btb Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 They were an absolute disgrace. Little or no respect for the way the West Indies treated the series though. I'll let Tony Cozier put the case for West Indies. The ends always justify the means and, in spite of the always dangerous policy of choosing a team and applying tactics from the start with the sole intention of earning a draw, the West Indies just managed to achieve their goal in the decisive final Test yesterday.It was their second great escape in three Tests. Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards clung on in Antigua to protect the lead their stunning victory in the first Test had given them; this time they were eight down as Denesh Ramdin, the vice-captain and wicketkeeper, and once more the phlegmatic Edwards held on for the last 3.2 overs to frustrate frantic England. That they managed to twice wriggle out of defeat will not concern Chris Gayle and his players or the fans, disenchanted by years of anguish as one heavy loss followed another and the team plunged towards the bottom of the International Cricket Council rankings. This was their first triumph in a series against relevant opposition since they overcame India in the Caribbean in 2003, their first over England since 2000. It regained the Wisden Trophy they once securely held for 27 years, but which has been in England's equally firm grip since 2000. In those nine years, they had not won a single Test against their oldest opponents and had endured a raft of humiliations – a two-day defeat at Headingley in 2004, all-out totals of 47, 54, 61 and 94. The outcome of the series, however it was achieved, has put such memories behind them. There have been unmistakable signs that the fight, so glaringly missing for so long, is returning. It was put to the test time and again over the past six weeks and, even as they collapsed on a wearing pitch, it was evident yesterday. There are still obvious areas of weakness. Gayle remains without a reliable opening partner, Edwards and Jerome Taylor are in need of a reliable back-up fast bowler, and selectors who omitted Sulieman Benn, their one specialist spinner, from this Test – on a pitch known to increasingly favour spin – must make up their minds on the balance of the attack. At least, they have broken free of the cycle of defeats. Now they must move on with the boldness and aggression that was always the hallmark of their cricket. Is it up to the home side to pander to the opposition support? I got as much joy from West Indies holding out at St. Johns & PoS as I did from Saints holding out for 1-0 victories against both halves of the OF. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I'll let Tony Cozier put the case for West Indies.Is it up to the home side to pander to the opposition support? I got as much joy from West Indies holding out at St. Johns & PoS as I did from Saints holding out for 1-0 victories against both halves of the OF. I'm not sure Tony Cozier is actually defending the West Indies there. The West Indies don't have to pander to the Barmy Army, although it was noticeable that the rapport between the West Indies players and the England support was in far better humour than with the Australians. The West Indies do have a duty to entertain though, and play cricket in the spirit of the game. Other than when they were gamely battling to save the game - more caused by good English play than anything else - and the odd time while Gayle was batting, they manifestly didn't do this. None the less, roll on 2014 and the next tour. I'm saving up as we speak. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I'm not sure Tony Cozier is actually defending the West Indies there. I am. The West Indies don't have to pander to the Barmy Army, although it was noticeable that the rapport between the West Indies players and the England support was in far better humour than with the Australians. The West Indies do have a duty to entertain though, and play cricket in the spirit of the game. Not pander to but entertain - fine definition! When I see phrases like spirit of the game being applied to professional sport I cringe. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I am.Not pander to but entertain - fine definition! When I see phrases like spirit of the game being applied to professional sport I cringe. He really isn't. He's saying that the West Indies won't lose any sleep over the accusations of dull play. Which is fair enough, but he was ripping into the entertainment levels on TMS all the time. Read it again. It isn't a defence at all. Cricket is most definitely a sport which includes a spirit of the game, more than any other major sport, I'd suggest. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 (edited) He really isn't. He's saying that the West Indies won't lose any sleep over the accusations of dull play. Which is fair enough, but he was ripping into the entertainment levels on TMS all the time. Read it again. It isn't a defence at all. He's explaining the background to the series, putting the way West Indies played into context. They're certainly not the words of a man with "little or no respect for the way the West Indies treated the series". Cricket is most definitely a sport which includes a spirit of the game, more than any other major sport, I'd suggest. Not that I'm particularly bothered but which team has had players fined & reprimanded for breaching the rules? Edited March 12, 2009 by btb 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kullibino Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I don't really blame the West Indies player at all, esp with their recent record, hopefully a win over England might see a bit of a resurgence. I do think there should be a few questions raised over a couple of the pitches produced though. And certainly over the 2nd test! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Only caught a bit of the 20/20 last night. But it was another poor performance and a bad defeat. Big effort needed before the one day series. