England tour of West Indies 2015

[Aislabie]

Yes but this is not even our best side! Adrian Barath though have been out of the scheme of things for quite some time now looks a better bet for a longer race and then there would be Leon Johnson in. As much as it hurts to say this, Chanders needs to go. He needs to take the brave decision and hang his boots. He needs to take a leaf out of Lara's book. I am sure he knows he cannot stay with the team forever. For once, try and give all the younger players a chance in the batting lineup and hope they will eventually learn and grow. I know this sound suicidal but that is the best thing to do according to me because if it pays off we will see a big boost in our cricket. If not, it would not make our case any worse.

Agreed, Chanderpaul needs to go. Aside from anything else, his batting just isn't what it used to be. Since that series against Bangladesh last year, he's not been the same batsman, and he even struggled for most of the Professional League.

That said, I'd keep him in the side until after the Australian series, but after that I'd be looking to build a side along the lines of:

Kraigg Brathwaite
Leon Johnson
Darren Bravo
Shai Hope
Jermaine Blackwood
Shane Dowrich
Jason Holder
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
Devendra Bishoo
Jomel Warrican

Jonathan Carter
Shamarh Brooks
Rahkeem Cornwall
Marquino Mindley

I would worry a little bit about the batting of such a side - certainly, the likes of Johnson and Carter are unproven at first-class level and picked largely on the basis of looking like pretty good players, and Cornwall probably needs to work on his fitness a bit - but it's got to be better, in the long term, than persisting with the likes of Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels and Sulieman Benn?

 

[Satan666]

Agreed, Chanderpaul needs to go. Aside from anything else, his batting just isn't what it used to be. Since that series against Bangladesh last year, he's not been the same batsman, and he even struggled for most of the Professional League.

That said, I'd keep him in the side until after the Australian series, but after that I'd be looking to build a side along the lines of:

Kraigg Brathwaite
Leon Johnson
Darren Bravo
Shai Hope
Jermaine Blackwood
Shane Dowrich
Jason Holder
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
Devendra Bishoo
Jomel Warrican

Jonathan Carter
Shamarh Brooks
Rahkeem Cornwall
Marquino Mindley

I would worry a little bit about the batting of such a side - certainly, the likes of Johnson and Carter are unproven at first-class level and picked largely on the basis of looking like pretty good players, and Cornwall probably needs to work on his fitness a bit - but it's got to be better, in the long term, than persisting with the likes of Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels and Sulieman Benn?

Lol dont think fat boy Cornwall will keep up with the rigors of 5 day cricket for long. Who the hell is Jomel worican? Gotta research him.

 

[Samuels]

Agreed, Chanderpaul needs to go. Aside from anything else, his batting just isn't what it used to be. Since that series against Bangladesh last year, he's not been the same batsman, and he even struggled for most of the Professional League.

That said, I'd keep him in the side until after the Australian series, but after that I'd be looking to build a side along the lines of:

Kraigg Brathwaite
Leon Johnson
Darren Bravo
Shai Hope
Jermaine Blackwood
Shane Dowrich
Jason Holder
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
Devendra Bishoo
Jomel Warrican

Jonathan Carter
Shamarh Brooks
Rahkeem Cornwall
Marquino Mindley

I would worry a little bit about the batting of such a side - certainly, the likes of Johnson and Carter are unproven at first-class level and picked largely on the basis of looking like pretty good players, and Cornwall probably needs to work on his fitness a bit - but it's got to be better, in the long term, than persisting with the likes of Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels and Sulieman Benn?

Barbados! Barbados everywhere! Anyway, I am pleasantly surprised someone out of the Caribbean knows these players. I like your team barring one or two spots. I would rather have Nicholas Pooran in place of Dowrich and prolly Carlos Brathwaite or Mindley over him. May be Delorn Johnson just to add the variety. That said, Warrican is definitely one for the future.

 

[Samuels]

Lol dont think fat boy Cornwall will keep up with the rigors of 5 day cricket for long. Who the hell is Jomel worican? Gotta research him.

"That fat boy Conwall" is a handful, mate. He is coming up good as an allrounder. Has picked up 3fer 7 times in last 8 FC innings including a 7fer. A 48, a fifty and an unbeaten hundred in the last 3 FC matches he has played. Notwithstanding his size, his attitude is fantastic. He is funny to watch/play along side and a good man to have on the field. Jomel Warrican is a 22 year old slow arm spinner from Barbados. He has had a terrific FC season this. Only in his last match he picked up an 8fer against us (Jamaica) in (Kingston) Jamaica.

 

[Aislabie]

Lol dont think fat boy Cornwall will keep up with the rigors of 5 day cricket for long.

Well, he's kept up fine with the length of four-day cricket and the pace of Twenty20s; the fact that he's been able to do that whilst out of shape is remarkable, and speaks volumes about his talent. I don't think he has to slim down to become some sort of lissom ECB recruit, just enough to help with his fielding, and he's pretty much a Test-quality all-rounder straight away. Imagine the balance you can get with the likes of Holder, Cornwall and maybe Carlos Brathwaite in the side - you could actually go out and scout for the absolute best gloveman in the West Indies and stick him in at number nine or ten without harming the side.

