West Indies tour of England 2017

[Abdullah719]

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies today named a 15-member Windies Test squad for the Tour of England, starting later this month.

Opening batsman Kyle Hope and left-handed all-rounder Raymon Reifer are the only two uncapped players in the squad for the tour which will feature the first ever day/night Test in England from August 18 to 22 at Edgbaston. The second match will be at Headingley (August 25 to 29) with the third at Lord’s (September 7 to 11).

Following the Test matches, the Windies will have the limited overs segment of the tour. The squads for the five One-Day Internationals and one-off T20 International will be named at a later date.

SQUAD

• Jason Holder (Captain)
• Kraigg Braithwaite (Vice Captain)
• Devendra Bishoo
• Jermaine Blackwood
• Roston Chase
• Miguel Cummins
• Shane Dowrich
• Shannon Gabriel
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Kyle Hope
• Shai Hope
• Alzarri Joseph
• Kieran Powell
• Raymon Reifer
• Kemar Roach

On the announcement of the squad, Courtney Browne, Chairman of Selection Panel of CWI, said: “The core group of this squad has been playing together from the Test series against India last year in the Caribbean. The group is developing nicely and we are already seeing some good signs from some individual players and the team as a whole. Our bowling again has shown that hard work and consistency will bring success. This bowling group has played around 10 Test matches consecutively and quite a number of ODIs together over the last year, and they had success which augurs well for their continued development.

On the selection of Kyle Hope and Raymon Reifer, Browne said: “We have two players who will be new to Tests, but they have experience at first-class level having played in the expanded Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament. Kyle will be our third option as opener and he can also be a possible No.3. Raymon adds variety to our attack with his left-arm swing bowling and has proven to be very useful with the bat in the lower order. He, therefore, adds value to our team and could be very useful in English conditions. The reformatted Digicel R4Day has borne fruit over the last few years and the CWI is pushing ahead to continuously improve the competition.

On the return of Kemar Roach, Browne said: “Kemar’s return is welcomed as he was one of the best fast bowlers in Tests in the recent past for us. We have seen him during the last Digicel R4Day season show signs of his return to form. He may not be bowling as quickly as before, but still possesses that skill we all knew he had, plus his experience adds greater depth to the attack.

On his general expectations, Browne said: “We have three matches against County teams before the first Test. These warm-up matches will not only allow the team to acclimatise, but also give players a chance to challenge for the few spots that have opened up in the final 11. All of our players are accustomed to the pink ball. They have been exposed to it during the Digicel R4Day. Our team also played a pink-ball Test match against Pakistan last year in Dubai, so this will not be a new experience for them. Overall, it will be a tough series, but we all have seen this young team fight before and I am sure they will continue to show similar qualities on this upcoming trip.”

NOTE: Darren Bravo was not considered for selection, as the squad was chosen before he issued his apology.


MATCH SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 1 to Thursday, August 3
Tour Match vs Essex – County Ground, Chelmsford

Sunday, August 6 to Tuesday, Aug 8
Tour Match vs Kent – St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 13
Tour Match vs Derbyshire – County Ground, Derby

Thursday, August 17 to Monday, August 21
1st Test – Edgbaston, Birmingham (day/night)

Friday, August 25 to Tuesday, August 29
2nd Test – Headingley, Leeds

Saturday, September 2 to Sunday, September 3
Tour Match vs Leicestershire – Grace Road, Leicester

Thursday, September 7 to Monday, September 11
3rd Test – Lord’s, London

 

[Square Drive]

What was the problem with adding Bravo to this squad?

Ridiculous.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Their test squad is pretty much set barring a few spots. Expected squad.

 

[Hasan123]

Bravo should have been added to the squad. Most of the squad picks it self. West Indies are forming into a decent test team. Excited to see the performances of, Shai Hope,Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, and Alzari Joseph.

 

[kaifmazhar]

Why do they even play if they have to select such a squad? Better sit at home and avoid the shame, disgust and embarrassment.

 

[shaz619]

The reports I had read were true [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] otherwise a decent squad

 

[Markhor]

What was the problem with adding Bravo to this squad?

Ridiculous.

They'll probably do what we did in 2010.

We lost the first two Tests terribly and had to send out an SOS to one of the few reliable batsmen we could call upon in Mohammad Yousuf.

Darren Bravo should be in the squad regardless of how little red ball cricket he's played as he's still their best batsman. He'd still have the warm ups.

 

[Abdullah719]

England name squad for first Investec Test against West Indies

England National Cricket Selectors have named the following 13-man squad for the first Investec Test match against West Indies starting at Edgbaston on Thursday August 17.

Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Stoneman (Surrey)
Tom Westley (Essex)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Surrey’s top order batsman Mark Stoneman replaces Keaton Jennings and is set to earn his first cap in the inaugural day/night Test to be played in this country. The former Durham opener has been in consistent form this season scoring 1,000 runs in first-class cricket, including a top score of 197 and averaging 58.82 with three centuries.

Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane is included for the first time after impressing this season in the County Championship and earning his first cap in the England IT20 squad back in June.

Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes returns to the squad in place of Middlesex’s Steven Finn. Woakes, who has fully recovered from a side strain sustained during the ICC Champions Trophy in June, has missed most of the season, but made a return to the Specsavers County Championship earlier this week where he took five wickets in the match and scored 53 in the second innings helping Warwickshire to victory over Middlesex at Lord’s.

James Whitaker, the National Selector, said: “After an excellent series victory over South Africa, our first against them on home soil since 1998, we now look forward to building on our success against the West Indies.

“Selectors would like to offer their congratulations to Mark Stoneman and Mason Crane who thoroughly deserve their opportunity in the squad.

“Keaton Jennings will return to Durham and will look to recapture the form that earned him selection in the first place. I am sure he will find his confidence and look to score runs in the remaining matches of this season.

“Chris Woakes has proved his fitness and returns to the squad having missed most of the summer through injury. He was impressive in his return game at Lord’s this week and if selected in the final line-up, he will be relishing the prospect of playing on his home ground.
.
“On behalf of the selectors, I would like to wish Joe Root, Trevor Bayliss and all the squad the very best for what will be an exciting series against West Indies.”

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Chase and Hope going strong.

 

[Markhor]

Chase and Hope going strong.

Against a very weak Derbyshire team who've selected a few 2nd XI guys and even have a 16 year old bowling in James Taylor.

Kraigg Brathwaite's form is worrying, couldn't even cash in against this attack.

I expect this Windies XI to line up at Edgbaston. Replace Blackwood with Darren Bravo and that team actually looks OK.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Against a very weak Derbyshire team who've selected a few 2nd XI guys and even have a 16 year old bowling in James Taylor.

Kraigg Brathwaite's form is worrying, couldn't even cash in against this attack.

I expect this Windies XI to line up at Edgbaston. Replace Blackwood with Darren Bravo and that team actually looks OK.

Braithwaite while gritty and technically decent is too limited a player. I'd find a replacement if I were West Indies.

 

[shaz619]

The WI's will draw or win a Test at the very least

 

[Robert]

3-0 or 2-0 to England, depending on the weather, given similar wickets to the SA series.

The day/night tests are an interesting variable, as the ball will start swinging in the evening as the temperature drops. Anderson, Woakes and R-J will do damage. I would drop Draco for a bit.

 

[Lefthanded]

No Bravo, and WICB just can't stop selecting Grade cricket squads. No reason he couldn't be added after the apology.

Lots of us are missing out their best batsman and with Chase, it would be a decent middle order.

Endlessly shameful and a blight on test cricket.

 

[Lefthanded]

To clarify, I know they have few options. But obviously it's a completely rubbish team without bravo.

 

[shaz619]

3-0 or 2-0 to England, depending on the weather, given similar wickets to the SA series.

The day/night tests are an interesting variable, as the ball will start swinging in the evening as the temperature drops. Anderson, Woakes and R-J will do damage. I would drop Draco for a bit.

