West Indies Cricket

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yep, the potential is certainly there, but at the moment the only names you'd confidently ink into the test teamsheet are: Gayle, Sarwan, Lara, Chanderpaul and - probably - Collins.

I'd definitely ink Dwayne Bravo in there. He was one of 3 bright spots as far as players go in England this summer. Intelligent bowling and purposeful batting. You can't ask for much more from a player of his age.

 

[odyssey]

We all agree the Windies bowling attack is very weak - no world class bowlers in sight...., and there strength is in there batting. I don't think Dillon, Ganga, or Hindes are very good.............
Can i ask you what you think of no test cricket Down under this Summer,
were you even aware?
what are your thoughts?

 

[marc71178]

I haven't noticed even one person realising there'll be no Windies test series this Summer here - i think it's a pretty big deal actually and the ACB can kiss my A$$.

Is it the ACB or is it the ICC?

Either way, it's not really that big a deal to be honest.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

We all agree the Windies bowling attack is very weak - no world class bowlers in sight...., and there strength is in there batting. I don't think Dillon, Ganga, or Hindes are very good.............
Can i ask you what you think of no test cricket Down under this Summer,
were you even aware?
what are your thoughts?

It's pretty interesting that Dillon, Ganga and Wavell Hinds have all played some of their best cricket against Australia.

I was aware of it, but I'm glad. The West Indies need the 6-month break from Test cricket which they're currently in. It allows time to build on the CT triumph.

 

[garage flower]

Aye, but the umpires were attrocious for the West Indies series. Then of course there was that awful Mumbai track...

Of course! I didn't bother spelling out the fact that the umps cost West Indies the series because I assumed all English fans accepted it.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Of course! I didn't bother spelling out the fact that the umps cost West Indies the series because I assumed all English fans accepted it.

Conspiracy I tell you! The truth is out there!!!

 

[garage flower]

I'd definitely ink Dwayne Bravo in there. He was one of 3 bright spots as far as players go in England this summer. Intelligent bowling and purposeful batting. You can't ask for much more from a player of his age.

I somehow managed to forget Dwayne for a moment!

But would he bat at 6 or be picked as one of 4 specialist bowlers? If Ridley is finished and we have to throw in a young 'keeper (or Browne) at 7 is the batting too short with Bravo at 6? On the other hand, I remember from discussions during the England series that you were - understandably - none to keen on him playing as a 4th bowler because you were concerned about him being overworked.

Either way, I'd say he's a "probable" rather than a definite.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Agreed that Dwayne needs more runs to keep his place at 6, but he definitely has Flintoff potential. Not as explosive, but a very talented batsman and bowler - a genuine allrounder.

 

[wpdavid]

Agreed that Dwayne (Bravo) needs more runs to keep his place at 6, but he definitely has Flintoff potential. Not as explosive, but a very talented batsman and bowler - a genuine allrounder.

Based on what we saw in England, he'd have to bat at 7. WI can't afford to keep losing their last 6 wickets for 50, and Bravo's bowling was at least as good as most of the specialists. That might leave them a bowler short occasionally, but they have to make themselves harder to beat. Thinking about it, Gayle &, to a lesser extent, Sarwan have something to offer with the ball, so it's not as if the team is crying out for a specialist spinner. That leaves room for 3 specialist quicks after the WK plus Bravo & Gayle/Sarwan, which is OK. Or at least it would be if they could find three quicks worthy of the name.

 

[garage flower]

Based on what we saw in England, he'd have to bat at 7. WI can't afford to keep losing their last 6 wickets for 50, and Bravo's bowling was at least as good as most of the specialists. That might leave them a bowler short occasionally, but they have to make themselves harder to beat. Thinking about it, Gayle &, to a lesser extent, Sarwan have something to offer with the ball, so it's not as if the team is crying out for a specialist spinner. That leaves room for 3 specialist quicks after the WK plus Bravo & Gayle/Sarwan, which is OK. Or at least it would be if they could find three quicks worthy of the name.

I was advocating 3 quicks + Bravo during the summer, but realistically he would be given a large workload because, outside of Mumbai (this one will run and run!), Sarwan and Gayle will only really be used as defensive bowlers.

Given the injuries West Indies' young bowlers (in particular) have suffered in the last couple of years, they really can't afford to take any risks with Bravo.

 

[Craig]

Can anyone tell me what happened to Marlon Samuels his progress..., last time he toured Aus he was awesome and looked like the next Windies great...

Also i'm wondering if anyone can tell me how they feel about the Windies not playing a test series (not being granted a Test series by Cricket Australia) against Australia in Australia this year?
I think it's disrespectful, but perhaps there is another reason, I'm thinking Cricket Aust think the Windies have no good bowlers coming through, so they think Aus would make like 1000 each innings, but NZ and Pakistan aren't much better...

Can anyone answer my Q's???
TY.

Samuels showed potential last time around, but he hasn't kicked on with it and hasn't really convinced me of his ablity as a Test batsman.

To say Cricket Australia think the Australians would make 1000 in each innings is entering the realms of lunacy.

 

[Craig]

+ On paper i think the Windies are better than New Zealand- perhaps Pakistan.

Based on what?

 

[Craig]

What about Ridley Jacobs or Courtney Browne (good replacement)

Ridley Jacobs IIRC is still injured, and Browne isn't up to it despite one good knock IMO.

 

[odyssey]

Well, just from looking at the NZ squad on paper, it's not very good - IMO.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Based on what we saw in England, he'd have to bat at 7. WI can't afford to keep losing their last 6 wickets for 50, and Bravo's bowling was at least as good as most of the specialists. That might leave them a bowler short occasionally, but they have to make themselves harder to beat. Thinking about it, Gayle &, to a lesser extent, Sarwan have something to offer with the ball, so it's not as if the team is crying out for a specialist spinner. That leaves room for 3 specialist quicks after the WK plus Bravo & Gayle/Sarwan, which is OK. Or at least it would be if they could find three quicks worthy of the name.

Unless Bradshaw, who can definitely bat, comes in to fill Collymore (line and length with a bit of seam) role and bat at 8. Then you can have Collins, Edwards/Best, possibly Dillon.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I was advocating 3 quicks + Bravo during the summer, but realistically he would be given a large workload because, outside of Mumbai (this one will run and run!), Sarwan and Gayle will only really be used as defensive bowlers.

Given the injuries West Indies' young bowlers (in particular) have suffered in the last couple of years, they really can't afford to take any risks with Bravo.

Especially considering that Bravo sustained an injury in the CT. It shows he's definitely vulnerable despite his high standards of fitness.

IMO Gayle can be more effective in Tests if he stopped bowling like he does in ODIs. When he flights it he gets a fair amount of turn.

 

[marc71178]

Unless Bradshaw, who can definitely bat, comes in to fill Collymore (line and length with a bit of seam) role and bat at 8. Then you can have Collins, Edwards/Best, possibly Dillon.

And no keeper?!

 

[Langeveldt]

Judging by the obsession of Soccer, and near non existance of cricket in I noticed while in Jamaica (Wherr's Sabina Park?) , they better start looking for some Zimbabwean rejects to shack up...

Give them ten years and they might be as hopeless as South Africa

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

And no keeper?!

The 'keeper bats at 7.

 

[marc71178]

So no Dwayne Smith then - I thought he was being slated as number 7 behind Bravo?

Then I'd look at Baugh 8, and the 3 bowlers.