What next for the West Indies?

In the first quarter-final of the cricket World Cup, Pakistan well and truly battered the West Indies into submission with an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Darren Sammy’s side. Many experts have asked whether cricket in the Caribbean is ever going to reach the heights that it did in the 1980’s.

The current side has some talented individuals who could win matches on their own, but they are yet to blend into a team that could challenge for honours in major tournaments. Despite three victories in the competition, defeats against the major nations seem to prove this theory.

It is without doubt that selection is one of the main issues that needs to be addressed. Many people predict that the injured Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh and Dwayne Bravo will return to the side, and this would obviously strengthen all aspects of the team.

Before the tournament, Barath was being touted as one of the batsmen to watch, but injury before the competition began meant that he never got the chance to shine on the world’s biggest stage. He was joined on the plane home by wicket-keeper Baugh, who was replaced by the unimpressive Devon Thomas, and he should be assured of a place in the side once fit.

All-rounder Bravo can win matches on his own, and the knee injury that he picked up in the WIndies’ opening match against South Africa was a massive blow to the whole team. Once he is back in the side they will look much stronger, and he could have been the difference in some of the matches that were lost in sub-continent.

Bravo's injury robbed the West Indies of arguably their best
player

The second decision that has to be made by the selection committee is that of the captaincy. Current skipper  Sammy had, at best, an average World Cup, and it has been asked what he offers to the side. His medium-pace bowling can be economical but not especially threatening, whilst his batting is very much hit-or-miss. His leadership has also been questioned, and it seems as if he is just taking up a place in the team that could be utilised by a younger, more talented player.

If Sammy is to be relieved of his duties, who are the contenders to replace him. There seems to be two possibilities. These are Chris Gayle and the afore mentioned Bravo. Gayle has previous experience of captaincy, but it seems unlikely that he will be reinstated. This therefore leaves Bravo as the only option, and if he can be aided by some of the experienced names in the current team, then he could become a successful captain.

Sammy's poor World Cup could cost him his place as captain

With all things taken into account, it seems as if the West Indies should look to pick a side which looks something like this:

1.       Chris Gayle

2.       Adrian Barath

3.       Darren Bravo

4.       Ramnaresh Sarwan

5.       Shivnarine Chanderpaul

6.       Dwayne Bravo (Captain)

7.       Keiron Pollard

8.       Carlton Baugh (WK)

9.       Andre Russell

10.   Devendra Bishoo OR Sulieman Benn

11.   Kemar Roach

This side seems to have the balance that the current side lacks, with all-rounders Bravo, Pollard and Russell providing adequate bowling skills and the ability to finish innings’ with the bat. It also leaves the likes of Devon Smith, Sammy and Ravi Rampaul in reserve; all of whom could be called upon to reliably cover if there were to be any injuries.

All in all, the future for West Indian cricket is not as bleak as some may think. They have a wealth of young talent that, if developed correctly, could become some of the best players in the world. The powers that be have to make some key decisions in next few weeks, and if made correctly, could see the West Indies make big steps towards returning to their glory days.

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com

England's opening dilemma

After Kevin Pietersen's good start to life as an opening batsman, many thought that England had finally found a someone to partner Andrew Strauss at the top of the order.

However, a hernia injury means Pietersen has had to travel back to London for surgery, with Eoin Morgan being called up in his place. The selection of the Irish-born Morgan shows that England are going to have to find a new opener within their current World Cup Squad, with none of the other fourteen players being genuine opening batsmen.

Pietersen's 59 against Ireland showed he may be able to open
for England in future years

Who will England now turn to? Andy Flower has revealed he knows who will open in against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday, but also said they may review the position on a game-by-game basis. 

So who are the main contenders....

Ian Bell. Bell has previously opened in One-Day Internationals, and many people asked before the tournament began whether he would partner Strauss. He averages 33.33 from his 26 innings' as an opener in ODI's, but the last time he featured at the top of the order was in 2008. His style of play suits batting in the powerplays as he looks to pierce the gaps and play his shots, and he could prove the perfect foil to Strauss, who has been England's most aggressive batsman thus far.