You're a bit too overconfident

 

[Protea Fan]

Mason Crane looks like a good prospect in limited over cricket but not sure whether lad can take it into longer formats

 

[IM NOT YOU]

Shannon Gabriel 20 NO BALLS in 9 overs

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...st-Indies-Tour-Match-wi-tour-of-england-2017/



Shannon Gabriel of west indies has bowled 20 no balls in just 9 overs of bowling in their test match against Derbyshire.

If a Pakistani did this the ICC would be all over this.


How is this even possible by a frontline West Indies opening bowler? If you read the commentary its hilarious, theres some overs where he bowled 4 no balls.

It's a test match for crying out loud against a third rate team.

 

[Abdullah719]

Big-hitting West Indies icon Chris Gayle could make return to face England in ODI series this summer

Chris Gayle could make an eye-catching return to West Indies' one-day side against England later this summer following the thawing of relations between senior Caribbean cricketers and the board.

Even at 37, the big-hitting Gayle remains one of the world game's biggest drawcards, but he has restricted his international appearances since the last 50-over World Cup in early 2015 to a handful of Twenty20 matches.

Now, following the efforts of a new-look West Indies Cricket Board to make peace with several of their star players, Gayle is in line to represent the one-day team during the five-match series against England in September, as well as the preceding one-off Twenty20 match at Chester-le-Street.

Until recently, the board refused to pick players who opted for money-spinning overseas Twenty20 tournaments rather than appear in domestic cricket in the Caribbean.

But the appointment in January as the WICB's new chief executive of Johnny Grave, who had previously worked at the Professional Cricketers' Association, has eased tensions between players and administrators. Last month, an amnesty was announced, in effect lifting the ban and allowing the likes of Gayle to be available for one-day selection.

'West Indies have probably wasted more money on having to address legal issues with players than they have spent on developing young cricketers,' Grave told the Mail on Sunday.

'The amnesty is about highlighting to the public the progress we're making and getting one or two of the big names back in the 50-over side.

'When Evin Lewis hit a ridiculous T20 hundred against India recently, it was telling that the two guys who talked him through it from the other end were Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. I'm hopeful we'll see them both in action against England.'

First, though, West Indies must negotiate a three-match Test series, starting with Thursday's pink-ball match at Edgbaston, against an England team who are on a high after disposing of South Africa 3-1.

'The perception is it will be no contest,' said Grave. 'All I'm hearing is each game will be over in three days, and Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson will blow us away. People view West Indies cricket as being in decline, and they'll see an England win as further evidence of that.

'But we can take confidence from our recent performance at home against Pakistan. We've got the talent to compete – it's just a question of whether we have the confidence to put together 15 sessions.

'This is a great opportunity for our players to make a name for themselves. I just hope that the likes of Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and the captain Jason Holder can prove a few people wrong.'

Grave is adamant that there remains plenty of ability on the Caribbean islands, despite a Test decline that has seen West Indies fail to win an away series anywhere other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe for more than 22 years.

'West Indies won the Under-19 World Cup last year, and that team has just won a one-day series in South Africa, so the talent is clearly there,' he said. 'It's just about harnessing it. At the moment, we're a bit like England in the 1990s.

'What I've tried to do with our new director of cricket Jimmy Adams and our new coach Stuart Law is bring a sense of stability to the game. The players aren't immune to problems at board level, but things are getting better.'

And the new chief executive also believes that only success at Test level can alter the sense that West Indian cricket is on a slippery slope to nowhere.

'Winning three global events as we did last year [the men's and women's World Twenty20, as well as the Under-19 World Cup] only provided a short-term boost. Long-term change only comes through Test cricket.

'We're viewing these three games in England as the first of seven Tests, followed by two each against New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Hopefully by the end of it we'll have developed as a Test side.'

The temptation for England will be to underestimate West Indies, who have not won a Test in this country since 2000, nor a series since 1988. But, against a team desperate to prove they are not the no-hopers of popular wisdom, they will do so at their peril.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...ris-Gayle-return-face-England-ODI-series.html

 

[Robert]

You're a bit too overconfident

Come on, SA are better than this lot.

 

[majiz]

tipping a full strength roach x gabriel x joseph to spring a few surprises

 

[Abdullah719]

Don't write Windies off yet, warns Garner

London - Joel Garner has warned against "writing the West Indies off too early" ahead of their upcoming Test series against England.

A three-match campaign starts with the first day/night Test ever staged in England, at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Thursday.

England, fresh from a 3-1 win over South Africa in a four-Test home series, will start as huge favourites.

Not only have the West Indies lost their last six Test series, they have been beaten in 14 of their most recent Tests in England and drawn the other three.

But fast-bowling great Garner, now the West Indies team manager, said Monday: "It's going to be some interesting times. I think people are writing the West Indies off too early and it could be at their own peril."

And with a fast-bowling attack led by Kemar Road and Shannon Gabriel, allied to a new work ethic being installed by Australian coach Stuart Law, Garner believes his side, who have played a day/night Test -- a hard-fought defeat by Pakistan in Dubai in October -- could yet upset the odds.

"Cricket is played in the middle at the end of the day," Garner added at an event staged by series sponsors Investec in London on Monday. "I think the fellas have got talent."

"It's who makes the greatest adjustment in the day/night game. Games between England and the West Indies are competitive. I wouldn't completely write them off."

West Indies, however, have arrived in England without several star players including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy -- the legacy of a bitter dispute with West Indies cricket officials and the fact that the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament is going on at home at the same time as the Test series.

While Cricket West Indies, as the West Indies Cricket Board is now known, recently granted an 'amnesty' in a bid to get senior players back on board ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England, it has come too late to alter the squad for the Test series.

"We will welcome them back because they are our better players but at the present moment we are here to play cricket," said the 64-year-old Garner. "We've got to work with what we've got. We still have fight.

"We can't keep looking and saying 'we'll wait and see if the other players come back as well'."

Garner, who stood for election as WICB president two years ago but lost to incumbent Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron, said he felt relations between players and officials were improving.

"There's a lot more communication going on between the players and the officials," he said. "It can only get better."

But the 64-year-old Garner accepted the timing of the CPL was far from ideal.

"That is the biggest challenge because that is where most of the money is being aimed at," said Garner.

"I think you have to work around it and get the tours organised in such a way there's no competition from the shorter version of the game."

The giant Garner, who took 259 wickets in 58 Tests at an average of just 20.97, said he felt standards had slipped since the day when he was a key member of the West Indies side that dominated world cricket in the late 1970s and 1980s.

"If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail...Some of our players have become accustomed to the CPL way of doing things.

"Players are being encouraged to train harder and get fitter. We've always had players with ability, players with style and flair, but the lack of preparation at the top could have been part of the problem."

http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/dont-write-windies-off-yet-warns-garner-20170814

 

[mak36]

Will be a closer series than the recently concluded SA series. Then again, that's not saying much. It's a great shame Bravo is not playing as that would really have bolstered their batting.

 

[Amjid Javed]

3-0 england, plenty of easy runs and wickets on offer for England players in this 2nd half of the summer.

 

[Markhor]

Man I used to really look forward to England-West Indies series.

The 2000 series was one I fondly remember. Even though West Indies were in decline, they still had Brian Lara, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

The 1991 and 1995 series were classics too.

 

[HitWicket]

Teams been announced, Woakes and Crane miss out.

 

[UN talkz]

England squad for 1st test.

Joe Root (capt)
Moeen Ali
James Anderson
Jonny Bairstow (wk)
Stuart Broad
Alastair Cook
Mason Crane
Dawid Malan
Toby Roland-Jones
Ben Stokes
Mark Stoneman
Tom Westley
Chris Woakes

 

[UN talkz]

Moeen Ali ready for "pink ball" test

Birmingham: Moeen Ali is confident it will take more than a pink ball to put him off his stride during England's inaugural day/night Test.

