nailed-on certainty.

 

[kingkallis]

There is no Phil Hughes in England?

 

[roseboy64]

Will be interesting to see who plays against the Lions tomorrow. Anyone know the Lions team?

 

[roseboy64]

Oh just found it.

 

[TT Boy]

What is the point of the Lions if the selectors just bypass them and select from outside? Neither Bres or Onions are apart of the Lions XI for the Windies game.

Usually in other places, the A team players are the next in line.

 

[TT Boy]

Oh just found it.

Taylor playing?

 

[four_or_six]

What is the point of the Lions if the selectors just bypass them and select from outside? Neither Bres or Onions are apart of the Lions XI for the Windies game.

Usually in other places, the A team players are the next in line.

Presumably if they're in the test team, they shouldn't be in the Lions this time around.

 

[TT Boy]

Presumably if they're in the test team, they shouldn't be in the Lions this time around.

The Lions squad was announced two weeks ago and both players didn't feature on the A tour of New Zealand.

 

[superkingdave]

The Lions squad was announced two weeks ago and both players didn't feature on the A tour of New Zealand.

Was actually only a week ago it was named. I'm not sure about Onions, but Bresnan declined to go to NZ because he wanted a rest. They probably have both benefited from the fact the bowlers who did go to NZ, Davies apart, did sh*t.

But Bresnan opted out of Lions selection in order to convalesce after a tough county season.

"It was actually my own decision," Bresnan explained. "I decided to take a break from the game.

"I needed to cool my jets a little bit and get a few niggles out of the system. I feel fresh and capable now."

 

[Uppercut]

I've seen a fair bit of Onions actually. He's the type of bowler you don't enjoy facing. More likely to be a success at test level than most bowlers averaging 32.

In any case, at least they've picked him at the right time. Can definitely see him doing well against the Windies in this form.

 

[roseboy64]

Taylor playing?

Meant the Lions team but Taylor's in England now and got some net practice. Should be playing.

 

[_Ed_]

Broad (3 times), Swann and Anderson all managed to get him out in the Carribean on flat pitches.

True, but in the last 3 years he's been significantly better overseas than at home - his average is 19 runs higher away than at home.

 

[shivfan]

That squad suggests to me that there's a bit of complacency leading into the WI series...not healthy, IMO.

Don't see Shiv getting out once in the series to that attack.

Not just the squad - these comments by Hugh Morris, of all people, suggest that England think this is the least important of the three series that they're playing....

Cricinfo - No respect for West Indies

Not the kind of attitude to take, when you've just lost the Wisden trophy.

 

[four_or_six]

Not just the squad - these comments by Hugh Morris, of all people, suggest that England think this is the least important of the three series that they're playing....

Cricinfo - No respect for West Indies

Not the kind of attitude to take, when you've just lost the Wisden trophy.

I'm not sure about that, it's just honest that it is the least important. I think the Windies will find this series a lot harder than the last one, especially if Gayle doesn't play. Is Taylor going to be fit?

 

[shivfan]

Morris might think it's the least important, but you'd think he'd at least put on a face for the visitors who recently beat him in the Caribbean....

This is what he said:

"Andrew has been extremely unlucky with injuries but if there is one saving grace it is that the injury has occurred now rather than on the eve of either the ICC World Twenty20 or the Ashes. Having the surgery now means that Flintoff should be available for both those events although he is certain to miss the Test series against the West Indies."

And this is what Fazeer has to say....

"You know, you would think that after losing the four-Test series in the Caribbean a few weeks ago 1-0-a result that confounded most very confident forecasts, both English and West Indian-anyone speaking on behalf of English cricket would have the sense to at least pretend that the regional team is worthy of some consideration as a competitive outfit and should not be simply overlooked again. Look, even if they don't mean it and are saying it just for public relations and mamaguile sake, surely the West Indies, by virtue of their performances at home against the same opponents, are worthy of some acknowledgement in light of the fact that they will go into the opening encounter at Lord's next Wednesday as holders of the Wisden Trophy. But for Morris to state that it is better for Flintoff to be out of commission now instead of June onwards, is to imply that the West Indies remain among the ranks of little-regarded lightweights despite the recent series result. It's as if the images of a celebrating home team with skipper Chris Gayle holding the Wisden Trophy aloft at the Queen's Park Oval were all a mirage. And maybe the matches in London and Durham the following week will expose again the weaknesses that have existed for so long in West Indies cricket and England will romp to a resounding triumph. That still doesn't change the fact that the underdogs came out on top last time around."

I must say, I totally agree with Fazeer....

As for Taylor, he should be playing in today's Lions game. That will probably give us the best indication of whether he's fit to play. I hope he is, because God knows we need him!

 

[four_or_six]

Yeah, I can totally see why it's annoying for WI fans. But for me this doesn't really feel like a proper series, being only two tests and stuck in as extra because of Zimbabwe pulling out. In that sense, it does feel like a warm-up for what's to come later in the summer.

 

[Richard]

Yeah, I can totally see why it's annoying for WI fans. But for me this doesn't really feel like a proper series, being only two tests and stuck in as extra because of Zimbabwe pulling out. In that sense, it does feel like a warm-up for what's to come later in the summer.

*Sri Lanka pulling-out; Zimbabwe being barred for being not good enough and ruled by a moron.

 

[four_or_six]

*Sri Lanka pulling-out; Zimbabwe being barred for being not good enough and ruled by a moron.

No need to shout.

 

[shivfan]

West Indies are eight without loss against the Lions, when rain curtails play at Derby....

 

[wpdavid]

West Indies are eight without loss against the Lions, when rain curtails play at Derby....

cricinfo think that Woakes dismissed Simmons before the rain arrived