Barbados! Barbados everywhere! Anyway, I am pleasantly surprised someone out of the Caribbean knows these players. I like your team barring one or two spots. I would rather have Nicholas Pooran in place of Dowrich and prolly Carlos Brathwaite or Mindley over him. May be Delorn Johnson just to add the variety. That said, Warrican is definitely one for the future.

Probably comes from the fact that I studied it quite deeply when I was researching for separate island teams; I also watched the WICB streams from time to time - Warrican had a very languid, natural action. I also wondered if you might want to get your teeth into Daniel Doram, seven-foot-twelve left-arm spinner from St Maarten who played for the Netherlands when he was about thirteen.

I thought about including Pooran in the side, but I've not seen what he's got against the red ball so I didn't put him in the list. I agree though, the guy's got phenomenal talent. Delorn Johnson is an interesting one - he looks very good, and has the bonus of being left-handed, but if token left-armers like Sheldon Cottrell and Kenroy Peters have been picked over him, then I wonder about his incisiveness. I'm not so sure about Carlos Brathwaite, either - he looks like a bit of a poor man's David Bernard to me, even though his stats say otherwise.

Definitely, there's not a talent problem in West Indian cricket, but there is a fundamental issue somewhere or other.

 

[Samuels]

Well, he's kept up fine with the length of four-day cricket and the pace of Twenty20s; the fact that he's been able to do that whilst out of shape is remarkable, and speaks volumes about his talent. I don't think he has to slim down to become some sort of lissom ECB recruit, just enough to help with his fielding, and he's pretty much a Test-quality all-rounder straight away. Imagine the balance you can get with the likes of Holder, Cornwall and maybe Carlos Brathwaite in the side - you could actually go out and scout for the absolute best gloveman in the West Indies and stick him in at number nine or ten without harming the side.


Probably comes from the fact that I studied it quite deeply when I was researching for separate island teams; I also watched the WICB streams from time to time - Warrican had a very languid, natural action. I also wondered if you might want to get your teeth into Daniel Doram, seven-foot-twelve left-arm spinner from St Maarten who played for the Netherlands when he was about thirteen.

I thought about including Pooran in the side, but I've not seen what he's got against the red ball so I didn't put him in the list. I agree though, the guy's got phenomenal talent. Delorn Johnson is an interesting one - he looks very good, and has the bonus of being left-handed, but if token left-armers like Sheldon Cottrell and Kenroy Peters have been picked over him, then I wonder about his incisiveness. I'm not so sure about Carlos Brathwaite, either - he looks like a bit of a poor man's David Bernard to me, even though his stats say otherwise.

Definitely, there's not a talent problem in West Indian cricket, but there is a fundamental issue somewhere or other.

Last heard he was trying to get into the county side last year. I am not sure if he does have any plans to come and play for the WI but he does we should grab him with both hands for the future plans. Brathwaite is actually better batsman than he makes himself look like. Delorn Johnson too is fantastic when on song. If you happen to find his clipping against the Indians where he rattled most Indian batters including Cheteshwar Pujara you can see pure talent in him. The last two just needs to sort out the consistency factor. I had high hopes from Stoute but I think at 29, there is a little chance we will see this once fine allrounder in WI colors.

The best specialist keeper will be a toss between Dowrich or Bramble but Pooran's batting would make him a preferred choice.

 

[cooks1st100]

Part of me thinks that England will go into the Ashes will a bowling attack of Stokes/Woakes/Broad/Anderson and if they do that I'd probably root on them to lose the Ashes because something would be very wrong

I'm beginning to think that Broad needs to go, his pace is down and batting-wise he has lost his bottle since taking one to the face. I've not seen enough of Woakes to really comment on him but I know he is spoken off quite highly. So say that we went with Stokes/Woakes/ Anderson who would fill Broad's place? Onions, Plunkett or Jordan I guess would be the front-runners.

 

[dp458]

I'm beginning to think that Broad needs to go, his pace is down and batting-wise he has lost his bottle since taking one to the face. I've not seen enough of Woakes to really comment on him but I know he is spoken off quite highly. So say that we went with Stokes/Woakes/ Anderson who would fill Broad's place? Onions, Plunkett or Jordan I guess would be the front-runners.

Woakes would then face the new ball with Jimmy, but you wouldnt care about the batting at that point as Ali,Buttler,Stokes,Woakes 6-9, so Id say Broad has a very strong chance of keeping his spot. But otherwise Id go Plunkett for that extra vip, Mark Wood is spoken of highly as well, the bolter would be Fottitt being a LFM but I dont see him getting a go. And unfortunately for Onions they wont be looking for another swing bowler, plus by all accounts he has lost a yard or two with his injuries.

Woakes should be fit for the NZ series i understand

 

[blockerdave]

I'm beginning to think that Broad needs to go, his pace is down and batting-wise he has lost his bottle since taking one to the face. I've not seen enough of Woakes to really comment on him but I know he is spoken off quite highly. So say that we went with Stokes/Woakes/ Anderson who would fill Broad's place? Onions, Plunkett or Jordan I guess would be the front-runners.