The off-spinning all-rounder was England's man-of-the-series after starring with both bat and ball during the recent 3-1 Test triumph at home to South Africa.
Now Birmingham-born Ali returns to the city's Edgbaston ground, where he came through the youth ranks with Warwickshire before joining Midlands rivals Worcestershire, for what will also be the England team's first taste of floodlit Test cricket in a series opener against the West Indies starting on Thursday.

There has been much talk about how the pink ball -- required for floodlit Tests as the players' traditional clothing makes the white ball familiar from one-day internationals as unusable as the standard red -- will affect bowlers.

But Ali, who hit a fifty but bowled just three overs during the day-night round of County Championship fixtures scheduled as preparation for this Test, said: "It's different... it feels lighter off the bat.

"Sometimes you don't feel like you've hit it, and it goes; other times you've nailed it, and it doesn't," he added at an event staged by series sponsors Investec.
"But you get used to it ... I did by the end of the (net) session."

As for bowling with a pink ball, the 30-year-old Ali, who against South Africa became the first man to take 25 wickets in a four-Test series, said: "The seam is good -- it's not quite as slippery. It spun, maybe because the seam is hard.

"Seeing it is fine. It will be interesting at twilight, but I will try not to think about it."

There have been suggestions that the pink ball does not swing as much or for as long as the traditional red cricket ball.

Meanwhile Dukes, the British-based manufacturer of the pink ball in use for this week's day/night Test have also had to endure a 'knocking campaign' from Australian rivals Kookaburra.
But Dukes managing director Dilip Jadojia said much of the debate was "ill-informed".

"One has to take many of these comments with a pinch of salt," Jadojia told Britain's Press Association this week

"I ask for real evidence and at this moment there is no issue with the ball," added the India-born businessman, who bought Dukes in 1987.

"Cricketers are nutters, and I know because I am one, but I've also been involved in making cricket balls for 45 years.

"The pink ball is not an alien thing. It's just perception, opinion and psychology," he insisted.

But while some are debating the validity of pink balls, others are questioning the wisdom of playing day/night Tests in England, given how much longer it takes to go dark in an English season compared to an Australian one.

Ali, however, said the potential for drawing a new audience had to be considered as well."It might take time for people to get used to it, but it's a great idea ... if it helps bring the crowds in."

http://www.news18.com/cricketnext/n...een-ali-ready-for-pink-ball-test-1492315.html

 

[Amjid Javed]

Would be surprised to see W.I win a session of play in any game during this series, let alone a game!

 

[Abdullah719]

Windies must pick right team for second Test, says Michael Holding

Windies must rethink their team selection to maximise their chances of rallying after a crushing defeat in the first Test to England, says Michael Holding.

The tourists were thrashed by an innings and 209 runs at Edgbaston after leaving out leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and seamer Shannon Gabriel.

Bishoo claimed career-best figures of 8-49 against Pakistan in the Windies' inaugural floodlit Test in Dubai in October and while Headingley, where the second Test is to be contested from Friday, isn't renowned as helpful for spinners, Holding says captain Jason Holder must consider an alternative line of attack.

"We heard a lot of talk, of course, from captain and coach along the lines of 'don't write off the West Indies, we have a chance'; that is bravado," said Holding.

"What they need to do is sit down and think to themselves 'how can we actually do something on the field? What have we got?'

"First of all I don't think the team that was selected was the right team - they've got to have a specialist spinner in the team because medium-pacers on pitches like the one at Edgbaston aren't going to work.

"So they've got to work out what the right team is and then move from there.

"They are not a great team - everybody knows that, but you've still got to make the right moves. If you lose doing the right thing, then fine - but you can't start of doing the right thing by making wrong selections."

The margin of Windies' defeat re-ignited debate about the validity of introducing two divisions of Test-match cricket.

"That has been in my mind since this Test series started - and I've been talking about it for years," said Holding.

"What is the point of having a team outclassing another team like this?

"I played Test cricket for 12 years. I never played a Test match against Sri Lanka because at that time Sri Lanka just weren't good enough to play against the West Indies.

"What is the point of having a contest like this? It's not good for cricket."

Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo and Darren Sammy are all missing from the current Test squad - the legacy of a dispute with West Indies cricket chiefs and the competing attractions of the lucrative Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament that is taking place at the same time as this Test series.

West Indies are the reigning World Twenty20 champions and there are fears that Test cricket may never regain the pride of place it once enjoyed in the region.

Johnny Grave, the English chief executive of what is now Cricket West Indies, accepted an "awful" amount of work was required to restore the team's Test fortunes.

"I think we are certainly best at the Twenty20 format," Grave told Sky Sports during Saturday's tea interval.

"Our system of producing cricketers allows us to compete at that level rather than the longer formats of the game, where the inadequacies of our system is really highlighted," added Grave, who made his name in cricket administration with London-based county Surrey and England's Professional Cricketers Association.

"Jimmy Adams (a former West Indies captain), our new director of cricket and I have got an awful lot to do to put in place a really professional system underneath the men's international side to produce better cricketers."

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...ght-team-for-second-test-says-michael-holding

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A few thoughts <a href="https://t.co/voeoPFNA15">https://t.co/voeoPFNA15</a></p>— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aggerscricket/status/899333935406206976">August 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Guess it's our time to be poor like England was between 1800s to 2005 <a href="https://twitter.com/Aggerscricket">@Aggerscricket</a> &#55357;&#56397;&#55356;&#57342;</p>— Tino95 (@tinobest) <a href="https://twitter.com/tinobest/status/899348971734388736">August 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One major cup in 300 yrs oh ok &#55357;&#56396;&#55356;&#57342; oh a T20 cup &#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834; have a good evening <a href="https://twitter.com/Aggerscricket">@Aggerscricket</a></p>— Tino95 (@tinobest) <a href="https://twitter.com/tinobest/status/899349456621010944">August 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

OK.....

 

[HitWicket]

Tino Best is a tool. My most favourite one recently was him saying there was blatant racism in county cricket because Hampshire hadn't picked Michael Carberry. Michael Carberry was injured... Evidently not too happy he hadn't received a contract.

 

[Abdullah719]

"West Indies were embarrassing and pathetic against England" : Curtly Ambrose

By SIR CURTLEY AMBROSE FOR THE DAILY MAIL

West Indies never challenged England. They never competed. They did OK in the first hour of the first Test when they took two wickets but after that it all went downhill. In the end it was totally embarrassing.

I never saw any aggression from the West Indies players throughout the three days. There was no belief that they could compete, let alone beat England. They seemed to be waiting for England to make mistakes and at this level that is not going to work. Trust me, it was painful to watch.

What happened at Edgbaston is nothing new. This has been going on for a number of years so I cannot say I was really surprised. Nobody gave West Indies a chance before this series so to me that meant they were under no pressure.

Nobody would have criticised them if they had come out and just played aggressively, showed passion and pride and had a real go at upsetting England.

Instead, all I saw was a timid team with bat and ball throughout the three days. They just did not look as though they believed they could compete.

I keep hearing about a young and inexperienced team. Yes, that's true, but this is international cricket and they could not afford to go out there thinking: 'We're inexperienced and England are a lot better than us.'

It meant they simply threw in the towel. You have to back yourself and believe in your ability.

There were a lot of frustrated West Indian legends at Edgbaston and I talked with Sir Viv Richards and Sir Andy Roberts at length before and during the Test about how we used to dominate world cricket, about our pride and passion. That's what's lacking and what happened at Edgbaston was painful to watch.

West Indies cricket is important for the world game and when we play well we play a special, entertaining brand of cricket.

What concerns me is that I do not think these players know what West Indies cricket means to West Indians and followers of the global game. People feel sad for us and that's just not right.

I was with the team for two years as bowling coach and we tried to educate them about our heritage. I tried to tell them what West Indies cricket meant. I talked about the pride and passion in representing the region and our people.

