WI tour of Australia, Dec 2 - Jan 7

[Toby F]

Good bowling from Warrican to get Smith. his has been a session of two halves. Pity the first half was so poor.

[bigfluffylemon]

Any international team ever scored 500 in a day?

Looks like just this one in the modern era: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63995.html

One other:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/c ... 62540.html

In both those cases it was day 2 of the match, not day 1, and well over 100 overs were bowled. 104 in the SL/Bangla game, looks like around 110 in the England-South Africa match (but there are not precise records of balls bowled in that one).

Somehow I can't see 100 overs being bowled today.

[bigfluffylemon]

Good bowling from Warrican to get Smith. his has been a session of two halves. Pity the first half was so poor.

Indeed. West Indies getting a crack at Australia's middle order before lunch - they will have to believe that if they can get one more, there's a fair chance of rolling Australia over for a substandard score, given the inexperience of the Marshes and Nevill.

On the other hand, Warner is still there...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Given the weakness of WI batting, even a below par Australia score will be too many.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Warner out though. That changes things a bit.

[Toby F]

Warner goes. Who will S Marsh run out today?

Looks like Lyon could do well here. Holder the only quick getting anything off the pitch so far.

[bigfluffylemon]

Warner out though. That changes things a bit.

Three wickets in the morning session, and you'd have to say advantage WI, despite Australia's high run rate.

For those of you watching on TV, what's the crowd like? I'm following on cricinfo...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Meagre. Big stands though, so it can be deceptive.

[alfie]

Rather a lively morning session !

Busy at work so have to make do with the odd glance at cricinfo - but I have the impression WI are perhaps a little fortunate to have got back to at least an equal share of the spoils so far ? Though I won't be surprised if Australia still rattle up a goodish total from here. Think Taylor and Roach will need to be a bit more controlled after lunch.

Some of us have to work ; but my brothers are all at the ground so I trust they are enjoying the action.

[bigfluffylemon]

Marsh only has 16 runs from a partnership of 87

Ok, Voges has dominated the strike, but Marsh isn't exactly playing many scoring shots when he does get to face.

Over rate is still lousy.

[bigfluffylemon]

Roach and Taylor have been appalling.

I realise I sound like a broken record, but just 50 overs by tea? Even with the extra half hour, it looks as if we'll be lucky to get 80 in today. Pathetic. There really needs to be some sort of penalty beyond fining the captain.

[from_the_stands]

This is gruesome already.

[mikesiva]

Still makes a mockery of him not being fit enough.

Darn right. But it's fairly clear that this is an under strength WI side in part because the WICB has lost all control of its players. Players like Gayle have no interest in test matches or representing the West Indies when the alternative is a fat bundle of cash for playing T20. It's a sad indictment of what WI cricket has become.

While that may be true to an extent, it is frankly nonsense to say because a player is fit enough to play a few T20s they are fit enough to be playing Test cricket.

While that is true, the WICB only have themselves to blame for this state of affairs.

Last night, I went to a reception at the Jamaican High Commission, and a lot of people were talking about Arsenal vs Olympiacos. Nobody was talking about West Indies vs Australia, so I forgot this was starting!

If Jamaicans still support Gayle when he plays for them in the CPL, but don't care about a WI Test against Australia, why should Gayle want to play Test cricket, when the WICB have just cut what they pay Test cricketers? Pollard, Big Bravo, and Simmons are among a raft of players who've retired from Test and domestic four-day cricket in order to concentrate on making money in the T20 leagues. And those three all have support from the majority of Trinidadians in their decision, as well.

Most Jamaicans and Trinidadians are happy as long as these guys play for their country in the CPL. The West Indies seem to have become a toxic brand....

The WIndies Test team has become an avenue for Caribbean players who are not good enough to play in the T20 leagues.

[The Professor]

Some very sloppy fielding from the West Indies. Almost no pressure during the middle session which Voges and Marsh exploited.

[Aidan11]

Busy day for batsmen today.