West Indies in England

[Simbazz]

If the Windies avoid defeat in any Test matches then that is a massive disapointment to the England team. If we seriously want to threaten Australia's number 1 spot then we have to dispose of cannon fodder like this with ease. I hate to sound arrogant, but the West Indies shouldn't be able to touch England if they play like we all know they can.

Individually England have the best cricketers bar Australia, Look at the opening partnership - Strauss and Trescothick, on form - untouchable!
Trescothick should play, but if not it'll be Vaughan to open IMO.

Middle order of-

KP,
Flintoff,
Colly,
Bell,

Plus Bopara and Ian Blackwell : wishful thinking

But seriously, batting wise we should get 500 runs without losing 4 wickets, if it was a individual game we would but the team-work isnt there at the moment, maybe England just need to play on English soil, then it'll be fine!

Now, Englands bowling pack are the best in the world (Obviously now Mcgrath and Warne have retired )

With Harmison, Hoggard, S.Jones and Monty, no one can beat them!

Plus we have Flintoff who on form IS THE best allrounder, with help from Vaughan, KP, Colly for a few overs

 

[PhilD123]

We should stack runs up for fun against that line-up, how often can you see them getting 10 wickets. :

There batting is OK, but without Lara even that doesn't look great and with Harmy firing like he did in 2004 against them then we should get through them.

And Simbazz how do you know that without Lara the West Indies are regaining some level of composure, they haven't played a game without him since his retirement yet :

 

[Simbazz]

And Simbazz how do you know that without Lara the West Indies are regaining some level of composure, they haven't played a game without him since his retirement yet :

You remember the time 7 or 8 of Windies players didnt tour for the team due to contract discrepencies, well Lara didnt tour, and they didnt do very well.

I don't know wether WI are going to do good or bad without Lara, but i can only think they wont, as he at times built decent scores alone, now Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Bravo are going to have to do the job of Lara, otherwise WI are going to be bowled out for less than mediocure scores!

 

[PhilD123]

You remember the time 7 or 8 of Windies players didnt tour for the team due to contract discrepencies, well Lara didnt tour, and they didnt do very well.

Oh lol, I completely misread your previous post, I thought you were saying that they were getting composure after Lara's departure, not that they had lost it. That makes more sense.

 

[Simbazz]

Oh lol, I completely misread your previous post, I thought you were saying that they were getting composure after Lara's departure, not that they had lost it. That makes more sense.

Oh c'mon, i know i dont make sense a lot but i wouldnt say they were on top form after losing a world class player (maybe the only true world class player in the WI team)

 

[evertonfan]

I'd say Chanderpaul is world class to be honest. He is vastly underrated and has been overly consistent for the Windies for a good 4 or so years.

 

[Simbazz]

I'd say Chanderpaul is world class to be honest. He is vastly underrated and has been overly consistent for the Windies for a good 4 or so years.

He has been consistant through his International time, but he isnt special like Lara was, he doesnt stand out in the side, maybe now he will....If you ask me, at the moment, if England dont skittle them in the first team match i'd be disappointed, but who knows, WI might go out there showing they arn't a one man team in the times of disaster!

 

[wolf]

I remember when West Indies last toured us, we couldn't get Chanderpaul out.

 

[evertonfan]

I remember when West Indies last toured us, we couldn't get Chanderpaul out.

Precisely my point. He was better than Lara in that 2004 series.

 

[Sagacious]

WI team announced...

Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul.

No Samuels in the team, he got the reward for running out Lara

 

[BigCrickNan]

I remember when West Indies last toured us, we couldn't get Chanderpaul out.

Ha, some of my early days of being a cricket fan with Gilo ripping through line-ups Should deliver the same though tbh.

 

[Simbazz]

Lets be honest, England only have the wood on one Left handed batsmen in world cricket and thats Gilchrist, but even he put the demons to bed in the Ashes.

I think England are getting better bowling to left handers but players like Hoggard and Harmison are vital to bowling out the openers and start sheding away at the middle order, then we should have Flintoff and Jones in there bowling them out.

 

[evertonfan]

Simon, Hoggard is probably the best bowler to left-handers in the world. We hardly struggle against them when he's bowling....

 

[Simbazz]

Simon, Hoggard is probably the best bowler to left-handers in the world. We hardly struggle against them when he's bowling....

Did i just not say Hoggard and Harmsion are vital bowling to Lefties? Maybe i didnt make that clear.

Hoggard only really bowls well to Left handers due to his incredible skill of controlling the ball and its swing, almost every time he takes a left handers wicket is because he's crept it through the gap between bat and pad, rather than banana swinging it round the outside of the bat!

 

[Sureshot]

Anyone know when our squad is announced? I heard it mentioned for next Friday though I might be mistaken.