I could talk to them all day but once they stepped over that rope they were on their own and if they were not prepared to listen, it was simply a waste of time. It does hurt. And it has reached a point where it is very embarrassing.

I don't know what will happen next but I'm not optimistic about the immediate future.

It does not help that so many of our senior players are off playing Twenty20 cricket around the world rather than for West Indies and the inexperienced players have no-one to set them an example.

We have to get those players back into Test cricket by easing our regulations that say you cannot play for West Indies if you do not play in our domestic competitions. I'm not saying they should just come straight back from, say, the IPL and walk into the Test team but there needs to be a compromise.

But even if we had everyone available for this series, West Indies would not be as good as we once were. That is a fact. It's not easy to find another Viv Richards, Brian Lara or Malcolm Marshall.

Yet we do have enough talent to see a resurgence of West Indian cricket. Look at someone like Alzarri Joseph, who came out of the last Under 19 World Cup a star. Of course he won't be able to just jump into international cricket and be a success.

We have to give the young man a chance to grow. For now, I'm just hoping West Indies can compete at Headingley and Lord's because what we have seen so far has been pathetic.

They must realise that, apart from Jermaine Blackwood in the first innings and to an extent Kraigg Brathwaite in the second, this was a very poor effort from the batsmen, while the bowling lacked aggression and penetration.

West Indies must go back to the drawing board and return much stronger in Leeds on Friday. Losing one Test doesn't mean they are out of the series. Come back with aggression, confidence and commitment.

Our history and the pride we once had in our cricket demands it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...es-embarrassing-pathetic-against-England.html

 

[MMHS]

In one sense it might be good. Still WI, for their predecessor's credit gets lots of importance in world cricket & they are getting tours (both ways) still - which eventually converts into dollar into WICB's pocket. But, if this goes no, soon they'll go below Bangladesh, Srilanka, Afghanistan & Zimbabwe in terms of commercial pool & that'll hurt WICB.

These pathetic displays might result into two scenarios - both actually are better than this current state of cricket there. Either WICB will pull their socks & get their act right; or WI cricket team will not exists, rather 4 majors cricket playing countries will emerge - Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados & Guyana; while better players from other smaller nations (like Antigua, Barbuda, Tobago, St. Vincent ....) will be allowed to adopt one of those countries. Probably African origin players will join Barbados or Jamaica while Asian origin people should join Trinidad or Guyana.

The 2nd one is actually better for world cricket, because there is still lots of cricket talent in WI & a good fan base as well. Not sure about Jamaica, but I am certain that given opportunity, each of Trinidad, Barbados & Guyana should form a better fighting team than current WI in less than 5 years time.

 

[wrongun]

In one sense it might be good. Still WI, for their predecessor's credit gets lots of importance in world cricket & they are getting tours (both ways) still - which eventually converts into dollar into WICB's pocket. But, if this goes no, soon they'll go below Bangladesh, Srilanka, Afghanistan & Zimbabwe in terms of commercial pool & that'll hurt WICB.

These pathetic displays might result into two scenarios - both actually are better than this current state of cricket there. Either WICB will pull their socks & get their act right; or WI cricket team will not exists, rather 4 majors cricket playing countries will emerge - Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados & Guyana; while better players from other smaller nations (like Antigua, Barbuda, Tobago, St. Vincent ....) will be allowed to adopt one of those countries. Probably African origin players will join Barbados or Jamaica while Asian origin people should join Trinidad or Guyana.

The 2nd one is actually better for world cricket, because there is still lots of cricket talent in WI & a good fan base as well. Not sure about Jamaica, but I am certain that given opportunity, each of Trinidad, Barbados & Guyana should form a better fighting team than current WI in less than 5 years time.

Your plan is to destroy WI cricket & racially segregate it's teams? Do you have any idea actual size of their populations? How do you think it would be received if you suggested Usman return to Pakistan and Nasser Hussain to India? What on earth?

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Your plan is to destroy WI cricket & racially segregate it's teams? Do you have any idea actual size of their populations? How do you think it would be received if you suggested Usman return to Pakistan and Nasser Hussain to India? What on earth?

New Zealand 4600000+
PNG 7900000+

Gayana 770000+
Barbados 285000+
T&T 1365000+
Jamaica 2800000+

 

[Amjid Javed]

i think a lot of the top sides in world cricket may need to start to think how much test cricket they want to play against the W.I games and series like current one are a waste of time apart from opposition batsmen getting easy runs and wickets against the W.I

 

[Markhor]

Some argue the best solution would be for the West Indies cricket team to splinter into the different islands - if they can't compete against top teams as a unified group of nations then how will an individual island fare any better ?!

I keep hearing about how young and inexperienced this WI team is. But there are only two players in this team under the age of 24. What's true is there's not enough FC cricket under these players' belts.

Kyle Hope is 28 yet has only played 34 FC matches ! Toby Roland-Jones is only one year older but has already played 94 FC matches. County cricket used to be a finishing school for West Indians who could gain more FC experience, exposure to overseas conditions and learn from top players but that option is not as readily available now.

Clearly there's talent, West Indies won the U19 World Cup and beat South Africa U19s away in a 50 over series last month. But that talent not being developed properly.

WICB need to invest in club cricket which used to be very strong in the Caribbean, in more cricket facilities in schools, in coaching at junior levels and ensure more coordination across the islands, and better pitches in domestic cricket.

 

[Bewal Express]

A poor team managed even more poorly by complete morons. The Windies needs to be disbanded into the individual Islands who could play T20 tournaments.

 

[MMHS]

Your plan is to destroy WI cricket & racially segregate it's teams? Do you have any idea actual size of their populations? How do you think it would be received if you suggested Usman return to Pakistan and Nasser Hussain to India? What on earth?

I don't think anyone needs to destroy WI cricket - WICB alone is good enough. Racially segregation isn't a suggestion, but out come - if you look at the FC teams of those 4 nations, you should have understood. Already, I am not sure if there how many non Asian origin players in Guyana team. Carl Hooper was probably last non Asian Guyanese greatdebuting 32 years back.

I am well aware of the population of WI or the individual islands, but not sure what's your point here. Is sports talent proportional to population? Is that evident in Jamaican sprint talent?

Barbados' population was less than 200K in 1940s - till 1990s from that tiny island some of the cricketers representing cricket are - Weekes, Walcott, Worrell, Sobers, Haunte, Hall, Griffith, Butcher, Nurse, Grineedege, Haynes, Marshall, Garner, Goddard, Constantine, Alexander ..... and I am sure I have missed few.

West Indies concept started in colonial days, when those islands were actually one single country under British monarch - there were Governors appointed by British King/Queens for searate islands. Administratively separate, but in cricket WI was a United country. In 1960s, colonial ruling ended & entire WI earned independence to form 8-10 different countries, but they kept themselves united for cricket only. One reason was that the cricket administration was a continuation of what was in colonial days, which in other major sports already broken even under British ruling - for example, Jamaica played football as Jamaica first in 1925 before WI were even in Test cricket; Barbados in 1931. The second one was legacy of a great team that won almost everything in 1970s & kept dominating world cricket as late as mid 90s - that kept the team intact in that union form. Those days West Indian nationalism was there in cricket at least.

Viv, Grineedge & Haynes could have represented England, so could have Marshall, but they decided to stay with WI, something dramatically changed in 1980s on wards - several English cricketers I can recall were born in WI, raised as well there, but later represented England - Cowans, Defriters, Small, Malcolm, Lawrence, Mark Butcher ... probably Alex Tudor as well; this wasn't the case till late 1970s.

But, now understanding the cracks in WI cricket, I feel it's a better idea to operate as separate country, so that players are proud to represent their colours. Besides, I don't think WICB is mature enough to operate in an union model. It's not possible to give Test status for all the 8/9 tiny independent island nations there - hence 4 teams & allowing players from other islands to adopt any one of these 4 as their cricket affiliation (which is not new - half of England team is from other countries).

