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.
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.
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.
