Australia in West Indies 2015

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Australia are to play a couple of tests in the West Indies before the summer Ashes. Australia would be finalizing the makeup of the side and get going after the WC win, they will be playing their first test in almost 5 months. Fawad Ahmed, the legspinner is a chance to make his debut in the first test if the track could turn significantly.
As for the West Indies, they fought hard in the England series, and would be hoping to more of the same against Australia. It is the start of a new era for them, as Shiv Narine Chanderpaul's test career is all but over as he was axed for poor form in the last 2 series he played. The only regular test player from their IPL contingent, Chris Gayle is smashing it all over England and so the opening combination remains a problem and now they'll have to find someone who can step in for Chanderpaul.
Hope the West Indies would fight and make the series interesting enough.

For all his big heart, right physique and all-round potential, Jason Holder just doesn't look a wickettaking option in test cricket. He's more of a 4th seamer than a 3rd seamer. With Roach struggling and Bishoo out, Taylor is the only strike option they have, and he's effective only with the new ball.

After that lucky escape, Clarke has looked to be positive and is on 31 of 47, and he has hit a couple of 6s already. Has been trying to come down to Permaul regularly.

Australia go to lunch at 91-2. Both Smith and Clarke in the 30s, clearly looking like they are on their way to a lot more......
Taylor not giving a run in the entire session. 2 for 0 of his 6 overs.......

Smith goes rushing pass his half-century and Clarke is on the way. This is going to be long, long couple of days for the West Indies.

Now the West Indies a review down as they wasted 1 on Smith who was struck outside off.

Jason Holder, who among the WI seamers looked least likely to take a wicket, cut Clarke short on 47. Holder has been economical and now he has a wicket. Will this just be a small slip up for Australia or the WI push the door open?

Crucial test for Adam Voges. Shaun Marsh having failed in the 2nd test on a raw at the top and with Chris Rogers set to come back in, a good performance here on the back of his debut hundred could see Voges finding a place in the starting 11 for that first Ashes test.......

He has no Samuels to turn to with the ball, so Ramdin brings on Brathwaite!

well Smith has raised his game so much in the last 1 year or so
Voges gets handy runs

Its watson and marsh that are under pressure....Rogers and brother Marsh are in the queue

To be fair, Brathwaite has bowled well as a container, and should have had Smith removed had Lara MK2 shown a little more desire to actually catch. Overall, at 217/4, West Indies shouldn't be too far behind, in fact, if you follow the "add 2 wickets" adage, they are probably ahead. Unfortunately the West Indies being the West Indies, have probably already conceded too many runs for their hapless batting order.

WI have not fare badly given that opponent is Aus in this series.

wait till Eng run into Aus.....they won't fare any better

Australia ended the day at 258-4. They've taken 4 wickets and they contained well after lunch, so the Australians haven't completely run away from the West Indies. But Smith is still going strong, the Australian lower order can certainly bat. Add to that the inexperienced and rather ordinary West Indies batting lineup, Australia have to be clearly ahead.......

Jerome Taylor had another excellent morning with the morning as he completed his deserved 5for, but the familiar story is unfolding for the West Indies. Even Roach and Holder had chipped in with a strike before lunch, but Hazelwood is yet again helping out with a lower order partnership, this time with Steven Smith who is on his way to a double hundred and more. They've put on 44 so far as Australia have reached 374-8.
Smith 12 away from a double century.

The next new ball is 38 overs away!, can the West Indies do something before it comes?

Smith trapped LBW with a superb Yorker from Jerom Taylor for 199! Then Hazelwood gifts Permaul a wicket by hitting one to the fielder in the deep as Australia were bowled out for 399.
The West Indies ending the experience of using Shai Hope as a makeshift opener, debutant Rajindra Chandrika opening along side Brathwaite. How many opening combination they've tried out in the last 6 tests?
Gayle and Brathwaite, Brathwaite and Smith, Brathwaite and Hope and now this.......

The new experiment not bring much success as Chandrika's debut innings ends in a duck. He's gone caught behind of Starc, but he can consider himself a bit unlucky as the onfield referral for a no-ball seemed to indicate Starc didn't have anything behind the line but the 3rd umpire ruled in his favor.......

Australia opening the bowling with Starc and Hazelwood by the way.......

Clarke continues to experiment as Nathan comes on in the 6th over of the innings, taking over from Hazelwood. No MJ yet.......

Here he is!!

And finds Brathwaite's edge first ball, only for the ball to find the gap through the slips for 4.

It's so frustrating. 399 is a reasonable score to have a team out for. The Windies bowlers can feel reasonably pleased with their efforts... But realistically... the game is gone. Still, Rome wasn't built in a day. The Windies have at least now gotten themselves a competent bowling line up. And a very good one if Roach can get back to something resembling his best. The batting on the other hand...

