*Official* Bangladesh in West Indies

[stumpski]

Sky are going to be showing late- nite highlights according to the TV schedules in Wisden Cricket Monthly. Only an hour as opposed to their usual two, but that'll do me I reckon. Going to need to record it though.

[Beamer]

The Official Windies squad for the 1st test :

Chris Gayle (c)
Adrian Barath
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Brendan Nash
Runako Morton
Narsingh Deonarine
Dwayne Bravo
Denesh Ramdin (vc, wk)
Jerome Taylor
Ravi Rampaul
Andrew Richardson
Suliemann Benn

Positives: Barath and Rampaul finally get the test call up they deserved ages ago and they have seen the light as far as Lionel Baker is concerned.

Negatives: Benn is still there and what the hell is Morton doing back in a test squad against a team full of spinners? Fidel Edwards is being rested after an injury sustained in the 20/20 WC.

[roseboy64]

Looks like Morton and Deopnarine may be the ones not playing.

[Beamer]

That would make the team:

Gayle
Barath
Sarwan
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Nash
Ramdin (wk)
Taylor
Benn
Rampaul
Richardson

That would be the more attacking lineup and I like the look of it. If they had dropped Benn and picked another spinner that would have been my ideal lineup. The other option is to play either Deonarine or Morton at number 4 and drop one of the pacers. By their extremely low standards the selectors have done a pretty good job this time IMO.

[roseboy64]

I think all the pacers will play. Wonder if Benn would be dropped?

[Beamer]

Well you know my feelings on Benn, I would sooner make Sarwan our specialist spinner then have him . Deonarine is a decent off spinner. He is certainly not up to test specialist standard but then neither is Benn so they may be tempted to play Deo and ask him to bowl a fair few overs.

[shivfan]

What is Morton doing in the squad ahead of Simmons?

Let the Nevisian stick to ODI and 20/20 cricket - he's good at that.

But yeah, Beamer, that looks like the XI. Except, I would prefer it if Nash batted at four, and Bravo at six. I think Nash has the better temperament for that slot....

[Beamer]

Certainly I agree that on temperament Nash would be at number 4, but Dwayne Bravo bats really well whenever he is given extra responsibility with the bat. He has performed a heck of a lot better at the top of the order in FC cricket and ODI's/20/20's then when he is stuck down the order.

Also Nash is clearly working at 6 and I am loathe to break up something that has been successful so far.

[Beamer]

CARIBUDATE NEWS

I really really hope this doesn't happen. Ramnarine and the WIPA have done a lot of good things and have taken the WICB to task, but actually boycotting a test match would be the last straw for me.

I travel many miles to watch West Indies play, and stay up ridiculously late to watch them on tv no matter what I have to do the next day. The fans do not deserve to be treated like that, so I pray it isn't true.

[roseboy64]

'Tis true. Would take a last minute deal for this to happen.

[cricman]

We'll lose to the 2nd String Side

[roseboy64]

If there is one.

[cricman]

If there is one.

WICB President said the 1st Test will take place ... they just don't know the players. I've heard there having trouble convincing U-19 players to partake in the Test.

Unfair to the Bangladesh Players Mostly, Regardless of how you feel about there ability they flew from the other side of the World to play cricket vs some of the best in the region, would be a shame if they had to face 17-18 year old regardless of good or bad they may be.

[TT Boy]

Farcical. Feel for the Bangla Boys.

[roseboy64]

WICB President said the 1st Test will take place ... they just don't know the players. I've heard there having trouble convincing U-19 players to partake in the Test.

Unfair to the Bangladesh Players Mostly, Regardless of how you feel about there ability they flew from the other side of the World to play cricket vs some of the best in the region, would be a shame if they had to face 17-18 year old regardless of good or bad they may be.

Apparently they're reluctant to play. Could be bad vibes when they graduate to the senior team and playing with some of the guys who've boycotted.