 

[MMHS]

Some argue the best solution would be for the West Indies cricket team to splinter into the different islands - if they can't compete against top teams as a unified group of nations then how will an individual island fare any better ?!

I keep hearing about how young and inexperienced this WI team is. But there are only two players in this team under the age of 24. What's true is there's not enough FC cricket under these players' belts.

Kyle Hope is 28 yet has only played 34 FC matches ! Toby Roland-Jones is only one year older but has already played 94 FC matches. County cricket used to be a finishing school for West Indians who could gain more FC experience, exposure to overseas conditions and learn from top players but that option is not as readily available now.

Clearly there's talent, West Indies won the U19 World Cup and beat South Africa U19s away in a 50 over series last month. But that talent not being developed properly.

WICB need to invest in club cricket which used to be very strong in the Caribbean, in more cricket facilities in schools, in coaching at junior levels and ensure more coordination across the islands, and better pitches in domestic cricket.

WI isn't struggling because of lack of talent - still I believe their 4 major teams are better than most bottom half teams in Test world on individual talent. They are suffering from mismanagement, nepotism & lack of motivation from players to represent WI. There has been severe crack in the ideology that was behind the creation of WI - which has resulted players like Ramnaresh Sarwan dropped from WI team within a year of scoring over 700 runs in one series & play his last match for WI in his late 20s.

Caribbean Premier League isn't the bench mark of WI cricket. The way they are operating, I don't see cricket surviving there, rather most of their players will become free lancer. Probably only possible way for cricket to survive is to play as Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad or Guyana or Antigua. First 4 won't take more than 2/3 years to reach SRL/BD level if supported by ICC. All time Barbados XI will run through many such all time teams. Other 3 are not far behind either & that tiny Antiguan community of <80000 population has given Roberts, Viv, Richardson, Ambrose, Kenny Benjamin, Stuart Williams .... and 150K Asian origin people has given Rohan Kanhai, Ramadhin, Chandrapaul, Kalicharan, Sarwan ... to cricket - don't think it's too bad an idea.

 

[shaz619]

WI isn't struggling because of lack of talent - still I believe their 4 major teams are better than most bottom half teams in Test world on individual talent. They are suffering from mismanagement, nepotism & lack of motivation from players to represent WI. There has been severe crack in the ideology that was behind the creation of WI - which has resulted players like Ramnaresh Sarwan dropped from WI team within a year of scoring over 700 runs in one series & play his last match for WI in his late 20s.

Caribbean Premier League isn't the bench mark of WI cricket. The way they are operating, I don't see cricket surviving there, rather most of their players will become free lancer. Probably only possible way for cricket to survive is to play as Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad or Guyana or Antigua. First 4 won't take more than 2/3 years to reach SRL/BD level if supported by ICC. All time Barbados XI will run through many such all time teams. Other 3 are not far behind either & that tiny Antiguan community of <80000 population has given Roberts, Viv, Richardson, Ambrose, Kenny Benjamin, Stuart Williams .... and 150K Asian origin people has given Rohan Kanhai, Ramadhin, Chandrapaul, Kalicharan, Sarwan ... to cricket - don't think it's too bad an idea.

Good point, it's hammered home by the fact that the WI U19 team won the World Cup recently as well. The lack of professionalism at the WICB is pivotal to their failures more then anything else

 

[hadi123]

Classy duo Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels have been named in the Windies squad for the one-day internationals against England.

The experienced pair will strengthen the tourists' batting for the five-match series, which follows a warm-up match against Ireland.

Windies squad: Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder (captain), Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed (vice captain), Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ne...and-marlon-samuels-named-in-windies-odi-squad

 

[MMHS]

Good point, it's hammered home by the fact that the WI U19 team won the World Cup recently as well. The lack of professionalism at the WICB is pivotal to their failures more then anything else

At one point in 80s, it could be reality that WI A & WI B fights for the top 2 spots in cricket world. It's not that level now, but still I believe there is enough, enough talent to form a top 5 Test team, probably higher in ODI/T20. It's horribly managed & I see a break up inevitable.

 

[Abdullah719]

Bravo brothers, Narine turn down England ODI picks

Talismanic opener Chris Gayle is poised to play his first One-Day International in 29 months after being named yesterday in a 15-man squad for the West Indies' five-match tour of England next month. However, the Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Darren, along with Sunil Narine have opted out of selection for the tour.

Darren Bravo, exiled by CWI from nearly nine months over a controversial tweet, has indicated his unavailability for the tour. CMC Sports understands the stylish left-hander is keen on first regaining his form in the upcoming first-class season for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force before returning to international cricket.

Likewise, Narine and Bravo have both timetabled their return for next year

“Both Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo have declined to be considered for ODIs in England,” chairman of the WI selection panel Courtney Browne said in a media release yesterday.

“Narine has however confirmed his desire to play 50-over cricket again but has asked to play in our Regional Super50 before he is considered and Darren said he was not available for selection.

“Dwayne Bravo said he is still not 100 per fit, but is looking at a possible return to international cricket next year.”

Narine played as recently as the Pakistan series last October while Dwayne Bravo has been controversially overlooked since his role in the abandoned One-Day tour of England three years ago.

However, 37-year-old Gayle will be joined by fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels who has also been kept out of the squad in recent times by Cricket West Indies' controversial eligibility rule, which required players to make themselves available for the domestic format in which they wish to play internationally.

However, CWI last month announced a “temporary player amnesty” paving the way for the return of several of the region's previously marginalised stars.

The left-handed Gayle, with over 9,000 runs and 22 hundreds from 269 ODIs, will be a massive boost to a young squad which has found life difficult on the international circuit and hasslumped to ninth in the ICC rankings.

He last featured in ODIs during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Samuels, meanwhile, has not played ODIs since the Pakistan series last October but his over 5,000 runs and 10 hundreds will also add to the experience of the unit.

“The panel welcomes back Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, who will both add value to our batting and help with the nurturing of the young batsmen in the team,” Browne said.

Seasoned fast bowler Jerome Taylor has also been recalled for the first time in a year, adding further experience to the squad.

Meanwhile, uncapped Windward Islands batsman Sunil Ambris has been retained in the touring party. He was called up in the recent series against India but failed to play a match.

Test batsman Roston Chase, who made his debut against Afghanistan in June but has mustered a mere 68 runs in six innings, has been dropped.

As expected, Jason Holder will lead the squad and will have Jason Mohammed as his deputy.

West Indies open the tour with a match against Ireland in Belfast on September 13 before facing England from September 19-29.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170821/sports/bravo-brothers-narine-turn-down-england-odi-picks

 

[Abdullah719]

West Indies coach hits back at Curtly Ambrose for Edgbaston slating

West Indies’ feeble capitulation at Edgbaston in the first Investec Test, where they lost 19 wickets on the third day, drew condemnation from all corners but their straight-talking coach Stuart Law has fired back at some of the most forthright criticism – from the great fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

Law acknowledged his side’s obvious shortcomings, but expressed regret that Ambrose, who was involved in coaching the side until May 2016, chose to voice his dismay in a column in the Daily Mail, rather than privately to the team. Ambrose called the performance “pathetic”, “embarrassing”, and “painful to watch”.

“That is disappointing,” Law said. “Curtly not long ago was a coach with this team so for him to make those criticisms is disappointing. We have to understand why it is there. We are not performing as well as we want. It would have been nice if he had come into the dressing room to talk to the guys and express his displeasure to us. That would have been awesome but that didn’t happen. What can we do? We have to get our noses down, our backsides up and play better.”

Law – who said both the fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and the leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo are fit and available for selection – said his young side’s conversations had been “honest” and that “guys have been asked to look at themselves in the mirror by the captain” since the humbling at Edgbaston.

Law believes the difficult conditions played their part but that West Indies, who are learning on the job, will come good given time. He cited the example of their series against Pakistan this year, when they were drubbed in the first Test but fought back to win the second.

