India vs West Indies

zing

Zingle balls
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Oct 19, 2005
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From 85 for 6 to 219 for 6 at Tea. Raina has been brilliant along with Harbhajan.

Not seen Raina play like this, ever. I've read that Duncan Fletcher's a great batting technician, seems to be doing a bit of work with Raina. Quality, quality so far.


Abhinav Mukund looked hopelessly out of depth.
 
Dravid, Raina and Bhajji did really well. Dhoni flopped yet again. Sigh.
 
Except for something exceptional like the innings of a lifetime from somebody, it looks like we've wrapped this one up. nice to see Dravd getting back in the runs. Will be crucial in England - he's probably our best batsman in those conditions.
 
Red-Indian said:
Except for something exceptional like the innings of a lifetime from somebody, it looks like we've wrapped this one up. nice to see Dravd getting back in the runs. Will be crucial in England - he's probably our best batsman in those conditions.
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Darren Bravo..

I mean Brian Lara ;)
 
The match is interestingly poised. They came out with some intent and while India definitely have the edge, the result isn't a foregone conclusion. Pity Sarwan is in such pathetic form. If he could have hung on for a while, it could've got really interesting.
 
Looks like it's going to be a cracking finish, although you never rule out a tame Windies collapse. Simmons, Bravo and Barath are going to be a superb trio for this side. Let's hope they show a bit more bottle and application than the Gayle, Sarwan, Samuels trio who were the most recently anointed saviours of Windies cricket.

Also, how good is it to see Fidel Edwards back? Wonderful quick bowler. Shame he didn't have Kemar Roach tearing it up from the other end.
 
Ishant Sharma is looking very good again in this match. Let's hope he kicks off from here, he'll be brilliant in England.

With Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel as our pacers, our bowling will look good there.
 
KM said:
Ishant Sharma is looking very good again in this match. Let's hope he kicks off from here, he'll be brilliant in England.

With Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel as our pacers, our bowling will look good there.
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Zaheer's a certainty assuming he gets fit in time. The other 2 I wouldn't be too sure about. Swing bowlers like Nehra and Praveen Kumar might be useful options compared to seamers like Ishant and Munaf. Nehra in particular has always bowled well in English conditions - only question is whether he'd last 5 days. He went through a period when I was convinced he'd have to melted and sold for glue.
 
Ishant's in fine rhythm, he's a sure starter. Swing bowlers get a lot of help there, but you don't want to be too one dimensional. England themselves have Tremlett and Broad starting, neither of who are swing bowlers.
 
Red-Indian said:
Zaheer's a certainty assuming he gets fit in time. The other 2 I wouldn't be too sure about. Swing bowlers like Nehra and Praveen Kumar might be useful options compared to seamers like Ishant and Munaf. Nehra in particular has always bowled well in English conditions - only question is whether he'd last 5 days. He went through a period when I was convinced he'd have to melted and sold for glue.
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Nehra is very unfit, not sure if he could last 5 days. Praveen would be deadly in England, but I don't think he is disciplined enough for England. Munaf has clearly worked hard on his fitness and is our most reliable whereas Ishant in full rhythm is world class. He will also get help from those English Pitches which will be a nice change from these crap Indian Pitches.
 
KM said:
Nehra is very unfit, not sure if he could last 5 days. Praveen would be deadly in England, but I don't think he is disciplined enough for England. Munaf has clearly worked hard on his fitness and is our most reliable whereas Ishant in full rhythm is world class. He will also get help from those English Pitches which will be a nice change from these crap Indian Pitches.
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Is the squad announced yet?

I'd go with
Batsmen - Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Pujara and Kohli
Quicks - Zaheer, Ishant, Munaf, Praveen and Nehra
Spinners - Harbhajan and Mishra
WK - Dhoni

A little overloaded on the quicks but they're prone to injury and the variety could be useful.
 
We've wrapped it up as expected.

Despite how its looked the last couple of years, West Indies cricket has some promise especially in the bowling department - Edwards, Roach and Rampaul is a decent combination of bowlers. Bishoo and Benn are quality spinners.

As long as the batting keeps up partly and the board doesn't screw things up too badly, they could be competitive soon.
 