Ravi Bopara. Bopara's impressive innings against South Africa should have made the selectors sit up and realise that the Essex man is, on current form, a much better man to have in the middle-order than Paul Collingwood. However, after Pietersen's injury, they may again have to move Bopara from a position he looks comfortable in. He has previously opened in ODI's, and averages less than 30 from his fourteen innings', with only one half-century. Despite having the experience, the selectors would face some criticism if Bopara were to find himself opening again, as his batting style and ability to hit over the top would be much better suited to the middle and late overs.

Bopara's innings against South Africa may have assured him
a place in the side for the rest of the tournament.

Matt Prior. Prior is another of England's middle-order who has experience of opening the batting, most recently in the seven-match series against Australia. However, from his 32 innings' he only averages 24.2. Since Morgan's injury, he has been batting in the number 6 position and has been enlisted as 'the finisher'. However, with Morgan back in the side he may not be needed to fill this role, and this could see England revert to having their wicket-keeper doubling up as their opening batsmen.

Luke Wright. It would be a massive shock if Wright was handed the role of opener for the remainder of the World Cup, especially since in his six previous innings at the top of the order in ODI's he has only mustered 107 runs. However, the selectors seem to feel he has something to offer the squad, and stranger things have happened...

In my opinion, Ian Bell is the best candidate to partner Strauss at the top of the innings. However, it would come as shock if England's selectors went with Matt Prior, as it would open up the finisher role for Morgan to come into, whilst not disrupting the middle-order.

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com and sportsvoice.co.uk

10 things we've learnt from the World Cup so far

The World Cup is now two weeks old, and has recovered from a slightly below-par start to become one of the most talked about editions of the tournament ever. Thus far the competition has had everything from amazing tied matches to shock results for the associate nations, and that’s just England’s story.

But what have we learnt from the great festival of cricket that is the World Cup...

1. England are the most unpredictable team in the world. Granted, most people already knew this, but the performances that Andrew Strauss’ side have put in during their three matches so far have been so different from each other it has to be seen to be believed. After a workmanlike but unremarkable victory over the Netherlands, the tie against India in Bangalore was one of the greatest batting performances by an England one-day side in living memory. However, after being talked up by almost every commentator and pundit in the sub-continent, the defeat at the hands of the Irish has brought Andy Flower and his players back down to Earth with a bump. They still should qualify from the group stages, but I would not back them to go much further after their opening performances.

2. James Anderson is not a world-class one-day bowler. Anderson has struggled in England’s first three matches and is fighting for his place in the team heading into the tomorrow’s match against South Africa. His 28 overs in the tournament have been hit for 212 runs, whilst he has only picked up two wickets. His performances have reflected those of the whole team, and he must aim for much more consistency if he is to resurrect the form that saw him become the leader of the attack in recent years.

Anderson has struggled in the tournament thus far

3. Kevin Pietersen could become an opener. When it was revealed that KP was going to open the batting, many asked whether his game would be suited to taking on the new ball. However, he has shown glimpses of the temperament and intelligence that he would need to continue as an opener in the one-day game.

4. India aren’t as good as everyone thinks. It is without doubt that MS Dhoni’s team have one of the best batting line-ups in the world, but this is only half of what a team needs to win the competition, and currently their bowling and fielding is coming under fire. Zaheer Khan’s burst during England’s batting powerplay has been the only highlight in the field for the hosts thus far, and the likes of Munaf Patel, Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla are not proven international bowlers. If India are to win the competition, their bowlers will have to step up to the mark, as their batsmen cannot be relied on for the whole tournament.

5. The quicker, the better. When teams go to the sub-continent, they tend to pack their bowling attack with spinners. However, it has been the quicker bowlers who have been most impressive in the opening two weeks of the tournament. Kemar Roach and Lasith Malinga have both taken hat-tricks, whilst the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait have fired Australia to two victories wth their full and fast approach. This World Cup could very well surprise a lot of people and be the tournament where the world’s best fast bowlers are the main stars.

6. The good Pakistan have turned up. Whenever an international competition comes around, many people ask which Pakistan are going to turn up, and this year it looks as if they are at their brilliant best. Despite a shaky batting performance against Canada, they have emerged as genuine contenders, and with an inspired Shahid Afridi leading from the front, they could easily find themselves lifting the trophy for the second time.

7. The World Cup needs the associate nations. Ireland’s victory over England has shown to the ICC that the associate nations have a place in world cricket’s premier events. The performance brought about one of the greatest ever World Cup shocks and lit up the tournament, something which those that govern the game cannot ignore if they want to keep people watching future tournaments. Despite weak performances from Kenya and Canada, I for one feel it would be unfair if the likes of Kevin O’Brien and Ryan Ten Doeschate did not get the chance to show off their skills on the world stage.