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 The 20/20 starting 11 for the English was completely baffling. No Prior or Harmison.....very strange! Good to see Peiterson struggling though. Silly p***k 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 The 20/20 starting 11 for the English was completely baffling.No Prior or Harmison.....very strange! Good to see Peiterson struggling though. Silly p***k Why on both counts? Have you ever seen Davies play? He's a left handed opener. Seemed a logical choice. Why is it good to see Pietersen "struggling"? It's not as if he's playing badly at all. He's a bit of an over-confident dick, but I think England would do better if more of their players had his arrogance. England probably should give up one-day cricket though. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 England Ladies beat West Indies in cup Semi Final....Well well.I wonder if they can have a word with there male counterparts. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drs Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Just got this: npower Ashes Test Match ticket ballot Thank you for taking the time to enter the ballot for the remaining Day 1 – 4 npower Ashes Test Match tickets at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground (7th – 11th August 2009). You have been successful with your application and we are now pleased to confirm you have secured the following tickets: Match: ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA DAY 2, Block: Block XX, Row: XX, Quantity of seats: 1 The card that you submitted at the time of application has been charged £ XX and the booking fee of £3.00 will be charged separately. On behalf of all at the The Yorkshire County Cricket Club we hope you enjoy the npower Ashes 2009. Ya freakin dancer and it's the Saturday so does anyone have a Pink Panther outfit I can borrow? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Just got this:npower Ashes Test Match ticket ballot Thank you for taking the time to enter the ballot for the remaining Day 1 – 4 npower Ashes Test Match tickets at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground (7th – 11th August 2009). You have been successful with your application and we are now pleased to confirm you have secured the following tickets: Match: ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA DAY 2, Block: Block XX, Row: XX, Quantity of seats: 1 The card that you submitted at the time of application has been charged £ XX and the booking fee of £3.00 will be charged separately. On behalf of all at the The Yorkshire County Cricket Club we hope you enjoy the npower Ashes 2009. Ya freakin dancer and it's the Saturday so does anyone have a Pink Panther outfit I can borrow? Well done.Enjoy.It will probably be the last day of the match.I certainly wouldn't want to buy one for the 5th... Not been to a Test for a few years now.I was a regular in London in the 80,s saw the West Indies and Australia. Nowadays i try to catch Surrey at the Oval,usually Pro 40 games.Easy to get in cheap(£10).And the bars are quiet. Also the Scarborough festival.But the hotels get full quickly. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 http://optasportsdata.telegraph.co.uk/cric...eScoreCard.html Score card from 1 day if anybody interested. Rain Delay. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Shah is looking good. Collingwood showing glimpses of his potential to be one of the best batsman in the world. Pieterson was shocking again, defently by his standards and Strauss looks like the pressure of being captain is too much for him. The way he went was something I would do, not a top class international batsman. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shengus Khan Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Had a look at the cards for the Saff Afreeka - Australia test and McGain, the Aussie bowler, has figures of 0 wickets for 102 runs off 11 (E L E V E N) overs. With 2 maidens as well . He must be bowling like a drain 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) Shah is looking good. Collingwood showing glimpses of his potential to be one of the best batsman in the world.Pieterson was shocking again, defently by his standards and Strauss looks like the pressure of being captain is too much for him. The way he went was something I would do, not a top class international batsman. The problem with Strauss is that if he wasn't Captain of the Test side he wouldn't be in the ODI's. I wouldn't open with him as with the fielding restrictions at the start of an Innings tends to reward improvisation rather than the orthodox. Having said that the current score is 208/3 (40.2 Ov) and you probably wouldn't put him in ahead of either Prior or Mascerenhas in the current situation altho' if you'd opened with of them then Strauss could come in at 6 or 7. Edited March 20, 2009 by btb 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_B Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Looks like the West Indies have utterly ballsed this ODI. How difficult is it to have a manager that can use a calculator? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Phoenix Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Looks like the West Indies have utterly ballsed this ODI. How difficult is it to have a manager that can use a calculator? I'm still pissing myself laughing. The funniest thing I've seen in professional sport for a long time. Add one to the unemployment statistics in WI. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Looks like the West Indies have utterly ballsed this ODI. How difficult is it to have a manager that can use a calculator? What a farce! Dyson really ballsed up this one. Oh well, a win is a win is a win. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 This could be one of the most embarrassing cock-ups in recent times by Dyson, who is still trawling over the Duckworth-Lewis calculations. Unfortunately, he's based his calculations on six-wickets down rather than seven. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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