WI tour of Australia, Dec 2 - Jan 7

[Aidan11]

If this was a boxing match the ref would have stepped in long ago.

[mikesiva]

I can see it's tempting to try another year zero, and dropping the over thirties, given their (mainly Samuels') torpor. But the alternative doesn't promise a great deal either. Hard to know what to do.

If the first step isn't to sack the board and replace it with a modern management structure, which has the best interests of WI cricket as a whole as it's primary focus, then swapping around players is just reorganizing the deck chairs.

Good point.

And therein lies the problem...the CARICOM governments have called on the WICB to be dissolved, and what do the WICB do? They hire a lawyer to fight CARICOM.....

[mikesiva]

If this was a boxing match the ref would have stepped in long ago.

Indeed...the Aussies are toying with us.

The target is already 459...surely, the Aussies don't expect the Windies to get anywhere close to that. Maybe Smith is resting his bowlers, to ensure they don't suffer any injuries. If that's the case, then I expect an overnight declaration.

But if they bat on, it's to give Mitch a net against some hapless West Indies bowling.

[backfootpunch]

If this was a boxing match the ref would have stepped in long ago.

Indeed...the Aussies are toying with us.

The target is already 459...surely, the Aussies don't expect the Windies to get anywhere close to that. Maybe Smith is resting his bowlers, to ensure they don't suffer any injuries. If that's the case, then I expect an overnight declaration.

But if they bat on, it's to give Mitch a net against some hapless West Indies bowling.

smith probably wants another hundred as well

[yuppie]

If this was a boxing match the ref would have stepped in long ago.

Indeed...the Aussies are toying with us.

The target is already 459...surely, the Aussies don't expect the Windies to get anywhere close to that. Maybe Smith is resting his bowlers, to ensure they don't suffer any injuries. If that's the case, then I expect an overnight declaration.

But if they bat on, it's to give Mitch a net against some hapless West Indies bowling.

smith probably wants another hundred as well

Top of a good year and give him 1500 runs for the calendar year as well.

[mikesiva]

So much for that...the declaration has been made. The target is 460...I suspect that will be of academic interest only.

[dan08]

I'll be surprised if West Indies get within 200 of the target.

[dan08]

Brathwaite seems to be a lot more aggressive these days. Might be worth a go in ODIs.

[bigfluffylemon]

Slightly surprised Smith didn't bat on for a hundred, but given the next test starts in a few days they are probably eyeing up finishing the game today and getting an extra rest day.

I can't watch this any more. It's not a contest, it's a massacre. The Australians are a good but not excellent side, but their batting averages have been massaged by some insane run fests these last two summers against very weak bowling attacks. The Australians are currently averaging over 130 runs per wicket in this series, which is the second highest ever. I can't work out how to get statsguru to show the difference between two sides' batting average in the same series, but I expect it to be one of, if not the most one-sided series in history.

WICB needs to be sacked.

[from_the_stands]

A great delivery from Hazlewood, but a no ball.

[Making_Splinters]

First time this series where the West Indies gained the upper hand on the Australians.

[mikesiva]

Slightly surprised Smith didn't bat on for a hundred, but given the next test starts in a few days they are probably eyeing up finishing the game today and getting an extra rest day.

I can't watch this any more. It's not a contest, it's a massacre. The Australians are a good but not excellent side, but their batting averages have been massaged by some insane run fests these last two summers against very weak bowling attacks. The Australians are currently averaging over 130 runs per wicket in this series, which is the second highest ever. I can't work out how to get statsguru to show the difference between two sides' batting average in the same series, but I expect it to be one of, if not the most one-sided series in history.

WICB needs to be sacked.

Indeed....

Holder made 68 and Ramdin 59, but the other batsmen failed to convert starts. Kraigg was out for 31, Chandrika for 37, Lil Bravo for 21, Samuels for 19, Blackwood for 20, and Carlos for two.

Mitch Marsh, who can't score any runs because of how crap the WIndies bowling is, took a four-fer as Australia win by 177 runs.

[yuppie]

Changes coming to the Australian side for the next test.

2 spinners, resting some quicks. Australia looking ahead to the SL and India series in the coming years

[mikesiva]

Changes coming to the Australian side for the next test.

2 spinners, resting some quicks. Australia looking ahead to the SL and India series in the coming years

There should be changes to the WI side too, not because they'll make a difference, but simply because the incumbents have failed so badly that they don't deserve to play in the dead rubber....

This would be my XI, for what it's worth....

1) Kraigg Brathwaite
2) Raj Chandrika
3) Darren Bravo
4) Shai Hope or Shane Dowrich
5) Jermaine Blackwood
6) Denesh Ramdin
7) Jason Holder
8) Carlos Brathwaite
9) Jerome Taylor
10) Dev Bishoo
11) Miguel Cummins

[The Professor]

Another nothing test match that does nothing but further weaken the weaker team and further embolden the stronger team.