***Official*** West Indies in New Zealand

[sirjeremy11]

The West Indies look terrible right now. It will take a lot of convincing for me to accept that they have a chance at the World Cup, even this far out. Throw in the added pressure of playing at home and I don't think the current squad will be able to do it.
However to save my blushes incase they do pull it off, i'll never say never.

Add Lara, a bit of form for some of the batsman, home advantage, they should be able to pull off the odd surprise. But I can't see too much happening in the next year to make them genuine contenders.

I think they miss Colleymore in the bowling too. Badly.

 

[Smudge]

Franklin is back in to replace Mason, who has failed to recover from a strain.

 

[Tim]

Vincent
Fleming
Astle
Taylor
Fulton
Styris
McCullum
Vettori
Franklin
Mills
Bond
SS: Patel

Thats the team im picking.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The West Indies look terrible right now. It will take a lot of convincing for me to accept that they have a chance at the World Cup, even this far out. Throw in the added pressure of playing at home and I don't think the current squad will be able to do it.
However to save my blushes incase they do pull it off, i'll never say never.

I said it earlier in the thread, a losing streak is easy to fall into and difficult to get out of. At least the West Indian losing skid is well in progress long before the World Cup, which suggests that they should be out of it and playing competitive ODI cricket again by the time it comes around... should.

 

[sirjeremy11]

I said it earlier in the thread, a losing streak is easy to fall into and difficult to get out of. At least the West Indian losing skid is well in progress long before the World Cup, which suggests that they should be out of it and playing competitive ODI cricket again by the time it comes around... should.

With that batting line up they should be playing competitive ODI cricket now, but the bowlers are really letting them down (by and large - Edwards and Gayle aside). I hope that they can pick up their act. Fast.

 

[James]

What gets me Liam is your batting lineup, even without Lara it's strong, but they never seem to click on the same day.

I see quite a lot of talent in the West Indies team, and they could be the dark horses at the World Cup, as you could say they were in the Champions Trophy in 2004.

Playing at home in front of your own fans on pitches your familar with and with Lara playing his last WC, you never know what could happen.

My one suggestion would be to find a new captain!

 

[sirjeremy11]

My one suggestion would be to find a new captain!

God yes. Not only is it affecting his batting, but I think they would be better off with no captain! Just because he is a senior player, doesn't make him a good captain! What about Sarwan? Or even Ramdin?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

What gets me Liam is your batting lineup, even without Lara it's strong, but they never seem to click on the same day.

I see quite a lot of talent in the West Indies team, and they could be the dark horses at the World Cup, as you could say they were in the Champions Trophy in 2004.

Playing at home in front of your own fans on pitches your familar with and with Lara playing his last WC, you never know what could happen.

My one suggestion would be to find a new captain!

The biggest disappointments are Gayle and Sarwan in recent times. Ganga and Morton are only just getting a consistent run in the team (Ganga got a good run a few years back, but was dropped when he was doing well... brilliant WICB) and Chanderpaul looks to have cracked under the captaincy. Guys like Gayle, Sarwan and even Hinds - they HAVE to do well while these younger players are getting settled.

Runako Morton looks to have had a really productive tour and I'm thrilled for him, but he still needs to find some job security (ala Gayle and Sarwan) before he starts to click as he should. Hopefully he won't do as Gayle and Sarwan have and relax on a beach chair after getting that security.

The biggest thing to come out of this series is Fidel Edwards. I don't think even Richard can criticize the man for the improved showing on this tour. Hopefully he will keep it going.

Regarding the captaincy, I've said my part on that. I love Chanders as a player, but he's a terrible captain and I said that long before he became captain. What's worse is that the captaincy has devastated his batting to the point where, on current form, he doesn't deserve to make the team as a batsman alone.

 

[sirjeremy11]

Nice to have an honest assessment of Windies team from one of their fans.

It's all good that we are dishing it out to them at the moment from a NZ point of view, but from a WI point of view, this must be extremely tiring.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Thinking back to last year's tour of Sri Lanka - we may have lost, but so much can be gained from it.

These were players who essentially formed a 3rd string Windies team, and the batting didn't quite show up on that tour, but the aspect of team was so strong. It was so clear that these players knew what they had to do and that in the face of great adversity, they were willing to attempt to do it.

