2018 Windies vs 2000 Windies

[Beamer]

We're definitely not ready to beat India or RSA yet, I agree with that. I think it's pretty clear though that we will at least compete with every test nation when we're playing at home now. The signs were there before this series on that tbh.

Still loads of work to do overseas though. Against India and Bangladesh we didn't have this attack playing together at any point and we were absolutely pulverized, Three major problems are batting against spin, strength in depth of seamers and spin bowling options.

Also noticed that our bowlers are now starting to struggle with the Kookaburra ball. Using a hard Dukes ball at home is great but we need to recognize that, like England, it will have an effect on our overseas performances that are already dire.

 

[Beamer]

Back on topic though, give me this team over the 2000 lot any day. I just found them so depressing as they under performed consistently. This 2019 side is one I can follow and know they are trying their best and that means a lot.

 

[Slifer]

India's bowling attack will be way better England's in WI conditions anyway, and their batsmen are generally much more patient and less stupid. I'd think India will do just fine.

Lol at the "less stupid" comment. But yeah awta. Wi won't be beating this India team anytime soon imo. And this isnt me Gambhiring or whatever it's called.

 

[Beamer]

Lol at the "less stupid" comment. But yeah awta. Wi won't be beating this India team anytime soon imo. And this isnt me Gambhiring or whatever it's called.

I think in a home series we could easily win a one off test. That's a definite possibility. I couldn't see us winning a series though, their quality would shine through in the end.

 

[Slifer]

I think India tours in the wi this year. Any idea how many tests??

 

[Beamer]

3 I think. I'm presuming 2 will be in Trinidad & Guyana as that makes economic sense. Not sure about the other one.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

3 I think. I'm presuming 2 will be in Trinidad & Guyana as that makes economic sense. Not sure about the other one.

We haven't hosted a test match since 2011- against Pakistan.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Bishoo I think debutedin the game.

 

[Tom Flint]

What about a post Lara team around 2009, doubt they've ever played together in a test but could be;

Gayle
Smith
Sarwan
Samuels
Chanderpaul
Dwayne bravo
Ramdin
Deonarine
Taylor
Roach
Edwards

V

Braithwaite
Campbell
Hope
Bravo
Chase
Hetmyer
Dowrich
Holder
Roach
Joseph
Gabriel

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think in a home series we could easily win a one off test. That's a definite possibility.

No chance, unless India have some big players missing

like others have said, England just really suck in WI. The same WI side couldn't put SL away and SL are possibly one of the worst touring sides ever.

 

[Beamer]

No chance, unless India have some big players missing

like others have said, England just really suck in WI. The same WI side couldn't put SL away and SL are possibly one of the worst touring sides ever.

I guess we'll see fairly soon

 

[Slifer]

No chance, unless India have some big players missing

like others have said, England just really suck in WI. The same WI side couldn't put SL away and SL are possibly one of the worst touring sides ever.

Awta. But if wi can be at least competitive, I'd be very happy.

 

[jimmy101]

I have a large amount of (possibly misplaced) faith in the Windies right now. If they can keep their best players on the park we could see India really challenged when the two sides meet later this year.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

We just have to let loose sandflies at them

 

[jimmy101]

I reckon you guys just need to get a stadium full of rabid fans back, really start putting the opposition teams off their game.

 

[Bahnz]

yeah i want to wait for a few series before calling this a renaissance. wi have a habit of pulling englands pants down.

and i flat out do no rate englands top 5. less so for the players contained and more for how it's put together. jennings is grim against the seamers, i don't think bairstow is a 3 or stokes a 5, im not sold on buttler at 5 and root's badly out of nick.

most of the tools are there they just do best at 4 or lower.

edit - this sounds like im trivialising the west indian bowling performance which wouldn't be fair of me at all. they've crushed england handsomely.

Agreed, there have been quite a few false dawns for WI over the past 20 years. I think this is partly media driven, there is definitely a subset of cricket jounalists that want to believe a WI dawn is coming. At different times I recall Shai Hope, Darren Bravo and even Adrian Barath all being crowned the heirs to Lara and Richards. And there was a very similar mood in the air after WI won a test in England in 2017.Since then WI have been well and truly whipped in New Zealand, barely clung on to a draw against Sri Lanka, and were properly pantsed in Bangladesh.

A series win against England is a good start, but that's all it is - the very start. England are an average touring side that got lucky with the toss on their last tour of Sri Lanka. Now they're experiencing the other side of the coin, and they're getting exposed. Having said that, I don't want to take anything away from WI, they've played really well, and the margin of victory in both tests shows that they've got more going for them than a bit of luck at the coin toss. Gabriel, Holder and Roach is a really solid 3-man attack, and Holder's blossoming as a batsmen gives the WI side some desperately needed balance. There's something there definitely, but I'm still not sure whether it's going to drive any great course correction in the near future.

 

[Bahnz]

Btw, are there any good books out there on why WI cricket fell off a cliff post '99? I mean, apart from Chris Gayle, it's hard to think of a single player of substance that made his debut between about 1996 and 2005, and while that trend appears to have been partially reversed in the last decade, it's still fascinating and confounding given the factory line of great players that came through in the 80's and early 90's

 

[jimmy101]

From what I've heard, it was around the turn of the century that other sports started to surpass cricket in popularity, such as football.

 

[Borges]

I have a large amount of (possibly misplaced) faith in the Windies right now. If they can keep their best players on the park we could see India really challenged when the two sides meet later this year.

India are going to reach West Indies after having played only joke cricket for six months, other than a possible one off test match against Zimbabwe. After an unending sequence of limited overs games against Australia, New Zealand, Australia again (why?), IPL, and finally the ODI World Cup, they would have forgotten how to bat or bowl in a proper game of cricket. Prepare spicy wickets, as the West Indies have been doing recently, and clobber them, I say.

 

[morgieb]

Btw, are there any good books out there on why WI cricket fell off a cliff post '99? I mean, apart from Chris Gayle, it's hard to think of a single player of substance that made his debut between about 1996 and 2005, and while that trend appears to have been partially reversed in the last decade, it's still fascinating and confounding given the factory line of great players that came through in the 80's and early 90's

TBF how many great players came from throughout the early 90's? Only two I can think of were Lara and Chanderpaul.

IMO I think it comes down to professionalisation, westernisation of the countries and also a few sports like soccer and basketball becoming more popular. West Indies decline is definitely more gradual than what you're implying though.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Btw, are there any good books out there on why WI cricket fell off a cliff post '99? I mean, apart from Chris Gayle, it's hard to think of a single player of substance that made his debut between about 1996 and 2005, and while that trend appears to have been partially reversed in the last decade, it's still fascinating and confounding given the factory line of great players that came through in the 80's and early 90's

See Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels...even Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards