Australian Test Squad to the West Indies April 2012

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#51
I'll throw up a possible Windies line-up just for the hell of it. Despite a pretty poor India tour looking at the numbers, there seems to be enough to work with, keeping in mind they were good in Bangladesh (away) and against India and Pakistan (home) leading up to that series.

Kraigg Brathwaithe
Lendl Simmons
Kirk Edwards
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Marlon Sammuels
Carlton Baugh+
Darren Sammy*
Ravi Rampaul
Fidel Edwards
Sunil Narine
---with Kieran Powell and Bishoo in the squad. Ramdin will need a mountain of runs for T&T to be anywhere near the side.

Goes without saying that Gayle would be a massive gain. The Windies are just about to start their 4-day competition and it would be fantastic if he plays for Jamaica (he did in the 50-over comp a few months ago) and plays ball with the board but I'm not holding my breath.

Obviously this is very close the team they took to India/Bangladesh so I'm hoping they show some faith in the kids they've picked and stick with them for the time being.

Brathwaithe and Kirk Edwards were particularly inpressive at the top of the order. Both pretty conservative players, but are very patient and prepared to build an innings. However I'd love to see Chanderpaul and Samuels bat at 3 and 4, but they seem to love dumping all the pressure on the kids at the top. They did themselves proud in India but against Australia's pace attack surely you need your best players doing the hard work at the top.

Sammy isn't a spectacular player by any means but has been a pretty decent leader, and now and again produces a clump of wickets out of nowhere or a quick 30-40 with the bat. He had a very good home summer last year against India and Pakistan with the ball and does a pretty good holding job if nothing is happpening. The improvement of Ravi Rampaul over the last 18 months is unbelievable. Fidel Edwards has been better than his record suggests over the last 18 months as well, he's had better pitches in the Windies to work with, and he's had PLENTY of chances spilled in the slips.

The spinner spot is an interesting one. I love Bishoo as a bowler and love what he's done in the side, especially in Test cricket. With their 4-day comp about to start, I think Narine and Bishoo are bowling for that place in the side and I'd like to see Narine get an opportunity. It would be fantastic if both could play at Guyana and Trinidad where spin will be most effective.
I would be amazed if Bishoo does not play. Also would be quite surprised if Simmonds opens. I can't see what Samuels brings to the side either, but can see their selectors sticking with him.

Brathwaite
Barath
K.Edwards
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Samuels
Baugh
Sammy
Rampaul
Edwards
Bishoo

I like Kemar Roach, but his form doesn't warrant selection. Edwards can be very ordinary, but at his best he is lethal. I agree with you on Sammy, he's a handy cricketer who brings good leadership to the side. I don't think they have what it takes to bowl us out for small scores.

We might have a fairly hard time bowling them out on flat pitches, considering their batting is reasonable. But overall I think we should not have much trouble at all over there.
 

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Spook

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#52
Might just take the one spinner and 6 quicks. A pile of aggressive quick bowlers is where our strength lie. MKay as well have plenty on hand. If that means 4 quicks in games so be it. WI plays 4 quicks all the time so the pitches will have to drift in that direction. If we play a spinner we'll need just one, that being Lyon.
Where did you get that info above from???? Just decided to make up some crap to support your point :rolleyes::rolleyes:

WI havent played 4 quicks at home since 2009 for 2 tests v the Bangas. Basicially Benn or Bisho have been their 4th bowler for the last 6 or so series at home
 

DrVanNostrand

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#54
I would be amazed if Bishoo does not play. Also would be quite surprised if Simmonds opens. I can't see what Samuels brings to the side either, but can see their selectors sticking with him.

Brathwaite
Barath
K.Edwards
Bravo
Chanderpaul
Samuels
Baugh
Sammy
Rampaul
Edwards
Bishoo

I like Kemar Roach, but his form doesn't warrant selection. Edwards can be very ordinary, but at his best he is lethal. I agree with you on Sammy, he's a handy cricketer who brings good leadership to the side. I don't think they have what it takes to bowl us out for small scores.

We might have a fairly hard time bowling them out on flat pitches, considering their batting is reasonable. But overall I think we should not have much trouble at all over there.
You're right about Roach. He was awful on their tour to Bangladesh last year and was rightfully dropped. He's a fair way off now that their bowling has come on fairly well recently.

Barath will probably play, you're right. But to me, Simmons is just more likely to be consistent against decent attacks. Barath is certainly one for the future and a long term prospect, but if they want runs in this series, I think Simmons is the man. I watched a lot of the Windies domestic t20 competition recently, and Barath looked a shadow of the player he was at the Gabba a few years ago. I know it was only t20, but he could barely get the ball off the square against some very ordinary bowlers.
 

DrVanNostrand

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#55
You may also want to add that from what I've seen Darren Bravo is a genuine gun. The guy is 22, has played 13 tests and made 1155 runs @52.50.
No doubt about that. Immensely gifted player and, unsuprisingly, a natural strokeplayer. However there have been whispers about a weakness playing the spinners. He had a bit of a tough time against Ashwin in India, but that's probably the norm for a young player on a first tour to India.
 

ajdude

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#56
Barath's struggled since his injury, hasn't quite been the same. Simmons is ****ing consistent in limited overs but hasn't quite got it right in test matches yet. Luckily it seems like they have more in the batting stocks than the bowling stocks, I still have no idea how Danza Hyatt has played international cricket.
 

djrossie

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#57
I find it quite strange that the Windies two better prospects in cricket are their spinners Bishoo and Narine.

I think they'll give a better fight than the Indians. Not saying much I know. The batting is undeniably fragile so they'll need some luck.
 

Chris25

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Moderator #58
Ramdin will need a mountain of runs for T&T to be anywhere near the side.
I disagree.

For starters, Carlton Baugh has been in worse form with the bat than Brad Haddin. Everyone knows that Ramdin is the better talent, Baugh is only in the side to send him a message. But Ramdin is back in the ODI side, he is a leader and averaged over 40 in the last domestic season. It's time to get him back in the Test fold.

I'm still waiting for them to give Andre Fletcher a shot as the keeper in the Test side though. It seems he has been pigeon holed as a limited overs player, but he is clearly more comfortable in the longer game. He has been scoring runs, and would actually give them a more attacking option.

Anyway, I'd go with...

Adrian Barath
Kraigg Brathwaite
Kirk Edwards
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Marlon Samuels
Denesh Ramdin
Darren Sammy
Ravi Rampaul
Fidel Edwards
Devendra Bishoo

Kieron Powell
Andre Russell
Veerasammy Permaul/Sunil Narine
 

ajdude

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#59
Chadwick Walton had one of the best names of all time in international cricket...slightly irrelevant, yes...

Thought Ramdin has been stiff though, iirc he captained the ODI team and was dropped next match last year?
 

DrVanNostrand

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#60
I disagree.

For starters, Carlton Baugh has been in worse form with the bat than Brad Haddin. Everyone knows that Ramdin is the better talent, Baugh is only in the side to send him a message. But Ramdin is back in the ODI side, he is a leader and averaged over 40 in the last domestic season. It's time to get him back in the Test fold.

I'm still waiting for them to give Andre Fletcher a shot as the keeper in the Test side though. It seems he has been pigeon holed as a limited overs player, but he is clearly more comfortable in the longer game. He has been scoring runs, and would actually give them a more attacking option.
Some good points in there. Unfortunetely it seems the Windies selectors seem to pick keepers soley on form with the bat (especially considering Courtney Browne is one of the selectors). Devon Thomas kept during the World Cup and was brilliant with the gloves, a shame he hasn't been given a chance. But on a world scale, all three are pretty decent with the gloves.

I actually had no idea that Fletcher was a keeper until the recent Caribbean T20 series. Was pleasantly suprised he has more strings to the bow. A real talent.
 

Scotland

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#61
Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Pattinson
Cummins
Siddle
Lyon

Hilfenhaus
Harris
Starc
Wade
Khawaja
Marsh

Will we take 17? I doubt it. A lot depends on the fitness of Watson, Cummins and Pattinson. If they are fit, they will go.

It's a very rare position to be in to have 6 fast bowlers who have all performed well. I reckon they will take a squad of 15, with Starc, Marsh and Wade dropped from the list above.
 

