*** Official *** West Indies in South Africa 2014/15

[Swingpanzee]

What's with the crowd booing?

 

[Niall]

TBH, I think the argument "more suited to limited overs format" is always a flawed argument. Thought I have to admit I use it quite often myself. The point is: was he more useful than Paul Harris in tests? My guess is that they were quite even, and Botha was just unfortunate that his ability to bat was never needed to be addressed, given SA's top batting line-up.

Harris was much better than people gave credit for, always kept it tight and allowed the quicks to take a break. I don't think people realised how important that was until they watched Imran Tahir bowl full tosses and all sort of filth when he got his chance.

Botha was suited more to limited overs cricket.

 

[SeamUp]

TBH, I think the argument "more suited to limited overs format" is always a flawed argument. Thought I have to admit I use it quite often myself. The point is: was he more useful than Paul Harris in tests? My guess is that they were quite even, and Botha was just unfortunate that his ability to bat was never needed to be addressed, given SA's top batting line-up.

I know what you mean, it frustrates me too but it is true that you get these limited overs specialists now.

Suppose the proof in the pudding was Harris produced far more domestically in 4-day cricket than Botha ever did.

 

[Stapel]

I know what you mean, it frustrates me too but it is true that you get these limited overs specialists now.

Suppose the proof in the pudding was Harris produced far more domestically in 4-day cricket than Botha ever did.

Well Harris has played more FC matches, so he has more wickets. But their averages are pretty much alike. And Botha still plays FC cricket (in Aus iirc).

 

[Swingpanzee]

**** WI have been lucky today. Morkel's had so many play and misses and edges, been terribly luckless. Good stand this between Blackwood and Ramdin, reckon if we get rid of one of them might be honours even or maybe our day as well.

 

[SeamUp]

Well Harris has played more FC matches, so he has more wickets. But their averages are pretty much alike. And Botha still plays FC cricket (in Aus iirc).

Suppose you've got to ask yourself why wasn't he playing more ?

I just remember Harris having 2 very good seasons for the Titans and one for Warwickshire that earned him the call-up.

 

[Stapel]

**** WI have been lucky today. Morkel's had so many play and misses and edges, been terribly luckless. Good stand this between Blackwood and Ramdin, reckon if we get rid of one of them might be honours even or maybe our day as well.

Having Chanderpaul stumped means you have all the luck in the world .

Also, Smith and Samuels got out in really daft ways.

 

[SeamUp]

This is the typical Newlands wicket. Have to work really hard for wickets and just find a way and your spinner needs to contribute. Loving it actually.

Late day 4 and day 5 though could be interesting

Well played Ramdin.

 

[Stapel]

Well, that was a decent day of Test Cricket. Not sure who is ahead. Whoever is, it's not by much. Apparently, the first day average at Newlands is 275/7 and the avergae first innings total is 332....

 

[GotSpin]

Good to see Blackwood getting some runs again.

 

[WindieWeathers]

Good to see Blackwood getting some runs again.

He really needed that...hoping this will give him confidence to really kick on when he returns home and plays the rest of the first class season for Jamaica!!..Brathwaite and Darren Bravo are certainly part of the future and it would be brilliant if Blackwood joins them.

All in all can't complain too much about todays play..of course some of the dismissals were foolish but that's just the way it is for us right now. Whatever score we get we're gonna have to bowl well now and try and put them under pressure for the first time in the series.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Might just have been the Windies' day yesterday, as a Saffa supporter I was a tad disappointed we couldn't get Blackwood out but he's been solid, was a great first day of cricket. Hopefully we can restrict West Indies to 300 and then pile up a reasonably big 1st innings score because I reckon batting last will be hard.

 

[Goughy]

According to Cricinfo "The pitch already has a few cracks, so if West Indies can get around 350 it could be interesting." but I think in reality they will be lucky to get 320. If they hit that then they have done well.

 

[NUFAN]

Agreed.

35 tests, an average of 24, the dude is a tried and tested failure.

People laugh at Pakistan for going back to the likes of Farhat, Kamran, this is much worse.

Devon has seen off the new ball to some degree in the first innings of each Test against a quality pace attack. Its a weird one because have a look at his scores in non-Tests recently. 174 in the tour match, 145 in his last match for Windward Islands and is the leading runscorer in the Windies 4 day comp.

But yeah, 1 century in 35 matches with such a poor average shouldn't be enough to keep a spot in the team. The batsman that I'm a little interested in following over the next season or two is Johnson Charles. Yeah, yeah he doesn't seem to have the best technique ever in the shorter formats, but the lad (hey WW how'd you access my account boi) is a clean hitter of the ball, has an ODI hundred against Australia and recently made a 150 in the Windies domestic comp.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Played Blackwood! Looks a really promising player for the future.

We need to restrict them to less than 350 otherwise gonna have to do it the hard way.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Looks out

 

[WindieWeathers]

Devon has seen off the new ball to some degree in the first innings of each Test against a quality pace attack. Its a weird one because have a look at his scores in non-Tests recently. 174 in the tour match, 145 in his last match for Windward Islands and is the leading runscorer in the Windies 4 day comp.

But yeah, 1 century in 35 matches with such a poor average shouldn't be enough to keep a spot in the team. The batsman that I'm a little interested in following over the next season or two is Johnson Charles. Yeah, yeah he doesn't seem to have the best technique ever in the shorter formats, but the lad (hey WW how'd you access my account boi) is a clean hitter of the ball, has an ODI hundred against Australia and recently made a 150 in the Windies domestic comp.

Yeah Johnson Charles is an interesting one. Reminds me of a raw Warner tbh...word is he's been working hard with his personal batting coach and they've changed a few things in his game and the fruits of that was seen in his excellent ton for Winward that you mentioned. Still early days though but a couple more tons in the next six first class games coming up and then people will start to take a closer look .

 

[OverratedSanity]

Trust that **** Philander to go missing on a slightly flatter pitch.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Trust that **** Philander to go missing on a slightly flatter pitch.

**** might also tamper with the ball

 

[OverratedSanity]

With these cracks I'm seeing here, I think this could well be the next random home loss for SA. Taylor could be absolutely deadly if he gets it right in the 4th innings.