**Official** Zimbabwe in the West Indies

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Theoretically there are seven one-dayers to make up for the absence of the Tests, to boost gate receipts.

But who the hell is going to turn up?

(Fully expecting Liam to answer "me")

Probably won't attend any ODIs. The compensation is not expecting huge turnouts for each match. They want a larger spread of crowd over 7 matches, which would probably equate two or three sellouts.

 

[James]

Paul Strang is playing club cricket in Auckland, New Zealand now.

He was on the NZ Cricket Company show a few months ago. Due to injuries he plays as a batsman only now.

 

[Goughy]

If Zim win 1 game, that is ok. Anything can happen once. It would not be a big deal.

If they win more than 1 then even more serious questions must be asked about WI cricket.

I cant see it happening though. This is a series WI need to get back on track and really give an oldfashioned beatdown to someone.

 

[superkingdave]

might catch some of it on sky since its on at a decent time, plenty of cricket coming up with SA-NZ, WI-ZIM and WI-India all on sky and the start of the County Season

 

[The Baconator]

This'll be a walk in the park for the W Indies really, expecting a at least one pretty big score if they bat first.

 

[garage flower]

Would expect Windies to sweep the series, but - this being the Windies - it would be rash to rule out them chucking a couple of games away.

I'm hoping they'll sprinkle the side with a good number of "A" team players, including those who performed well against England "A", such as Chattergoon, Joseph, Kelly and Baugh. Kelly - in particular - ought to be a shoe-in, but I guess the first teamers will be relishing a rare opportunity to clock up some wins and boost the averages and they do need to get some match practice in before India arrive and the serious business starts.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Would expect Windies to sweep the series, but - this being the Windies - it would be rash to rule out them chucking a couple of games away.

I'm hoping they'll sprinkle the side with a good number of "A" team players, including those who performed well against England "A", such as Chattergoon, Joseph, Kelly and Baugh. Kelly - in particular - ought to be a shoe-in, but I guess the first teamers will be relishing a rare opportunity to clock up some wins and boost the averages and they do need to get some match practice in before India arrive and the serious business starts.

I'd be shocked if Kelly didn't play against Zimbabwe. I suspect he may get picked as a specialist bowler, in that he could bat at 8 or 9, which will be fine. His batting is potent enough that if he fires with the ball, he'd be a great asset to have down the order.

I sense that Chattergoon may be one of those really good players who will never represent the West Indies, although he's infinitely more disciplined than Chris Gayle and has better technique than Gayle and Hinds put together. Right now if Ganga fails, Devon Smith will open with Gayle. Gayle won't get dropped for a very long time yet. Chattergoon probably can adapt to the middle order, but I'd prefer to see him opening if he gets selected.

I'm still not convinced about Carlton Baugh jr. in terms of batting or wicketkeeping. Denesh Ramdin's recent brain farts worry me though.

Sylvester Joseph seems to have matured greatly over the last two years or so. He's now emerged as a batting force in the region. I don't know if they'll find room for him in the lineup though, providing Sarwan is fit.

 

[roseboy64]

I'd agree with that about Baugh, Kelly and Joseph. I think Baugh's biggest problem in his batting though is a bit of inconsistency.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think Baugh's biggest problem in his batting though is a bit of inconsistency.

It's mostly shot selection. It's, simply and nicely put, idiotic most times.

 

[chekmeout]

Hey Chubb, could I please have your e-mail address ... Since this forum doesn't have the ability to send PM's.... I need to ask you something...

 

[luckyeddie]

Hey Chubb, could I please have your e-mail address ... Since this forum doesn't have the ability to send PM's.... I need to ask you something...

I can tell you the answers now.

a) Yes
b) No
c) Frequently
d) Halitosis

 

[Neil Pickup]

All that I remember of Carlton's batting is a very tailendery dismissal against a Harmison short ball at the Oval in 2004, the sort of thing that makes you go "ugh", the sort of thing that ended McGrath and Smith's Test careers.

 

[Jono]

Joseph was man of the match in the World Cup final I played on International Cricket Captain scoring an unbeaten century, despite the West Indies losing to me.

Surely that means something.

 

[Craig]

Another 400 run total possible?

Let's face it New Zealand nearly did it last year to Zimbabwe, and Australia did it to South Africa who in reply did it to Australia (poor Mick Lewis).

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I don't think the West Indies will thrash Zimbabwe. Hopefully they will win 7-0 though.

 

[roseboy64]

What's that then?

 

[Jono]

Well if the WI win every match by 1 run or 1 wicket, is it still a thrashing?

I guess it depends on one's definition of a thrashing, whether it be amount of wins or how easy the wins came.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I don't mean the series result. As Jono said, I mean the individual results. All this talk of huge scores and 400 and whatnot is just setting the West Indies up for disappointment IMO.

 

[Langeveldt]

hahah Zimbabwe they are so e

 

[roseboy64]

I don't mean the series result. As Jono said, I mean the individual results. All this talk of huge scores and 400 and whatnot is just setting the West Indies up for disappointment IMO.

Ok. I agree about that. Although if Gayle, Sarwan and Lara are all in a good mood in one of the matches who knows?