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#65
i think you are spot on.

race for the back up keeper between wade and nevill over the last few shield games. i think a lot would like to see both taken and haddin left behind.

from the team that just played, you'd imagine watson comes back in for marsh and with his run of form he'll be cut completely. they've used khawaja so they'll likely show faith in him. posibly hughes. probably depends on who performs best over the remaining shield games.

starc and patto_man are locks to be added to the three pace men.

you'd think SOK is the best of the rest spinners on performances for the last couple of years, but having been overlooked so far then maybe not. cam boyce has had a decent season, if he finishes in the same form or stronger, i'd highly contemplate taking him if no other spinner demonstrates that they are the clear number two.

Haddin out, Wade in, now Wade has been given chance in one-dayers means they are seriously looking at him, he has to perform and will be in at last. We will be rid of the pathetic Haddin for good.
 

The Passenger

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#68
if the plan were leaving tomorrow i'd be astounded if kahwaja wasn't the back up batsmen, with marsh missing out.

but with four games to go plus the final before the test squad leaves (but i don't know when it's announced. probably during the last round of games i'd imagine), and no one really stamping themselves as the next best option, anything could happen. i've got high hopes for joe burns from queensland. 700 runs at 47 so far but very early days. watched him bat on the live stream in his first game when he tonned up, and he hit the ball like a cannon.

chris lynn and nic maddinson are also big chances but have had tough seasons so far.
 

The Passenger

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#70
wow he hasn't exactly covered himself in glory this season in the one dayers, nor in any season in the one day competition. 11/12 season he has 176 runs at 29 with s/r of 69, for a career record of 503 runs at 26 with a s/r of 61....

that could be a clear case of giving him some "international experience" to see how he handles the step up. i think the theory is if someone performs at roughly the same level in ODI's as they do in ODD's, then a player should perform in tests roughly the same as they do in first class cricket.... maybe. wouldn't be my line of thinking, but it possibly explains the inclusion of some players in the ODI arena over the years when their games aren't suited to one day cricket.

long way from not being able to score a run in sydney grade cricket last season.
 

Alexwce

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#71
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense too. Why else would they have looked over in-form Ryobi cup players such as Quiney and Ferguson. Sneaky.
 

The Passenger

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#72
quiney could've been an inspired selection. at 29 is no spring chicken but could easily be around for the next world cup. hits the ball like a rocket. him, warner and wade as a top three in ODI's could be devestating.
 

Doodlesweaver

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#73
I disagree.

For starters, Carlton Baugh has been in worse form with the bat than Brad Haddin. Everyone knows that Ramdin is the better talent, Baugh is only in the side to send him a message. But Ramdin is back in the ODI side, he is a leader and averaged over 40 in the last domestic season. It's time to get him back in the Test fold.

I'm still waiting for them to give Andre Fletcher a shot as the keeper in the Test side though. It seems he has been pigeon holed as a limited overs player, but he is clearly more comfortable in the longer game. He has been scoring runs, and would actually give them a more attacking option.

Anyway, I'd go with...

Adrian Barath
Kraigg Brathwaite
Kirk Edwards
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Marlon Samuels
Denesh Ramdin
Darren Sammy
Ravi Rampaul
Fidel Edwards
Devendra Bishoo

Kieron Powell
Andre Russell
Veerasammy Permaul/Sunil Narine
Was it Baugh that was keeping in India? He was brilliant behind the stumps. Really old-fashioned, watch the ball like a hawk, feet moving like lightning keeper. I thought that sort had been strangled at birth in the past 2 decades.
 

DrVanNostrand

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#74
Was it Baugh that was keeping in India? He was brilliant behind the stumps. Really old-fashioned, watch the ball like a hawk, feet moving like lightning keeper. I thought that sort had been strangled at birth in the past 2 decades.
Totally agreed. It's great the selectors have him playing the Tests and Ramdin in the ODIs.
 

Chris25

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Moderator #75
Yeah, that was Carlton Baugh. He's a lot like Graham Manou - an elite wicket keeper, but not quite enough with the bat.
 
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