kieran powell leading a fight-back with a century...

[Me]

He is a "good" enough bowler to merit his place over the others who have been available in the region. Now if Fidel Edwards played with sense and bowled better than he has in his career so far, Jerome Taylor was still an option, Rampaul regains form from a couple series ago and Cotterrel and Garbiel mature into top class bowlers, then no he can't jutify his spot. Unfortunately, he currently does.

[Gamma]

"good" enough ... bwoy captain my claptain!

[Peter R]

I'm not sure sure that Sammy isn't riding on his earliy success as a bowler... His last two series are not that stellar in the wicket taking or average departments BUT he is economical. The latter coupled with his powerful hitting make him more appropriate as a short game player.

Against Australia he only managed five wickets! and against India he managed nine. That is in 6 tests. ANd his average for those tests was in the 35 range. What I also observe is that he either does not know how to handle himself or is deliberately hiding from the opposing batters. If he were that good and better than those around him he should take more responsibility in the bowling...which he doesn't. He bowls significantly fewer overs than the other bowlers and I believe you are saying he is there as a bowler.

As a batsman, he knows how to bat but he fails not so much because of his average but because as a CAPTAIN, one expects more responsibility again, especially when we need someone to hold firm... he demonstrates no such ability to rein in his natural instincts with the bat and IMO that is NOT what you want from a Captain especially one who CAN bat. By contrast we see Chris Gayle in the last few years doing just that, reining in his natural instincts, even in a T20 match.

I am not expecting a 35 or 40 average, but SENSIBLE batting and application when required AS CAPTAIN... IMO he is not cutting it as Captain nor bowler based on recent form, but he has the job and I wish him well. If he can curb his natural batting tendencies, bowl more overs he and the team could possibly experience greater success but I'm not holding my breath.

[Me]

And how did that compare to Fidel Edwards?

There are more than enough examples of Gayle in those same latter years of "reining in his natural instincts" being cussed on this forum for giving away his wicket.

[Peter R]

Well, you might as well compare him to Deonarine... FE hasn't proven to be the bowler he promised to be, average 37 and picked up 8 wickets in the last five tests he played. NOT GOOD. But my reference to deonarine is that he did well with the ball and reasonably well with the bat as well vs the Aussies, arguably the side might be stronger if you replace Sammy with him and play Samuels.

The board persists with some players and with others not... FE has a worse average batting and bowling than Jerome Taylor yet they threw him out like yesterday's trash... the fact that Sammy is there as a bowling allrounder is evidence of how far we have fallen and how poor our bowling is in spite of recent successes in outing a side twice in a match.

My biggest beef with Sammy is that he has NOT demonstrated with the bat the kind of diligence and application you expect from a captain, and that he continues to underutilise himself with the ball (if he is so good).

The WIBC is the biggest failure of all... they could call Nash and Sarwan to bolster the top order and the batting generally, but the young players at the top will suffer greatly psychologically if they are trounced in this series and while I hope not, it is in the cards.

[Me]

Deo is a spin bowler.

Nash would definitely be in my team with Shiv moved further up the order.

[Gamma]

as a cricketer and captain lambert has done enough to win 5 straight 4 day titles to me that speaks volumes.

he deserves a chance to captain the west indies. he has played against and the other "captains" and players and bested them. he definitely has a winning mentality something no-one on this team can be accused of having!

[Peter R]

and Sarwan? or is he a permanent discard a la Jerome Taylor?

[Me]

Sarwan is in my squad also, but him and Otis clearly not on the same page. Junior Bennett supposedly working with Taylor now, so hopefully we will see him back in the fold.

[Me]

Him nuh too look like him can make the team or pass Otis fitness. If is just a captain we need from him, lets just add him to staff and have him in charge of strategy.

[Gamma]

as mi seh if ravi pass it as a fast bowler .....

[Me]

You never know that Otis have two separate standard. Him have one fi man like Rampaul, Ramdin, Deonarine etc and another one for Sammy, Edwards, Roach etc

[Gamma]

duh ... what was i thinking??!!!