“From 40C in Barbados to 13C in Birmingham – I would be walking around freezing my nuts off as well, with my hands in my pockets. The poor kids are freezing. Fielding at night time in England is not pleasurable and when it is overcast with mizzly rain it is even worse so, yes, once again people say it is an excuse but it is a fact.

“These young kids are learning in the toughest cricket arena in the world. International cricket’s pretty tough and in this part of the world, when you are playing against an experienced England side, it’s even tougher. Australia came here a couple of years ago, got bowled out for 60, so we’re not going too bad.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...h-stuart-law-curtly-ambrose-edgbaston-england

 

[Markhor]

I understand Darren Bravo saying he wants to play some domestic cricket before returning to internationals as he's had a very long layoff. He's not going to give Cameron the satisfaction of rushing back only to fail.

But Sunil Narine has been playing regular T20 cricket. Given the skills gap between 50 and 20 over cricket is becoming ever smaller, not sure why he insists on playing the domestic Super50 first. If you can bowl 4 overs, why can't you bowl 10 ?

 

[shaz619]

I understand Darren Bravo saying he wants to play some domestic cricket before returning to internationals as he's had a very long layoff. He's not going to give Cameron the satisfaction of rushing back only to fail.

But Sunil Narine has been playing regular T20 cricket. Given the skills gap between 50 and 20 over cricket is becoming ever smaller, not sure why he insists on playing the domestic Super50 first. If you can bowl 4 overs, why can't you bowl 10 ?

Darren Bravo is only going to be considered for the ODI's and that's not his format anyway, it's a pointless selection; I rather him focus on domestic cricket and look to return to the Test team.

Narine needs to grow a spine, seems to me he has chickened out. He doesn't want to face the elite England ODI batsman and Moeen Ali has been very very dangerous lately, ChickeNarine lives to fight another day.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Forget Bravo, I'd get Hetmyer in at 3 in all formats and leave him there for two years to prepare him for the next ten.

 

[Markhor]

Forget Bravo, I'd get Hetmyer in at 3 in all formats and leave him there for two years to prepare him for the next ten.

Can't discard a guy with a Test average of 46 away from home (that's excluding Ban and Zim). Scored a ton in Australia and double ton in NZ, as well as in India, Sri Lanka and UAE.

He's another batsman whose talent is hamstrung by the trash pitches at home.

Hetmyer should play ahead of Kyle Hope.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Can't discard a guy with a Test average of 46 away from home (that's excluding Ban and Zim). Scored a ton in Australia and double ton in NZ, as well as in India, Sri Lanka and UAE.

He's another batsman whose talent is hamstrung by the trash pitches at home.

Hetmyer should play ahead of Kyle Hope.

He'd have to replace Blackwood then and Chase down to 6 because he's not a #3.

 

[shaz619]

The WI's will draw or win a Test at the very least

3-0 or 2-0 to England, depending on the weather, given similar wickets to the SA series.

The day/night tests are an interesting variable, as the ball will start swinging in the evening as the temperature drops. Anderson, Woakes and R-J will do damage. I would drop Draco for a bit.

You're a bit too overconfident

[MENTION=141557]Chief Destroyer[/MENTION] [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] )

Talkh NAH ! [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Get Shimron in next game.

 

[Markhor]

With West Indies' first Test series win in England since 2000, the series is excellently poised for Lord's.

Stoneman and Malan have probably earned their plane tickets to Australia but England need to sort out #3 position. Woakes also needs a bit of time to regain his rhythm after an injury.

West Indies need to maintain the same effort and intensity at Lord's instead of being satisfied with this one win. They must build on this result and not revert back to mediocrity.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

With West Indies' first Test series win in England since 2000, the series is excellently poised for Lord's.

Stoneman and Malan have probably earned their plane tickets to Australia but England need to sort out #3 position. Woakes also needs a bit of time to regain his rhythm after an injury.

West Indies need to maintain the same effort and intensity at Lord's instead of being satisfied with this one win. They must build on this result and not revert back to mediocrity.

Chase has to fire at Lord's. He just needs to get in.

One of Cummins or Alzarri should replace Bishoo. Chase is good enough to give 20 overs with a wicket or two.

 

[UN talkz]

England squad for 3rd test

1. Joe Root
2. Moeen Ali
3. James Anderson
4. Jonny Bairstow
5. Stuart Broad
6. Alastair Cook
7. Mason Crane
8. Dawid Malan
9. Toby Roland-Jones
10. Ben Stokes
11. Mark Stoneman
12. Tom Westley
13. Chris Woakes

 

[Robert]

You're a bit too overconfident

So it seems. But I am delighted to see WI start to re-emerge. It will be interesting to see if they can keep moving upwards.

 

[shaz619]

So it seems. But I am delighted to see WI start to re-emerge. It will be interesting to see if they can keep moving upwards.

They have a lot of potential are a lot better then the credit which is given but they're also a work in progress and inexperienced which makes the win incredible, hopefully we get another entertaining Test at Lords

 

[Abdullah719]

WINDIES’ SQUAD FOR ONE TWENTY20 MATCH IN ENGLAND


ST JOHN’S, Antigua - The Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies today named a 13-member Windies squad for the NatWest International T20 scheduled for Saturday, September 16 at the Emirates Riverside, Durham.

The squad reads:

Carlos Brathwaite (Captain)
Ronsford Beaton
Chris Gayle
Evin Lewis
Jason Mohammed
Sunil Narine
Ashley Nurse
Kieron Pollard
Rovman Powell
Marlon Samuels
Jerome Taylor
Chadwick Walton
Kesrick Williams

Samuel Badree is unavailable due to a prior commitment.

Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne says, “we have a good mix of experience and youth that should adapt to English conditions quickly. Coming off the series win against India in the Caribbean in July our expectations is to see the team play a highly competitive game and bring that T20 Caribbean atmosphere to England.

 

[Abdullah719]

Get Shimron in next game.

He's batting on 109 not out in the warm-up against Leicestershire right now... run-a-ball with 13 fours and 5 sixes.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

He's batting on 109 not out in the warm-up against Leicestershire right now... run-a-ball with 13 fours and 5 sixes.

Lol, he's a beast. Lara with more power.

 

[Hasan123]

They have a lot of potential are a lot better then the credit which is given but they're also a work in progress and inexperienced which makes the win incredible, hopefully we get another entertaining Test at Lords

Lol I think me ,you [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION], and [MENTION=141557]Chief Destroyer[/MENTION] realised this West Indies team has a lot of potential.

 

[shaz619]

Lol I think me ,you [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION], and [MENTION=141557]Chief Destroyer[/MENTION] realised this West Indies team has a lot of potential.

Am going to put a wager on them winning at Lords bah gawd the likes of Robert, James and Junaids would take turns on the suicide watch . Cohesive unit that can go far with the right support, their board is also starting to play ball as of late reaching out to exiled talent; in all of this we've overlooked the fact that WI's won without arguably their best batsman in Bravo ! he should really strengthen the batting as well when he returns and hope would have taken great confidence from his recent twin century's at Headingley.

 

[Robert]

Am going to put a wager on them winning at Lords bah gawd the likes of Robert, James and Junaids would take turns on the suicide watch . Cohesive unit that can go far with the right support, their board is also starting to play ball as of late reaching out to exiled talent; in

Hardly. It would be chickens coming home to roost. You can't go into a test with two batsmen out of five, you'll get found out. They got away with it versus SA. If they get found out against a green WI side maybe they will learn something.

 

[Hasan123]

Am going to put a wager on them winning at Lords bah gawd the likes of Robert, James and Junaids would take turns on the suicide watch . Cohesive unit that can go far with the right support, their board is also starting to play ball as of late reaching out to exiled talent; in all of this we've overlooked the fact that WI's won without arguably their best batsman in Bravo ! he should really strengthen the batting as well when he returns and hope would have taken great confidence from his recent twin century's at Headingley.