These were players who knew that they were far from sure-picks to the West Indies team and that they really had absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. They valued their opportunities to play international cricket as precious, and quite frankly, Sarwan and Gayle in particular could use a bit of the same attitude.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Nice to have an honest assessment of Windies team from one of their fans.

It's all good that we are dishing it out to them at the moment from a NZ point of view, but from a WI point of view, this must be extremely tiring.

It's just plain boring. West Indies cricket is just boring. Without guys like Lara, Bravo and Ramdin, it would become damn near unwatchable, because it's all so monotonous, predictable and the result is all but obvious no matter what the state of the match.

 

[sirjeremy11]

These were players who knew that they were far from sure-picks to the West Indies team and that they really had absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. They valued their opportunities to play international cricket as precious, and quite frankly, Sarwan and Gayle in particular could use a bit of the same attitude.

Maybe this is what happened to Astle. What would you say to them dropping Sarwan and Gayle.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Maybe this ia what happened to Astle. What would you say to them dropping Sarwan and Gayle.

I'd be in favour of it.

My team to play the a Test match right now:

D Ganga
DS Smith
RS Morton
BC Lara
S Chanderpaul
WW Hinds
D Ramdin (wk)
IDR Bradshaw - just because
D Mohammed
M Dillon
FH Edwards

Bravo isn't fit.

When Collymore and Collins are fit that would change obviously. I'd still like to see Dillon find his way back into the Test team though, but he first needs to show that his comeback form is more than just "form".

Gayle and Sarwan should return to domestic cricket or play some County cricket and show their opponents at that level why they've played international cricket.

 

[roseboy64]

The only reason to drop Gayle atm is his batting seeing as he's short of match practice. He's actually been one of the better bowlers so problem there. Sarwan looked good in the last two matches. If it wasn't for his efforts and Bradshaw's as well the WI would have nto even got to within 30 runs of NZ. Was going well in the last match until he got run out so he's still in the team for me. Out of the batsmen it'd be Ganga,Gayle or Chanderpaul to be dropped IMO.

Gayle
Smith
Ganga
Sarwan
Lara
Morton
Ramdin
Powell
Bradshaw
Lewis
Edwards

There's also the possibility of putting Bravo in for Gayle but with his current state you leave yourself a bowler short.

 

[roseboy64]

I'd be in favour of it.

My team to play the a Test match right now:

D Ganga
DS Smith
RS Morton
BC Lara
S Chanderpaul
WW Hinds
D Ramdin (wk)
IDR Bradshaw - just because
D Mohammed
M Dillon
FH Edwards

Bravo isn't fit.

When Collymore and Collins are fit that would change obviously. I'd still like to see Dillon find his way back into the Test team though, but he first needs to show that his comeback form is more than just "form".

Gayle and Sarwan should return to domestic cricket or play some County cricket and show their opponents at that level why they've played international cricket.

Dillon comes nowhere close to the team for my liking.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Dillon comes nowhere close to the team for my liking.

Because you're biased.

Dillon > any fast/fast-medium/medium-fast/medium bowler in the region bar Collins and Collymore.

 

[sirjeremy11]

What's the situation with Dillon. He was on fire at one point and just dropped off the radar. Guess it's the same as most fast bowlers, he suffered some sort of injury and hasn't been the same since.

 

[Prince EWS]

Because you're biased.

Dillon > any fast/fast-medium/medium-fast/medium bowler in the region bar Collins and Collymore.

Bravo?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

What's the situation with Dillon. He was on fire at one point and just dropped off the radar. Guess it's the same as most fast bowlers, he suffered some sort of injury and hasn't been the same since.

He had too much responsibility to carry when Walsh bowed out. He started well but soon cracked under the pressure and mismanagement.

He was dropped by Trinidad and Tobago at the start of the current domestic season, but was recalled for the final preliminary match. He then took 8 for 65 and said that he's renewed his commitment to the sport and is enjoying his cricket once more.

The theory is that maybe getting dropped by T&T was the ultimate reality check for him.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Bravo?

Bravo isn't picked as a bowler.