Red-Indian said:
Is the squad announced yet?

I'd go with
Batsmen - Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Pujara and Kohli
Quicks - Zaheer, Ishant, Munaf, Praveen and Nehra
Spinners - Harbhajan and Mishra
WK - Dhoni

A little overloaded on the quicks but they're prone to injury and the variety could be useful.
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Raina and Yuvraj? And there's no way we'll go with just 2 openers. M Vijay will be picked over Pujara.

Where is Pujara in the pecking order now, seeing the performances and selections in WI?
 
Watching Laxman bat is one of the great pleasures in life. Nobody makes it seem so effortless.

Raina's making a strong case for England as well. He did well in the first test and he's picked from where he left off there. If we're only taking one batsman extra, he must be in pole position.
 
Red-Indian said:
Watching Laxman bat is one of the great pleasures in life. Nobody makes it seem so effortless.

Raina's making a strong case for England as well. He did well in the first test and he's picked from where he left off there. If we're only taking one batsman extra, he must be in pole position.
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Mark Waugh is another batsmen I admire. He used his wrists so well.
 
From 38 for 4, we have done well to get to 165 for 5. I bet we will be bowled out before we reach 250.
 
RDCR07 said:
From 38 for 4, we have done well to get to 165 for 5. I bet we will be bowled out before we reach 250.
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Well 200 looks like where we'll end up now. Given the bounce and movement, I'd say 225 looks par so we'll be a few runs short here. Not too worried with the Windies batting batting the way they are nowadays.
 
Honours even on the first day I think. Chanderpaul's the key wicket as always. If he can hang on to one end and let some strokes be played on the other, West Indies can hope for a lead.
 
Thinking of sticking a few quid on this in the hope of a draw since the weather looks absolute dogshite over there for the next few days. Here's hoping, since I'm a terrible betting man.
 
TheHorse'sMouth said:
Thinking of sticking a few quid on this in the hope of a draw since the weather looks absolute dogshite over there for the next few days. Here's hoping, since I'm a terrible betting man.
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I wouldn't be so sure of hedging on the weather. The match looks like it just needs 250 overs to get a result.
 
Looking good for a draw I reckon, got some decent odds on it. Gonna be pissing over there tomorrow as well. Hopefully Windies can hold out on the final day..
 
Ishant is looking pretty good for a spot in the England Tour isn't he, some great bowling today.
 
Samuels was let down by the other jokers in the Windies batting order. Saying that, Sharma was magnificent..great display of swing and leg cutters. Just waiting for the odds on India to rise again tomorrow morning when the rain begins to piss down again so I can stick a nice £50 on it.
 
Yes that spell's virtually secured him a place on the tour. Nobody else offers the variety. Munaf, Praveen, Nehra etc. are all a much of a muchness.

If the rain lets up, we could have an interesting end to this one. I'd still make us favourites but not by much. Another 150 overs should be enough to force a result one way or the other or the least an exciting draw.
 
KM said:
Ishant is looking pretty good for a spot in the England Tour isn't he, some great bowling today.
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Kind of shows what we know, eh? I was one of the many who wanted him dropped when he went through that horrible period between 2009-10.

Kirsten saw the raw attributes and thought he should stick with this guy and it's finally paid off.. been a new bowler since the IPL.
 
Red-Indian said:
Yes that spell's virtually secured him a place on the tour. Nobody else offers the variety. Munaf, Praveen, Nehra etc. are all a much of a muchness.

If the rain lets up, we could have an interesting end to this one. I'd still make us favourites but not by much. Another 150 overs should be enough to force a result one way or the other or the least an exciting draw.
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He was just outstanding, if he could keep it up this type of bowling. He and Zaheer could be brilliant on England and Australian pitches, still a long way to go though.


zing said:
Kind of shows what we know, eh? I was one of the many who wanted him dropped when he went through that horrible period between 2009-10.

Kirsten saw the raw attributes and thought he should stick with this guy and it's finally paid off.. been a new bowler since the IPL.
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I think Cricinfo made a good point last night, some credit had to be go to Selectors for this one. They dropped him and Sreesanth out of the limited overs teams just to let them develop for test matches after their horror spells of 09/10 and they both have developed pretty nicely.
 
