West Indies Tour of England - May to June 2012

[Sureshot]

Eh? Prior's form with the gloves has been fine.

Edit: That said, be nice to give Davies experience in the longer format.

You say it would be daft but would it really?

Even with the weather we've been having, I still expect them to prepare a decent batting pitch. Of course there will be something in it for the bowlers, but I don't think it will be a struggle to 200! WI aren't a side to be underestimated and could certainly put on a 200 partnership and suddenly you're wanting a spinner that isn't KP!

Tough choices, whatever we go with should win and it'd be great to see Onions get a game, so from that POV four seamers would be nice. Won't happen though, just like Strauss won't be dropped until post 2013 double Ashes, regardless of form.

 

[sifter132]

re : Squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wk), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Graham Onions

Would have been nice to see Bell omitted and one or two more younger players given a chance. Maybe have given Davies a chance behind the stumps, rest Prior and perhaps Anderson who is overused.

I think what will happen is what often happens, out of form players find easy runs and wickets, and boost their reputation and averages ahead of more struggles in the winter tours.

And when they struggle there is no obvious choice in reserve because the out of form players scored easy runs/took easy wickets when the back-up players could have been given experience and a chance to do something. We'd get more out of Bairstow averaging 40+ this summer than if Bell does it, likewise if Davies makes a few runs and catches everything instead of Prior.

I see your reasoning, but I guess that raises the question: what is form?? I would think scoring easy runs is a way of getting back your form because to me form is mostly confidence, and most batsmen get confidence from scoring runs.

If batsmen are getting 'false form' early in the summer vs the poor nations, then how does one identify 'true form'?? How does one get 'true form' if there is no good competition around? And if 'false form' is due to preying on poor competition, then how can you judge form from county cricket?? I can see why selectors keep sticking with the same teams now...

 

[WestIndian]

Would've been nice to see Sunil Narine in the test squad for the Windies, I reckon he would have caused some problems.

Our Board choose to give him to the IPL instead so that will not happen this series!

 

[barmyarmy]

Well I don't foresee our batters "filling their boots" like all the pundits have been saying. I doubt Strauss will even get a 50 in this series.
I'm predicting a 2-0 England win with one test washed out. Victory based on superior bowling resources rather than crushing batting power.

 

[swacker]

I think it's safe to say that both Bairstow and Taylor have far more potential ability than any of Ravi, Samit or Morgan have in current ability.

All true and I agree. What I hadn't realised before posting is how much better Bairstow's F/C batting average has become in recent times. JT would have to be shoehorned in at 6 but he strikes me as being adaptable enough to cope. Still great that there's 2 guys under 23 (I think) that are pushing for full national honours.

 

[sami ullah khan]

West Indies don't lack in ability as much as they do with respect to winning habit. They are not used to winning. That is their biggest problem IMHO.

 

[barmyarmy]

Bres gets the final spot and England bowl.

 

[Themer]

I'd of preferred Finn but I wasn't too fussed. Glad we're bowling though, love to watch us bowling early season

 

[Sedition]

Had hopes of at least a start for Powell off the back his hundred against the Lions. Conditions will get better, so these two just need to stick around and not leave it all to Bravo and Chanders.

 

[angryangy]

batsmen starting to look a little comfortable

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

a lot of the younger batsmen seem terrible for that, just throwing away wickets when set. absolutely no need and could have done with the partnership making 100 at least after those two quick losses at the start.

 

[Dare]

Shannon Gabriel in for Rampaul. Its a good thing they gave him a chance to bowl in the warmup matches...oh wait they didn't. Excellent job WI.

 

[WestIndian]

Shannon Gabriel in for Rampaul. Its a good thing they gave him a chance to bowl in the warmup matches...oh wait they didn't. Excellent job WI.

Don't worry mate, he is going to take 10 wickets in the match and will claim his debut MOM award, way to go Gibson, Sammy and WICB

 

[Dare]

Don't worry mate, he is going to take 10 wickets in the match and will claim his debut MOM award, way to go Gibson, Sammy and WICB

I wouldn't put it past him on this pitch and the ability he has but the stupidity that this coaching staff and the cricket board run the team with is insane.

 

[puddleduck]

I'd of preferred Finn but I wasn't too fussed. Glad we're bowling though, love to watch us bowling early season

This.

When a bowler looks your most threatening seamer in sub-continent conditions as well as the tightest ODI bowler in the last year, he has to have done enough to earn first crack at a fragile Windies batting lineup in English conditions. Far better bowler than Bres and he's still got 5 years