*Official* West Indies In Australia

[inbox24]

If we dropped Lee and Clark now, it'd be like dropping Matt Hayden before the 2005 Ashes, or like dropping McGrath when he was injured at the end of 2005. You don't just off these guys before they've even had a chance to prove themselves again, Lee especially (Clark had 1 test). Clark even if he's lost a bit of pace which may hamper his future performance on flat decks, can still be a handful on pitches which offer even a little bit. If any other country had these bowlers, they'd be straight back into the team after these injuries.

 

[Notorious1]

IT's not going to be as one sided this time around.

 

[shivfan]

Ok so where are you from then? Jamaica? Ganga being the most successful West Indies domestic captain in terms of titles won is not my opinion, it is now fact. He is back where he belongs leading T & T's exciting youngsters to higher standards performances. He should not be playing international cricket again and calls for him to be captain of the Test side were laughable.

Also T & T are indisputably the best Limited Overs side in the West Indies. 3 titles in 4 years, 20/20 finalists in 2007, winners in 2008 etc. I would say Jamaica are the best 4 day side in the Caribbean with T & T just behind them but capable of taking over in the near future if their matches are less blighted by rain and Jamaica fail to keep up their high standards.



As roseboy said, he has a decent FC average of 37 so there is hope. He also has a little bit more match awareness than the likes of Dwayne Smith so if he continues to score runs in 4 day cricket he will be in with a shout.

Interestingly, Trinidad rule the roost in one-dayers and 20/20 matches, but Jamaica are the team to beat in the four-day version of the game....

It's definitely a trinidad-Jamaica tussle right now.

Pity we didn't have a thread on the one-day tournament in Guyana here on CWF. There was one on CMS....

 

[shivfan]

From what I've seen T&T are a most impressive limited-overs side with great unity, a buzz about their style and some very notable match-winners. I do hope Kieron Pollard can now transfer his performances for T&T onto the international stage. His innings against NSW in the group stages of the Champs Lge T20 was a frightening display of his hitting credentials, and there can be few batsmen that can hit the ball as powerfully as he does.

What do people think of his chances of making inroads towards the Test side ? Or will he be a classic case of a LO specialist ?

Pollard's record as a batsman for trinidad in this year's four-day competition was okay, but not great. Simmons, Barath, Devon Smith and Deonarine all did better than him. I don't think he's done enough to get into the Test squad, but if Pollard is not included in the ODI squad to tour Down Under, I will be very disappointed....

I would like to see Pollard playing for trinidad in the four-day competition this spring, and I would like to see him buckle down for a long innings, and not throw away his wicket with a bad shot. If he does well, he could be called into the test squad for a home series in the spring.

 

[shivfan]

Re: Spin in the squad, there's Gayle, Benn and Deonarine who are all decent enough spinners. Backing Deonarine and Gayle to be a much better option than Gayle and Benn TBH. Not much difference really between them and Deonarine provides the better batting so wouldn't be surprised at this:

Gayle
Barath
Sarwan
Deonarine
Chanderpaul
Nash
Bravo
Ramdin
Taylor
Rampaul
Roach

Then again they might surprise and put:

Gayle
Barath
Sarwan
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Nash
Ramdin
Taylor
Benn
Rampaul
Roach

personally, I'm not a fan of benn....

But I don't see them carrying Benn all the way to Australia, and not playing him in the first Test. I think your second XI is the more likely team to play in the first Test.

As you guys know, I'm not comfortable with Bravo playing at four against the Aussies. I would much rather see Nash there, and Bravo at six. But, we'll see....

 

[Uppercut]

Well, they did kind of lose the Ashes and everything...

Indeed.

Besides, "he's the incumbent" is a seriously stupid reason to pick someone. Pick your best bowlers, or pick the bowlers that will help maintain a high standard of cricket in your national side for the future, but don't just pick bowlers because they happened to play in the last test. I think Lee is definitely one of Australia's four best bowlers. If someone thinks he isn't then I can understand them picking someone else, but some of the other reasons given for leaving him out don't really work for me.