I think they can win at Lords . I am defiantly rooting for them as well. Bravo will come back eventually, also Heytmyer is a talent and he hasn't played a game. West Indies have 2 players who could potentially improve them.

 

[Lefthanded]

Poor decision to include Westley at Lords who is now certain to play, as 12 and 13 are bowlers.

All the better as I want WI to win an important series. And to punish England and their pundits/media for their hubris.

Blah blah The Ashes blah blah This is a good series to test players for The Ashes blah blah This our last chance to decide the squad for The Ashes blah blah.

 

[MenInG]

England have announced the squads for the upcoming five-match One-Day International series and the solitary Twenty20 International to be played against West Indies later this month.

Eoin Morgan as expected will lead both the squads while Chris Woakes, who made a return from a side strain in the second Test against West Indies has made a comeback to the ODI squad.

Jake Ball, Tom Curran, Liam Plunkett and David Willey feature in both the squads along with the likes of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, who are also part of the Test series.

With a busy schedule to follow, all-rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have been rested for the T20I game while Mark Wood misses out on selection as he continues to recover from a heel injury.

Rashid will be the only spinner to feature in both the squads and will the company of Ali in ODIs and Liam Dawson in the shortest format. Stokes, Moeen and Woakes will be replaced by Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan and Dawson in the T20 format.

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel did not manage to find a place in both the squads despite his impressive performances in this season of Royal London One Day Cup and Natwest T20 Blast while Sam Billings, Mason Crane and Liam Livingstone, who featured in the T20I series against South Africa have been left out.

The one-off T20I will be played on 16th September at Chester-le-Street while the five game ODI series will be played between 19th and 29th in the same month.

England T20I squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran , Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes.

http://www.cricketworld.com/england...etWorldLatestNews+(Cricket+World+Latest+News)

 

[Abdullah719]

West Indies coach revels in pundits eating ‘humble pie’ after second Test

Shai Hope has been tipped to become a “potential great” of the game by the West Indies head coach, Stuart Law, with the young batsman having shown staggering self belief before and during their famous Headingley run chase.

That the series with England is level at 1-1 going into the third Test at Lord’s on Thursday comes down chiefly to Hope’s stellar twin hundreds last week, the second of which, an unbeaten 118, helped chase down 322 for a famous five-wicket in.

Law, who also lambasted those who had criticised his young side, revealed his orders to the players before the final day at Headingley were simply to assess the chances of a win after tea only for Hope, 23 years old and averaging 18 from 11 Tests before his first-innings 147, to insist otherwise. “I remember sitting down next to him in the dressing room and said that the plan is we’ll bat to tea, see where we are and if we’ve got wickets in hand we’ll work out if we’re going to have a go or not,” recalled Law.

“He looked at me, and I said: ‘What’s wrong with that?’ He looked at me again, shook his head and shrugged his shoulders – and I said: ‘OK, what’s your plan?’

“‘We’re going to win,’ he said. That’s God’s honest truth and he went out and won the game.”

On how far Hope can progress, Law replied: “I think the fact he wasn’t over the top in his celebrations just means he’s hungry, he’s driven. He doesn’t want to stop where he’s at now – he wants to keep going.

“The challenge for Shai is to stay fit and healthy. If he does that, with the drive he’s got and the mental toughness and will to work, that will just make him better and better. He’s pretty good now, but he’s got the potential to go great.”

Law claimed he always had the belief in his players and had some words for his former Essex team-mate Nasser Hussain, following a newspaper column after the fourth day in which the former England captain suggested Jason Holder’s side had flagged due to the demands of Test cricket being less than Twenty20.

“People make assumptions all the time,” said Law. “But he doesn’t know the characters that are inside that dressing room – he doesn’t even know me and I played with him at Essex. Not a lot of these players play T20 cricket anyway. I think it was great we sent a big humble pie to go and chomp on in the commentary box.

“I’ve seen these guys at close quarters. There’s immense confidence there. There was probably a couple that doubted their ability to cope at this level, but I hope those doubts are now well and truly put to bed and they can start flourishing.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/05/west-indies-shai-hope-humble-pie-pundits-stuart-law

 

[mak36]

Toby Roland Jones has been picked ahead of Chris Woakes for the third test.

 

[hadi123]

WINDIES’ SQUAD FOR ONE TWENTY20 MATCH IN ENGLAND


ST JOHN’S, Antigua - The Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies today named a 13-member Windies squad for the NatWest International T20 scheduled for Saturday, September 16 at the Emirates Riverside, Durham.

The squad reads:

Carlos Brathwaite (Captain)
Ronsford Beaton
Chris Gayle
Evin Lewis
Jason Mohammed
Sunil Narine
Ashley Nurse
Kieron Pollard
Rovman Powell
Marlon Samuels
Jerome Taylor
Chadwick Walton
Kesrick Williams

Samuel Badree is unavailable due to a prior commitment.

Chairman of Selectors, Courtney Browne says, “we have a good mix of experience and youth that should adapt to English conditions quickly. Coming off the series win against India in the Caribbean in July our expectations is to see the team play a highly competitive game and bring that T20 Caribbean atmosphere to England.

I'm guessing this prior commitment for Badree would be the World XI series . That finishes on the Friday and the T20 I think is on the Saturday.

 

[peaceful]

Windies Hot Favorites For Sep.16th.T20 vs England.

WI team looks good on paper but England has Advantage playing at home so I predicted 4/1 in ODI,WI might be hot favorites on Sep 16th t20,following their victory in World T20 in India in Final.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Gayle is finished. They don't need him

 

[peaceful]

Bravos Done

Which one?
Darren Sued WICB , no way you expect call from them and Forget about Dwayne Bravo who took his team back to WI from India tour couple of years ago to insult WICB.Not only that,4 players including D.Bravo still having problem with board regarding past payment.

WICB always controversial regarding relationship among their own players.

 

[peaceful]

Gayle Back In Vs Eng : 6 matches t20+ODI

Why done? Because he failed in CPL final?
He is back in WI team from Sep 16-29 vs Eng.for only t20 and 5 ODI
I think he is okayed than Kyle Hope.

 

[peaceful]

BADREE returned from CPL, Not long Ago.

s fas as I know, Badree was in CPL playing in WI till Sep.9th,2017

 

[peaceful]

Roland Jones

Yes ECB wants to recharge his battery before Ashes tour.my vote for him, he should go Australia in November,2017 with Malan but Westley should drops for test matches.

 

[Abdullah719]

England v West Indies: Jonny Bairstow to open batting in first ODI

Jonny Bairstow will keep his place at the top of the order for England's first one-day international against West Indies at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Bairstow replaced Jason Roy for England's last ODI, the Champions Trophy semi-final defeat by Pakistan.

"We feel Jonny deserves a chance. He's been waiting in the wings for quite a while," said captain Eoin Morgan.

"He will open with Alex Hales. This is an opportunity to make the opening position his."

The England Test keeper, 27, averages 56.4 in his past seven ODIs, but has often had to make do with a bit-part role in what has been a settled batting line-up.

But Roy's struggles - the Surrey man failed to pass 20 in nine innings - led to him being dropped for the Champions Trophy semi-final in June, with Bairstow making 43 in England's eight-wicket defeat.

Bairstow did not take the gloves on that occasion, with Jos Buttler again set to keep wicket in the first of five ODIs against West Indies, the World T20 champions who beat the hosts in a one-off T20 on Saturday.

"We feel it's the right time to make a change," added Morgan. "Jonny has been in fantastic form for some time now and has never let us down, regardless of the role we have asked him to play."

England, who whitewashed the Windies 3-0 in the Caribbean in March, are at full-strength, with all-rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali returning after being rested for the T20.

"It's a nice problem to have, fitting everyone in," said Morgan. "We are spoilt for choice at the moment and it gives us the luxury of playing around with the balance of the side.

"Consistency is the area where we have most room for improvement. We have a huge amount of potential, but producing that on a consistent basis is important for our development."