To be honest there are real worries about Broad and Anderson - Anderson hasn't really been the same bowler since the Summer Ashes 2013; Broad is clearly not fully back from his injury and the injury being patellar tendinitis there's no guarantee he ever will be. I'd be surprised if they are still our opening bowlers come the end of this 17-test marathon.

 

[Aislabie]

If they have a proper season, either Matt Hobden or Charlie Morris could be catapulted in by the time England get to South Africa; maybe Tymal Mills of they still can't forget like two balls at Ian Bell about four years ago

 

[Samuels]

Devon Smith is all to set to become the first man from Grenada to play a test match in Grenada. Should be a proud moment for the aging lefthander. I hope we bat well this time round. Our top 4 need to step up particularly Darren and Marlon who are the most experienced batsmen we have got in the middle order. Chanders ideally should come up the order at #4 but we all know that is not going to happen. Marlon needs to prove his batting in tests once again. He has been consistently inconsistent for a while now and with the new guys (whom you cannot expect to guide the innings every other time) around him, that his not helping the team. I loved the way Roach and Taylor bowled in the last match. All we need is a third good seamer and that is where we are missing Ravi Rampaul and Dwayne Bravo. That four way pace attack with Bishoo in the side as a specialist spinner looks far more potent that the current one. Holder might try and fill in Bravo's shoes in the long run ATM we are definitely missing Ravi and Dwayne. More so the former.

 

[War]

Agreed, Chanderpaul needs to go. Aside from anything else, his batting just isn't what it used to be. Since that series against Bangladesh last year, he's not been the same batsman, and he even struggled for most of the Professional League.

That said, I'd keep him in the side until after the Australian series, but after that I'd be looking to build a side along the lines of:

Kraigg Brathwaite
Leon Johnson
Darren Bravo
Shai Hope
Jermaine Blackwood
Shane Dowrich
Jason Holder
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
Devendra Bishoo
Jomel Warrican

Jonathan Carter
Shamarh Brooks
Rahkeem Cornwall
Marquino Mindley

I would worry a little bit about the batting of such a side - certainly, the likes of Johnson and Carter are unproven at first-class level and picked largely on the basis of looking like pretty good players, and Cornwall probably needs to work on his fitness a bit - but it's got to be better, in the long term, than persisting with the likes of Devon Smith, Marlon Samuels and Sulieman Benn?

If we talking about a side without the 30+ dudes, I'm not sre about Johnson, Dorwich, Warrican, Brooks, Mindley.

Johnson has talent, but i won't open with him he is a middle order player long term. Barath remains the next best talented opener, but just needs to keep back playing for TT and scoring runs.

Ramdin position is safe for me, Dorwich I'm not even sure if he is ahead of Chadwick Walton as second best WI keeper batsman.

Warrican shouldn't be considered. Bishoo and Narine are the only two WI spinners that have the skills to trouble international batsman consistently.

I'm not 100% convinced that Holder will be test match # 7, he comes across to be as a kind of Mitchell Johnson/Shaun Pollock type potential batsman. Can score test hundreds/many 50s under the right circumstances - but probably is not a long term 7. Andre Russell is the all-rounder man WI got to get playing more FC cricket to get into test side.

Mindley is a interesting young quick yes, but I have bee more impressed by Miguel Cummins and Ronsford Beaton.

 

[Samuels]

If we talking about a side without the 30+ dudes, I'm not sre about Johnson, Dorwich, Warrican, Brooks, Mindley.

Johnson has talent, but i won't open with him he is a middle order player long term. Barath remains the next best talented opener, but just needs to keep back playing for TT and scoring runs.

Ramdin position is safe for me, Dorwich I'm not even sure if he is ahead of Chadwick Walton as second best WI keeper batsman.

Warrican shouldn't be considered. Bishoo and Narine are the only two WI spinners that have the skills to trouble international batsman consistently.

I'm not 100% convinced that Holder will be test match # 7, he comes across to be as a kind of Mitchell Johnson/Shaun Pollock type potential batsman. Can score test hundreds/many 50s under the right circumstances - but probably is not a long term 7. Andre Russell is the all-rounder man WI got to get playing more FC cricket to get into test side.

Mindley is a interesting young quick yes, but I have bee more impressed by Miguel Cummins and Ronsford Beaton.

I think he meant making a team for the next 10 years comprising predominantly of boys in early 20s.

If we can get our first six right, Holder at #7 would not hurt at all.

Cummins failed to impress in whatever chances he has got. Beaton, I am not sure.

The problem with Russell is like most aggressive players every now and then he feels the need to hit a big shot and now that he is getting a regular place in cash rich IPLs I think he will follow suit of Dwayne Bravo. I wish not but he seems most likely given how he has changed his bowling style. He was an altogether a different bowler early on, not the T20 specialist kind we see today.

 

[blockerdave]

interested to see if we will bring in Rashid... I think a leggie would have helped in the last test. expect it'll be just Moeen for Tredwell, but either Rashid for Tredwell or playing 2 spinners (guess Stokes or Jordan would miss out) might be the braver choice.

 

[IceAgeComing]

Botham on Sky just suggested that Rashid is in, although not who he's replacing