 

[aussie]

If we dropped Lee and Clark now, it'd be like dropping Matt Hayden before the 2005 Ashes, or like dropping McGrath when he was injured at the end of 2005. You don't just off these guys before they've even had a chance to prove themselves again, Lee especially (Clark had 1 test). Clark even if he's lost a bit of pace which may hamper his future performance on flat decks, can still be a handful on pitches which offer even a little bit. If any other country had these bowlers, they'd be straight back into the team after these injuries.

Key point. I guess some people have just grown too accustomed to the competition in selection during the glory days of 95-06/07, thus are inccorrectly using that as basis to not want to pick Clark & Lee (mainly).

 

[roseboy64]

Interestingly, Trinidad rule the roost in one-dayers and 20/20 matches, but Jamaica are the team to beat in the four-day version of the game....

It's definitely a trinidad-Jamaica tussle right now.

Pity we didn't have a thread on the one-day tournament in Guyana here on CWF. There was one on CMS....

I usually have a WI domestic thread but the weather and everything meant I couldn't be bothered.

 

[roseboy64]

personally, I'm not a fan of benn....

But I don't see them carrying Benn all the way to Australia, and not playing him in the first Test. I think your second XI is the more likely team to play in the first Test.

As you guys know, I'm not comfortable with Bravo playing at four against the Aussies. I would much rather see Nash there, and Bravo at six. But, we'll see....

Ignoring that he's scored a century against them already.

 

[Ilovecric]

Results | West Indies | Cricinfo.com

The last time West Indies had a good memory was in that series, I'm hoping for a re-birth of WI cricket in the upcoming Frank Worrell series.

 

[stephen]

Results | West Indies | Cricinfo.com

The last time West Indies had a good memory was in that series, I'm hoping for a re-birth of WI cricket in the upcoming Frank Worrell series.

Lara the lynchpin of both wins.

Also was right at the height of Warne's poo bowling era.

I remember how good it felt to draw that series. The WIndies were really a force right up until the retirements of Ambrose and Walsh.

 

[shivfan]

Ignoring that he's scored a century against them already.

Bearing in mind that after 30-odd Tests, Bravo has only scored two Test centuries, and has an average of 32....

And Nash has played just nine Tests, already has a Test ton, and averages 38.

 

[Hit_Wicket]

Michael Hussey facing Test axe - Cricket - Fox Sports

 

[Burgey]

Not so sure tbh. You'd think after a ton in his last test they'd give him another go.

 

[aussie]

Not so sure tbh. You'd think after a ton in his last test they'd give him another go.

Yea. But i think the selectors are sort of regretting dropping Hughes intially tbh. But at the same time they clearly would like to play both Watto & Hughes in the same XI.

It will be interesting to see what they do, but the fair position to take would to retain Hussey & Watson for now.

 

[Matt79]

Reckon they'll give him the series vs WIs. If he doesn't produce there, he'll likely be gone by the Pakistan tests.

 

[inbox24]

Michael Hussey facing Test axe - Cricket - Fox Sports

Prime example of bad selection. Showing faith in people who do not deserve it, and yet dumping those longstanding servants who've just been through a form slump.

Right now Hussey is probably at the point Hayden was in his career back in 2005. He still has a few more very good years to give in both formats.

 

[Matt79]

Prime example of bad selection. Showing faith in people who do not deserve it, and yet dumping those longstanding servants who've just been through a form slump.

Right now Hussey is probably at the point Hayden was in his career back in 2005. He still has a few more very good years to give in both formats.

Doesn't help when he keeps getting clean bowled by balls he's not tried to play at. A slump is one thing, looking like you can't judge a ball's line is another. It might not actually mean anything in terms of where he's at, but jeez it looks bad.

 

[iamdavid]

My gut feeling is Clarke's back won't be right for the first test so they'll avoid having to make a tough call and Hughes, Hussey, Watson and North will all be there in Brisbane.

 

[andyc]

As long as Watto bats above North. Probably won't though, knowing the selectors.