**Official* West Indies in New Zealand 2025

[anonymouskefe]

Did I just see Rachin in bowling pace in the warmup?

 

[Immenso]

He’s a ND boy but can’t say I’m a roving fan of Clarke. As a player he’s pretty much on par with Smith and Foulkes, can bat probably needs to keep improving with it. With the ball probably doesn’t have enough going on for test cricket.

Id give the new ball to Duffy and bring in Michael Rae. I’ve always liked him as a bowler. Think he’d do a job with the old ball at this level now.

Yes. Agree with all that.

Rae does look actually quite good, and multi-faceted.

Clarke, really only has youth going for him. Not much else.

 

[straw man]

When I saw him bowling in an Aus A vs NZ A series here a few years ago I was surprised to see his average (at the time) was 36-38. I thought he looked a much better bowler than that.

I don't have an explanation tbh. Accuracy not great, perhaps. Think when he played for Otago that University Oval can be a slow featherbed at times, though can also be very green, so I'm not sure if that helps or hinders overall.
Pretty consistently average numbers.


But hey he's stayed fit and that might count the most right now.

 

[vandem]

Yes. Agree with all that.

Rae does look actually quite good, and multi-faceted.

Clarke, really only has youth going for him. Not much else.

Clarke can bat. Perhaps a test role for him batting #8 and opening bowler who can swing the ball - but Foulkes already in team to do this.

Tickner and Rae I think best Plunket Shield players for 3rd / 4th seamer who can bowl short ball stuff. Give Duffy the new ball and tell him to ignore "enforcer" label.

 

[thierry henry]

We’ve got big problems here

 

[straw man]

We don't have much of a Plan B if the new ball doesn't get wickets here.

 

[straw man]

There were a heap of jinxes earlier in the thread, but this idiot's might end up being the worst.

Anyway that post-break session last night propeled NZ a long way ahead, very likely a matchwinning mini session. WI were still clinging on at 157/6 prior to that. It's far from over, but will require a tremendous effort for Windies bowlers to prevent NZ putting on another 200 runs and setting 300. And this doesn't look like a flattening seamy-road where that's easily chaseable.

 

[ataraxia]

It's a bit of a shame we've still got two swing bowlers for next test (for now). Was looking forward at the possibility of a Dudding or a Davey call up. Aside from those previously mentioned, the other option for the squad is probably Ray Toole.

What do WI need to draw even here? Another 100 runs to the partnership? We might only have two pacers at Hagley Oval (oops), but there's only Imlach still to come before a long tail.

 

[TheHound]

Why do they play bittersweet symphony before start of the day's play in New Zealand

 

[straw man]

Great catch, Latham. Genuinely excellent.

 

[anonymouskefe]

Thank god blundell wasnt behind the stumps

 

[King Kane]

Finally a wicket, great catch from Latham.

 

[TT Boy]

Nice catch. Hope could have scored anything here. Just needed to see off Duffy.

 

[TheHound]

Bad time to get out. This was likely Duffy's last over of the spell

 

[TT Boy]

Good review.

 

[straw man]

Good toil, Foulkes. The swing enough for the new batsman.

 

[King Kane]

Into the tail now, although Roach is no mug with the bat.

 

[vandem]

Good stuff from Foulkes. Good fields from Latham with short mid wickets and encouraging Foulkes to bowl full.

If de Grandhomme could take 49 wickets @ 32 with his medium paced wobblers, is no reason Foulkes couldn't have a good career batting at # 8, swinging the new ball, and bowling dry with an older ball.

 

[Chubb]

I for one am sick of the anti-Smith agenda in this forum.

 

[ashley bach]

Not anti it's just that we have doubts.