West Indies Thread

[garage flower]

Surely you've overlooked Ian Bradshaw in your 5 specialist seamers then. AFAIC, you pick your best bowlers when picking specialist bowlers. Batting shouldn't tip a mediocre bowler over a good bowler. I'm not convinced by Sammy's bowling as yet.

Also keep in mind that the West Indies have a tendency to play 2 specialist seamers at a time these days.

I did say "by and large"(!) and Braddie's useful batting is off-set by his awfully unathletic fielding.

Point taken on picking bowlers to bowl, but I think 4 specialist seamers and Mohammed, supplemented by Smith, Bravo, Gayle and Samuels would be enough.

BTW, I see T&T are on fire this afternoon and perhaps Lendl Simmons batting his way into the squad.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I did say "by and large"(!) and Braddie's useful batting is off-set by his awfully unathletic fielding.

Useful batting plus good bowling > poor fielding. Courtney Walsh couldn't bat and was a poor fielder. I'd pick him for an ODI side today if he was playing as when he retired though.

BTW, I see T&T are on fire this afternoon and perhaps Lendl Simmons batting his way into the squad.

Four wickets to Pollard. I'd prefer him in there ahead of Simmons if it came down to it.

 

[garage flower]

Useful batting plus good bowling > poor fielding. Courtney Walsh couldn't bat and was a poor fielder. I'd pick him for an ODI side today if he was playing as when he retired though.

Don't worry, Bradshaw's in my squad and Courtney Walsh would be in it.

In the current context though, with a dearth of quality seamers, I don't see much point in picking 5 of them if they can - by and large - only contribute in one discipline and only 3 are likely to make the team at any one time. In my view, it would leave the squad unbalanced and lacking in depth.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Agreed. The likes of Bravo allows the option of 4 specialist seamers in the squad, especially if they pick Dw. Smith too.

 

[pacespinner]

Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose used to be two weapon in WI, are they still around or they have retired, i wonder, but their bowling was really good, may be coz of their height. Hope to see them this WC...

 

[Richard]

If only, eh?

I'd love to see Angus Fraser, too... sadly, one thinks all three might just not quite be the force they once were, though...

 

[marc71178]

Who needs Angus Fraser when we've got Liam and Saj?

Listening to TMS, one of the commentators today said that with the latest rain delay, bowlers would now be restricted to 6 each and that would mean neither Liam nor Saj could bowl again as if it were a bad thing!

 

[Richard]

Then think of this: the Plunkett-Fraser comparisons I've heard now number three!!!!!!!

 

[garage flower]

Agreed. The likes of Bravo allows the option of 4 specialist seamers in the squad, especially if they pick Dw. Smith too.

Don't know how well-connected the Trinidad Guardian's journalists are, but they've "announced" the squad: http://www.guardian.co.tt/sports1.html.

They've headlined with the T&T picks, which include Pollard, but - less convincingly - also name Pedro Collins and Sylvester Joseph!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

They've headlined with the T&T picks, which include Pollard, but - less convincingly - also name Pedro Collins and Sylvester Joseph!

I wouldn't be surprised to see Collins in the team, and I'd be very happy if he is. Sylvester Joseph, however...

 

[aussie]

Yea Collins would be a great pick, couldn't understand why he hasn't been in the ODI team for the past year. But i don't believe he is in the 30-man sqaud though?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Yea Collins would be a great pick, couldn't understand why he hasn't been in the ODI team for the past year. But i don't believe he is in the 30-man sqaud though?

The purpose of the 30-man squad is to stir excitement for the tournament. It functions to assist the buildup. It's not an actual commitment by a country's board.

 

[Pup Clarke]

The WI WC Squad has just been announced.

Brian Lara (c)
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Chris Gayle
Dwayne Smith
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Dwayne Bravo
Marlon Samuels
Ian Bradshaw
Corey Collymore
Jerome Taylor
Denesh Ramdin (wk)
Devon Smith
Lendl Simmoms
Daren Powell
Kieron Pollard

Reaction to the squad?.Any surprises?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Surprised to see Devon Smith in there, but I'm happy he is, providing he doesn't bat lower than 3.

Kieron Pollard had to be selected. He's been brilliant with both bat and ball this season, though he has been run out cheaply a couple of times in his last few innings. Maybe he needs to sort his running between the wickets.

Very surprised to see Lendl Simmons there, and I think that's a poor move on the part of the selectors. I don't think he's good enough. There are better batsmen in the region, and the only justification for picking him would be as a backup wicketkeeper to Denesh Ramdin AFAIC. Dave Mohammed should have been selected ahead of Simmons, as it's a bold move to rely solely on Gayle, Samuels and Sarwan to handle the spin quotient.

Daren Powell is perhaps another questionable pick, but given that the selectors chose to try out the dire Emrit (good FC bowler though) before Richard Kelly, there weren't many other options. Fidel Edwards may count himself a tad unlucky though, as he certainly wasn't horrible last year.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Forgot to add that there are 5 reserve players

Fidel Edwards
Sylvester Joseph
Dave Mohammed
Runako Morton
Darren Sammy

 

[garage flower]

Very surprised to see Lendl Simmons there, and I think that's a poor move on the part of the selectors. I don't think he's good enough. There are better batsmen in the region, and the only justification for picking him would be as a backup wicketkeeper to Denesh Ramdin AFAIC. Dave Mohammed should have been selected ahead of Simmons, as it's a bold move to rely solely on Gayle, Samuels and Sarwan to handle the spin quotient.

I agree. Eight batsmen seems to be one too many and Mohammed for Simmons would give a more balanced squad.

Daren Powell is perhaps another questionable pick, but given that the selectors chose to try out the dire Emrit (good FC bowler though) before Richard Kelly, there weren't many other options. Fidel Edwards may count himself a tad unlucky though, as he certainly wasn't horrible last year.

Agreed again. The selectors haven't looked at enough of the alternative options so probably had to go with what they know, but I'd still lean towards Edwards ahead of Powell. On his day, Edwards is a potential match-winner, even if he has only really demonstrated that against weaker opposition. I don't think Powell does anything particularly well. Doesn't have searing pace or metronomic accuracy and isn't a big mover of the ball.

Overall, I think the squad highlights West Indies current dependence on half a dozen or so proven performers. May well need a Pollard or D Smith (either one!) to step up if they're to go all the way.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Agreed again. The selectors haven't looked at enough of the alternative options so probably had to go with what they know, but I'd still lean towards Edwards ahead of Powell. On his day, Edwards is a potential match-winner, even if he has only really demonstrated that against weaker opposition. I don't think Powell does anything particularly well. Doesn't have searing pace or metronomic accuracy and isn't a big mover of the ball.

In defence of Powell, he's bowled pretty reasonably lately.

 

[roseboy64]

Surprised with simmons and Devon Smith really.

 

[Don]

what would be ur XI given the chosen squad

my XI :

Gayle
Chanderpaul
Sarwan
Lara
Samuels
Bravo
Pollard
Ramdin
Dwayne Smith
Bradshaw
taylor

bit batting heavy but giving our tendency to suddenly forget how to hold a bat maybe with the extra options someone could stand up.
cant believe i named that squad. do i hate my own kind (bowlers)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sub Collymore in for Dwayne Smith and you may be onto something. If Smith is going to bat at 9, you might as well replace him with a better bowler. Collymore is our most reliable bowler on most days.