Australia v West Indies - Series Preview
At long last, West Indies' first ATG tour of Australia is upon us, and one can only hope that the cricket can live up to the hype and speculation that has been such a part of the build-up. The teams' previous confrontation in the Caribbean was a landmark series, but both sides have endured a period of mixed fortunes since then, especially Australia, whose number one ranking now hangs by a thread.
The biggest talking point since Australia's recent defeat in South Africa has been that of the captaincy, and it has been confirmed that Richie Benaud is to remain in the role that he inherited after Bradman's finger injury in Port Elizabeth. Benaud's appointment is for the duration of this series only though, at least in the first instance, so it will be a very testing time for Australia's new skipper in every sense of the word.
West Indies have also appointed a new captain in recent times, and Garry Sobers remains at the helm despite losing 2-1 in England. West Indies played some good cricket in the second half of that series, and the hope is that this form will be carried over to Australian soil. As expected, Messrs Greenidge and Haynes have been recalled to open the batting, Kanhai retains his spot at number three and there are recalls for both Joel Garner and Wes Hall to bolster the bowling attack. The tour starts with a 4 day game against a Chairman's XI in Adelaide, then the action moves to Brisbane for the first of five Tests.
GStA Sobers (c), IVA Richards (v/c), CEL Ambrose, CEH Croft, PJL Dujon, J Garner, LR Gibbs, CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, WW Hall, MA Holding, RB Kanhai, CH Lloyd, MD Marshall, DL Murray, EdeC Weekes.
4 comments:
Surprised that Clyde Walcott doesn't get a run as the keeper for this team. He started his career as a keeper, and evidently was quite accomplished in that role.
Likewise, I would feel that George Headley would at least make the squad for the All Time Greatest Windies lineup.
Interested to see the outcome.
Very valid points; Headley has been a fairly regular member of my West Indies ATG squad, but his form in the Windies' last couple of series has been poor so he has missed out on this trip. The world of ATG cricket is a cutthroat place.
As far as Walcott is concerned, he has appeared in a few squads but Dujon was by far the better 'keeper IMO, and is certainly rated as such in the game that I use to play these matches. However, Walcott's presence would certainly bolster the batting, so he is always under consideration.
I am amazed that both Lara and Headley are omitted, though the batting still looks pretty handy!
As I mentioned before, Headley has been left out because of a lack of form during the Windies' last couple of series (he averaged only 22.25 in West Indies' last series, against England); in the ATG world, there is always somebody ready to take your place if you don't succeed!
Lara doesn't get in because I have a rule that players must be retired from all forms of cricket for at least two years before they can be up for selection in my games. That way, their career stats are well and fully 'finalised' and a more direct comparison can be made between them and other retired players.
The game that I use to simulate my ATG Tests has individual player card updates each year for all current players, so by only using retired players I can guarantee that their stats are 'final'; the two-year rule pretty much ensures that there will be no comebacks from retirement that would alter the stats.
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