West Indies struggling at 39-3. Dowrich and Hope hoping to engineer a recover. Couple of early success for Nathan Lyon.......

*gurgle*  The sound of the Windies' innings going down the pan at 44 - 4.

Perhaps another 3 day finish on the cards.

well WI is doing the right things....gotten rid of the spirit breaking stars and post expiry date Chanders..and rebuilding....playing with what's essentially an A side....and did well enough to pull a draw and a win vs Eng.

they will lose to Aus and so should release themselves of pressure, bat a bit more freely and show fight....avoid a follow-on...stretch Aus into the 4th and 5th day...

it's not an ordinary side......this Aussie bowling line up is super-strong and will steam roll all but SA

143 - 8 at the close.  Windies still need 57 to avoid the follow on - an unlikely prospect even with Holder not out overnight.

KP_fan wrote:

it's not an ordinary side......this Aussie bowling line up is super-strong and will steam roll all but SA

Nah, they'll steam roll SA too.
Don't forget, they are like salmon who kindly jumps on the hook for you. Remember?

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:143 - 8 at the close.  Windies still need 57 to avoid the follow on - an unlikely prospect even with Holder not out overnight.

Holder has in fact got his side over the line with a stroke filled innings, but he eventually ran out of partners as the West Indies ends at 220. Kemar Roach providing valuable support to Holder, but ones he got out, Hazelwood finished off taylor in the same over to end the West Indies first innings, Australia with a first innings advantage of 179.......

Holder unbeaten on 82!

Hazelwood finishes with a 5for. He's doing everything from his side to ensure he's there in the starting side even when Harris comes back in.......

How would Jerome Taylor go with the new ball this time? Both Warner and Marsh short of runs in the series, particularly significant for the latter to get a score here.......

Holder was 13 of 24 overnight, he finished with 82 not out of 63!!

Holder does have that little something special.

Australian openers taking their time, Taylor new ball spell is seen off without any damage, so now its time to make good on that. 38 without loss at the moment, going at just about 2 an over.

50 partnership up between Warner and Marsh.

how long will Aus do?...until lunch tomm and declare with a lead of 450'

Crucial half-century for Shaun Marsh.
Australia 117-1, Warner out after making 62, Roach with the wicket.

Australians have plenty of time....... If they bat another 2 session, they should be more than 450 ahead.......

If Ramdin is so keen on this 5th bowler so much so that he ends up bowling utter tripe from his parttime parttimers, perhaps they should consider Holder as an all-rounder and bat him up the order. Perhaps they should drop Ramdin, bat Holder at 7 and hand the gloves to Hope or Dowrich who both are wicketkeepers too. Then they can get in Gabriel or another additional bowling option. Ramdin's captaincy, at least onfield, is absolutely dreadful!!
.

this is a bizarre declaration...too early...not even 400 run up and more than 2 days left

WI should play fearlessly and go down with a fight here

That early declaration is an act of a captain with great confidence in his bowlers. Perhaps he wants to be sure of getting in a round of golf on day 5!

Tbf it's very difficult to see how Windies will get near this total. But even so Clarke has voluntarily given them a modest chance of winning.

2 wickets in the first over....  OK, so the declaration was not a huge risk.

The Windies are still an absolutely abject/woeful/insert denigrating adjective as appropriate Test side.

Any talk of a revival after the drawn England series was wishful thinking I am afraid. Very bad from England actually to not win that series, quite embarrassing

VTR - yes but we shouldn't discount the quality of Australia or their self belief which makes them even stronger.
(PS Where you been? There's a Jordan post waiting for you on the other thread which he did a lot to rubbish on Friday. )

Look, they can't bat... But I think they've come along big time the last twelve months. Their batting line up wasn't ready for the Australians, but I think optimism is well founded.

Guildford, am away with intermittent internet access. I have read your Jordan post though, thanks for that, was a good read!

kingraf wrote:Look, they can't bat... But I think they've come along big time the last twelve months. Their batting line up wasn't ready for the Australians, but I think optimism is well founded.

Agree , to a point. Their bowling seems to have improved : Taylor obviously ; but Bishoo looked promising , Holder - although I'd prefer him as fourth seamer - is handy ; they need Roach , Gabriel or someone to step up as genuine second man , and another "steady" type , and they'd have a decent attack.
That batting though ... They'd have done better to keep Shiv around than subject this lot to the slaughterhouse. Blackwood looks useful at six. But they need top order bats - and I don't see any , I'm afraid.

has bishoo been dropped again, or is he injured?

Aus steam rolling WI
their bowling was super good even without Starc and now it's terrifying or whatever the category is abover super-good
given that Harris will be availbale for their next test