Following a "temporary amnesty" between the players' union and Cricket West Indies, the tourists have been able to include batsmen Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels in their squad.

For devastating opener Gayle, that represents the opportunity to play a first ODI since the 2015 World Cup.

"West Indies are a strong team and we don't take them lightly," said Morgan. "It is going to be a tough test.

"We can't focus on one or two individuals, we have to beat their whole team rather than just one or two."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/41309176

 

[MenInG]

Durham council investigates collapsed stand at England T20 match

Durham County Council has confirmed it will investigate the cause of the partial collapse of a stand which left a female spectator with a broken leg at Chester-le-Street.

Three members of the crowd reported injuries after a section of the North-East Terrace gave way during England’s one-off Twenty20 international against West Indies on Saturday night.

The county council released a statement on Monday afternoon in which it confirmed it will hold an investigation to “understand the cause of the incident and any ramifications for future events”.

The council’s planning development officer Stephen Reed said: “A pre-event operational check, which looked at security, stewarding and the availability of emergency services, was carried out at the Emirates Stadium in the run-up to this fixture.

“We can confirm that we will be investigating, along with other relevant agencies, to understand the cause of the incident and any ramifications for future events.”

The terrace, previously used at the 2012 Olympics, became unstable towards the end of Saturday’s match.

The North East Ambulance Service responded to a 999 call and took the woman to Newcastle’s RVI Hospital, where she was admitted and kept overnight.

A further 200 people were evacuated to other areas of the ground from the stand which, a club spokesman has confirmed, was used for the 2013 Ashes and has been in place at Chester-le-Street ever since being acquired from the site of the beach volleyball competition at Horse Guards Parade during London 2012.

Durham have already begun an internal investigation into the cause of the accident, which includes taking witness statements from stewards and those who gave medical assistance.

The club will also co-operate with any relevant external body. They confirmed in a previous statement that the stand was in compliance with a recent security check, but Durham will make no further comment until all investigations are complete. They have announced their Specsavers County Championship fixture against Sussex, starting on Tuesday, will go ahead at the Riverside - without access to the stand.

A club statement read: “Due to the ongoing investigation following the incident in the North-East Terrace during Saturday’s IT20 fixture, the aforementioned stand will be closed for the entirety of this week’s match.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...n-collapsed-stand-england-west-indies-cricket

 

[Abdullah719]

David Willey wants to nail down starting England place this winter ahead of home World Cup in 2019

In terms of the bigger picture, English minds are fixed firmly on this winter’s Ashes series, especially in light of the injury that appears to have ruled Toby Roland-Jones out of the tour of Australia.

However, for David Willey, a white-ball specialist with no pretensions of playing Test cricket, this current one-day series against West Indies is as big as it gets right now.

Willey, the left-arm seamer, is fighting for his future in this form of the game after a so-far disappointing summer that saw him dropped from England’s team for the Champions Trophy.

With a home World Cup in 2019 on the horizon, Willey is looking to become a permanent fixture in an XI that is bristling with options in the bowling department.

The 27-year-old’s variation as a left-armer makes him a useful addition to the team – but only if he is able to swing the white ball early in the innings.

Willey paid lip service to the Ashes and Roland-Jones’ stress fracture of the lower back that has scotched his winter dream of playing in Australia after his fine start to Test cricket this summer.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed for him,” he said. “He had a great start since coming in [to Test cricket] and with the Ashes on the horizon he will be gutted.”

However, it is his own battle right now to prove he can have prolonged success in international white-ball cricket that is at the forefront of Willey’s mind.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s third ODI in Bristol, he said: “We’ve got a great squad of bowlers and I want to make that my position my own. Hopefully I can bowl well tomorrow, get a couple of wickets early on, which is what they want from me.

“I think it puts a bit more pressure on you. It’s not the same XI on the team-sheet every series. It’s a great squad of players and even the guys that aren’t selected or are on the fringes are very talented so there is that added pressure that anyone can play and you better perform otherwise you’ll be out of the team.”

England, 1-0 up with three to play in this series after Thursday’s second ODI in Nottingham was abandoned after 2.2 overs following heavy rain, are not short of bowling options in limited-overs cricket.

And if Mark Wood had been fully fit for this series it is unlikely Willey would have got into the team.

Wood bowled in nets today when he linked up briefly with England in Bristol as he continues his comeback from a heel injury by playing first-class cricket for Durham ahead of the Ashes.

Willey, though, knows early wickets are the currency that will keep him in the team and he also knows getting the ball to talk at the top of the innings is key to that.

“Throughout my career that’s what I’ve been asked to do,” he said. “Fortunately I can swing the white ball when I get it right and I look to try and take wickets with that sideways movement early on. “Sometimes it doesn’t work and I think earlier on in the year I struggled to get the ball swinging and as a result of that I lost my place in the side for the Champions Trophy. That’s the way it goes. “But I’ve got an opportunity here now to try and get back out there, get some wickets and nail down my place.”

Willey failed to break through early during the first match of this series at Old Trafford last Tuesday, although he did pick up the wicket of tailender Devendra Bishoo late on.

What then can you do if the ball stubbornly refuses to find any early lateral movement?

“If you don’t get a couple of early poles on these flat wickets in one-day cricket it can be difficult and batters can go exceptionally hard,” admits Willey. “We’re lucky we’ve got a lot of guys who can bowl during that powerplay and for myself I try and use my variations to try and put pressure on the batter so they make a mistake.

“It’s difficult. You almost second-guess what they’re trying to do but you don’t want to go away from your plans too much.”

England are expected to name an unchanged team in Bristol, while West Indies wait on the fitness of Chris Gayle after he sustained a hamstring niggle during the pre-match warm-up at Trent Bridge last Thursday.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...ng-place-world-cup-ashes-series-a7963431.html

 

[Abdullah719]

WI caught between Tests and T20s: Law

LONDON: West Indies coach Stuart Law believes his side’s struggles in ODIs are down to being “caught between Test cricket and T20”.

Law’s men, the reigning World Twenty20 champions, head into the fourth ODI against England at The Oval on Wednesday already 2-0 down in a five-match series, with one no-result.

They’ve now lost 14 of their last 15 completed ODIs against England, with defeat in the series opener at Old Trafford ending their hopes of automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

Instead the 1975 and 1979 World Cup-winners must now come through a qualifying event early next year if they are to secure their place in the 50-over showpiece tournament.

“We’re not quite playing at the tempo that I think that suits one-day cricket,” Law told reporters at The Oval on Tuesday.

“We are caught between Test cricket and T20 cricket -- of course we’re very good at T20 cricket and we’re ever-improving in the Test match arena,” added Law.

“This is the arena we need to make sure we start grabbing hold of and we start understanding, particularly with what we’ve got coming up early next year.”

West Indies suffered a heavy 124-run defeat, with nearly 11 overs to spare, in the fourth ODI at Bristol on Sunday.

Yet they were in the contest early on, with paceman Miguel Cummins taking three wickets, including the prize scalp of Joe Root, before Moeen Ali’s 102, which featured eight sixes, powered England to 369 for nine.

Chris Gayle, long renowned as one of the most destructive batsmen in white-ball cricket, then showed he’d lost none of his six-hitting ability by carrying the boundary six times in an innings of 94 before the left-hander, who turned 38 last week, was run out.

“There are some good signs,” said Law. “Even though Moeen Ali had a day out the other day, I thought Miguel Cummins bowled very well, taking three wickets.

“With the bat, we’ve seen glimpses of what Shai Hope can do in white-ball cricket, Chris Gayle obviously has a fantastic record and is an imposing character on the cricket field.

“We just need a little bit more from the rest of our top order and a little bit smarter batting through that middle period.”

Cummins missed training on Tuesday with a virus that Law said had been going through the squad since Headingley, although he stressed it was just a “precautionary” move.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1360200/wi-caught-between-tests-and-t20s-law