[naman]

Hi guys created this thread for anybody who wants to chat about the upcoming test match. any comments or views?

[MittenRef]

You couldn't have started a thread for a single test match at a worse time, the weather forecast for it is absolutely dreadful! Today was a washout obviously, and with similar conditions set for tomorrow it's already pretty much a guaranteed draw!

However, putting the weather aside, I think it was a good idea to rest Anderson as we have a busy schedule coming up. Could also have rested Broad and Prior, (who was a fitness doubt), to give Dernbach and Steve Davies some test match experience against a side we're expected to beat but give a good fight.

I think WI have done well this series. Most expected them to roll over with no fight in them at all, but Darren Sammy has been superb, as has Marlon Samuels and obviously Chanderpaul. A good, solid challenge ahead of the big series against South Africa!

[Giant]

(Original post by MittenRef)
You couldn't have started a thread for a single test match at a worse time, the weather forecast for it is absolutely dreadful! Today was a washout obviously, and with similar conditions set for tomorrow it's already pretty much a guaranteed draw!

However, putting the weather aside, I think it was a good idea to rest Anderson as we have a busy schedule coming up. Could also have rested Broad and Prior, (who was a fitness doubt), to give Dernbach and Steve Davies some test match experience against a side we're expected to beat but give a good fight.

I think WI have done well this series. Most expected them to roll over with no fight in them at all, but Darren Sammy has been superb, as has Marlon Samuels and obviously Chanderpaul. A good, solid challenge ahead of the big series against South Africa!

^This.

Also, I wanted to see Gayle included in the side over some of the opening flops that West Indies have in their team. He would have brought at least some excitement to the batting department (Chanderpaul and Samuels...say no more)

Or maybe I'm just brainwashed by 20 Over Cricket and he will get out for a duck because tries to slog a swinging, new ball

I was also looking forward to see how effective Narine would be in Test match cricket - would he still be able to take wickets as effectively when batsmen aren't continuously trying to smash every ball?

[MittenRef]

(Original post by Giant)
^This.

Also, I wanted to see Gayle included in the side over some of the opening flops that West Indies have in their team. He would have brought at least some excitement to the batting department (Chanderpaul and Samuels...say no more)

Or maybe I'm just brainwashed by 20 Over Cricket and he will get out for a duck because tries to slog a swinging, new ball

I was also looking forward to see how effective Narine would be in Test match cricket - would he still be able to take wickets as effectively when batsmen aren't continuously trying to smash every ball?

There's still massive problems in West Indies Cricket regarding contracts etc, and Gayle himself has said he doesn't want to play Test cricket, so a combination of these two might be the reason why we don't see Gayle in the test arena.

As for Narine, I don't know why he hasn't been called up to the test squad as I think he'd be much better than Shane Shillingford. Might be the contract issues again though, which is a shame..

[Giant]

(Original post by MittenRef)
There's still massive problems in West Indies Cricket regarding contracts etc, and Gayle himself has said he doesn't want to play Test cricket, so a combination of these two might be the reason why we don't see Gayle in the test arena.

As for Narine, I don't know why he hasn't been called up to the test squad as I think he'd be much better than Shane Shillingford. Might be the contract issues again though, which is a shame..

Pity how the whole contract saga has been handled by the WI Board, they had a team with so much potential but got themselves embroiled in this massive contract saga that has decimated their team and discouraged people like Sunil Narine from playing for their country, but rather for cash in the IPL.