Windies does it again !!!
This is not something new in international cricket. In recent times, the West Indies have done this time and again. But yesterday was definitely a wasted oppurtunity. They came too close and yet were too far.
The absence of Brian Lara in the middle order puts a lot more onus on the rest of the team, but certainly there were quite a few brilliant performances which eventually did not carry any value in lieu of the team loosing.
The sheer pace and arrogance of the yesteryear West Indian pacemen may be missing,but one does take notice of the way the new young guns are bowling. In recent times, Edwards and Bradshaw have done a fairly good job and I must admit that their stats were impressive yesterday as well. With Butler joining the party, it was definitely a good bowling performance to start with. They picked up a couple of wickets and kept the run rate tight. Good show by the inexperienced. But that did not take away their routine squandering of good chances - wickets of no balls and some sloppy fielding.
The show did not carry on though for a long time, thanks to veteran Astle who did what he has done many times in the past - be the spine of the Kiwi batting. He held on picking up singles and twos until the part timers came on. Its rather surprising that Chris Gayle - one of the best partimers in the business - went wayward not able to contain anything. Someone who has more than a 100 wickets and a good economy rate for a part timer of 4.78 just didn't get anything right with his bowling. Astle feasted and then the Kiwis climbed to a respectable total - rather given that the opposition is Windies, I should say its a commendable total.
The Windies needed a solid start and it looked like Gayle and Morton provided it for a moment. Given that there is no Lara and the middle order isn't in the best of their form, it was required of Gayle to play a big innings. He did create fear among the Kiwis, smacking the ball all around. But atlast fell to a slower ball trying to hit one too many - when on earth is he going to stop this. Perhaps its such silly acts which prevent such a talented batsman like Gayle from becoming a legend. For he always allows his instincts to overtake sensibility.
With Morton putting up some fight it seemed it was going good until Vettori took two quick wickets. This man is certainly not the famous "dibbly-dobbly" kinds, but he comes somewhat closer by always bowling tight without a single delivery getting the merit of a dangerous turn or flight. With Chanderpaul as usual not contributing anything, it looked like its an usual parade. But Sarwan was hanging on as if he is playing a test innings. Wickets are important - but he pushed it a little too hard.
In the 90s the South Africans had batsman - infact match winners in their own right - until no 8. So even if a few wickets have fallen, they can afford to take chances. But what on earth was Hinds trying to do coming down the ground to hit the ball. Does he ever realize that for the Windies no 11 always starts at no 8 ?
When the required rate looked unrealistic Bradshaw started to cut loose. With Sarwan picking up the momentum as well it looked like the Windies were up for a repeat of the ICC champions trophy - but then they both were back to the pavilion even before the cricinfo scorecard could refresh itself.
Please guys learn to play a bit more sensibly, atleast for the sake of ardent Windies supporters like me who remain awake in the nights to watch these matches.....
The absence of Brian Lara in the middle order puts a lot more onus on the rest of the team, but certainly there were quite a few brilliant performances which eventually did not carry any value in lieu of the team loosing.
The sheer pace and arrogance of the yesteryear West Indian pacemen may be missing,but one does take notice of the way the new young guns are bowling. In recent times, Edwards and Bradshaw have done a fairly good job and I must admit that their stats were impressive yesterday as well. With Butler joining the party, it was definitely a good bowling performance to start with. They picked up a couple of wickets and kept the run rate tight. Good show by the inexperienced. But that did not take away their routine squandering of good chances - wickets of no balls and some sloppy fielding.
The show did not carry on though for a long time, thanks to veteran Astle who did what he has done many times in the past - be the spine of the Kiwi batting. He held on picking up singles and twos until the part timers came on. Its rather surprising that Chris Gayle - one of the best partimers in the business - went wayward not able to contain anything. Someone who has more than a 100 wickets and a good economy rate for a part timer of 4.78 just didn't get anything right with his bowling. Astle feasted and then the Kiwis climbed to a respectable total - rather given that the opposition is Windies, I should say its a commendable total.
The Windies needed a solid start and it looked like Gayle and Morton provided it for a moment. Given that there is no Lara and the middle order isn't in the best of their form, it was required of Gayle to play a big innings. He did create fear among the Kiwis, smacking the ball all around. But atlast fell to a slower ball trying to hit one too many - when on earth is he going to stop this. Perhaps its such silly acts which prevent such a talented batsman like Gayle from becoming a legend. For he always allows his instincts to overtake sensibility.
With Morton putting up some fight it seemed it was going good until Vettori took two quick wickets. This man is certainly not the famous "dibbly-dobbly" kinds, but he comes somewhat closer by always bowling tight without a single delivery getting the merit of a dangerous turn or flight. With Chanderpaul as usual not contributing anything, it looked like its an usual parade. But Sarwan was hanging on as if he is playing a test innings. Wickets are important - but he pushed it a little too hard.
In the 90s the South Africans had batsman - infact match winners in their own right - until no 8. So even if a few wickets have fallen, they can afford to take chances. But what on earth was Hinds trying to do coming down the ground to hit the ball. Does he ever realize that for the Windies no 11 always starts at no 8 ?
When the required rate looked unrealistic Bradshaw started to cut loose. With Sarwan picking up the momentum as well it looked like the Windies were up for a repeat of the ICC champions trophy - but then they both were back to the pavilion even before the cricinfo scorecard could refresh itself.
Please guys learn to play a bit more sensibly, atleast for the sake of ardent Windies supporters like me who remain awake in the nights to watch these matches.....
posted by Nana at
12:21 AM
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