Ended up staying up until 4am last night to watch Marlon Samuels bat. I could barely remember my own name at work today, but it was worth it.

Surely the most mature innings of his life. He did brilliantly to survive some excellent offspin from Harbhajan and Ishant Sharma bowling a couple of spells that Alan Donald would have been proud of.

Let's hope we see a lot more of the same during the five years or so he has left.
 
Melbourne Red said:
Ended up staying up until 4am last night to watch Marlon Samuels bat. I could barely remember my own name at work today, but it was worth it.

Surely the most mature innings of his life. He did brilliantly to survive some excellent offspin from Harbhajan and Ishant Sharma bowling a couple of spells that Alan Donald would have been proud of.

Let's hope we see a lot more of the same during the five years or so he has left.
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No chance....story of his career...one odd knock to capture the imagination, make people wonder.

I remember Richie speaking very highly of him years ago.

But when his story is told, it'll be one of, what could have been....
 
Shocked to know that Samuel's only 30 btw, he has been around forever it seems. Has got a good five years now, let's hope he can turn it around now. Also one of those guys who always do well against India. It's a shame that Gayle has problems with WI Cricket Board, they could've a decent team finally. Their bowling attack is decent imo, Bishoo looks like a real find.
 
It's probable that he'll crash and burn into the same mediocre abyss as Hick and Hooper, but he's had two years to reflect on what a waster he's been and has sounded quite self-aware in recent public statements.

I'd love it to happen. He's one of these players who almost seems to have enough time to yawn before he caresses a ball to the boundary. Cricket will be richer for it.
 
KM said:
Shocked to know that Samuel's only 30 btw, he has been around forever it seems. Has got a good five years now, let's hope he can turn it around now. Also one of those guys who always do well against India. It's a shame that Gayle has problems with WI Cricket Board, they could've a decent team finally. Their bowling attack is decent imo, Bishoo looks like a real find.
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Barath, Simmons and Darren Bravo are world class prospects, to go with Sarwan, Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Chanderpaul and Samuels.

It won't mean a thing though, if they can't learn to stop being the sort of bottling, half-arsed cnuts who are liable to collapse from 3/50 to 6/50 in the time it takes Usain Bolt to win the 200 metres.
 
Wouldn't go as far as world class with those 3, tbf. Maybe Bravo, but not the other 2.

Simmons, I felt, has been under-rated for awhile now.

Simmons, Gayle, Barath, Chanderpaul, Bravo, Bravo, Baugh, Rampaul, Edwards, Bishoo, Roach/Taylor should be the 11, IMO.

Sarwan seems past it.

Any thoughts on Baugh? I've seen him only a few times but I honestly think he's the best wicketkeeper around now. Absolute quality.
 
Shiv Chanderpaul is getting on a bit. Fidel Edwards looks a very promising bowler though, bowls a well-pitched albeit inconsistent delivery. His line will come with time, the length he gets on his deliveries is fantastic.
 
I hope Vijay doesn't get another chance now, been given too many chances and he has taken any of them. A proper flat track bully.
 
zing said:
Wouldn't go as far as world class with those 3, tbf. Maybe Bravo, but not the other 2.

Simmons, I felt, has been under-rated for awhile now.

Simmons, Gayle, Barath, Chanderpaul, Bravo, Bravo, Baugh, Rampaul, Edwards, Bishoo, Roach/Taylor should be the 11, IMO.

Sarwan seems past it.

Any thoughts on Baugh? I've seen him only a few times but I honestly think he's the best wicketkeeper around now. Absolute quality.
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Bravo has a big reputation, but I think Barath is actually the most highly rated of the three. Brian Lara adopted him as his protege the first time he watched him, when he was a schoolboy and I read articles about him when he was coming through the age group levels.

After watching him flay the Australian attack when he made his maiden ton as a 19 year old, I don't have any hesitation in calling him a world class talent. Superb strokeplayer who I have no doubt will make an absolute mountain of test runs.

Simmons I'll admit I've seen not much of, I'm just going by what I've read from Windies fans on forums.
 
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