8. Chris Gayle is cooler than anyone thought. As always, Chris Gayle has been the epitome of cool throughout the tournament. However, he proved just how cool he was as he took time out from dodging rocks on his team bus to tweet to the world. Many would have concentrated on their own safety, but not Gayle. He wanted to let his 39,000 followers what was going on outside the ground. The man is very cool.

9. Not even his teammates like Sreesanth. After India’s first game of the tournament against Bangladesh, opening batsman Virender Sehwag was quoted as saying everyone had played well apart from Sreesanth. It is well known that opposition players and supporters aren’t particularly fond of the young bowler, but Sehwag’s comments shed light on what the Indian dressing room thinks of their outspoken contemporary. It seems that the only person who likes Sreesanth is the man himself.

Sreesanth has never been one to make friends
on the cricket pitch

10. No one knows who is going to win the tournament. Unlike the last few tournaments, it does not seem as if it going to be a non-event of a tournament that ends predictably with Australia holding the trophy aloft. In fact, it would be somewhat of a surprise if Ricky Ponting’s side even made it to the final. Any number of teams could be celebrating victory at the end of the tournament, and I for one would not like to be the person to predict who that will be.... 


This article can be found at worldcricketwatch.com and sportsvoice.co.uk

Do the associate nations belong at the World Cup?

As I write this piece, England are struggling to overcome the Netherlands in their opening World Cup game, and by the time you read this the result may well be known. The strong performance from the men in orange has led to many commentators asking whether the ICC’s decision to cut the competition to ten teams for the 2015 tournament is the right one.

England struggled past the Netherlands in their opening
group game

In the four games leading up to Tuesday’s match, the favourites have all won emphatically against some of the smaller nations in world cricket. Despite Bangladesh and Zimbabwe both being test playing teams, they struggled to compete when pitted against favourites India and holders Australia in their opening group matches.

So is there a place for the smaller teams at the World Cup? Some commentators argue that they just create extra games which don’t need to be played and take up too much time. Their argument usually contains the fact that the associate teams just aren’t good enough to compete at this level as they don’t have the experience or talent.

But does the performance of the Netherlands change these views?

The Dutch only have three professional players, but one of those, Ryan Ten Doeschate, destroyed England’s bowling attack with a brilliant 119 and is easily the best associate player. However, should a team who only boast three professionals take part in the sport’s showpiece event?

Despite the Netherlands’ performance, the likes of 2003 semi-finalists Kenya and the experienced Zimbabwe have both struggled and their best players are getting towards the ends of their international careers, whilst Canada have very little to offer the championship.

The surprise package of 2007 were the Irish, and although more of their players have become professional, they look unlikely to repeat the success of four years ago. Despite having the likes of ex-England international Ed Joyce and Trent Johnston, who sits in the Top 20 of the ICC Bowling Rankings, at their disposal, they may struggle to win any matches at this year’s tournament.

The only smaller side who could do well this year are co-hosts Bangladesh, who are a young and exciting side who could cause a surprise, especially with the West Indies and an out of form England in their group.

So is the decision for 2015 the correct one? Bangladesh are a young team and will have improved by 2015 so the decision to keep them is a fair one, but should the ageing Zimbabweans be given an automatic pass? The Dutch, Irish and Kenyans will probably have something to say about this, and there should possibly be a qualification process to decide the tenth team for future World Cups.

Is this the end of the road for Paul Collingwood?

Paul Collingwood has long been a staple of England’s cricket team. He holds the record for one-day international appearances in an England shirt, and only last year he captained the Twenty20 side to World Cup glory.

However, after retiring from test cricket at the end of the Ashes, he was left out of the team for the first one-day international against Australia in Melbourne. His recent poor form may mean there is no way back for the man who still holds the record for the best all-round one-day international performance.

Collingwood is no stranger to being on the brink of being discarded by the national team, but every time he has find a way to persuade the selectors to stick with him, mostly by scoring great centuries or picking up a crucial wicket. His fielding has also set the standard for the modern-day England team, with some of his memorable catches his main legacy.

Collingwood had a poor Ashes series to say the least, and his retirement at the end of the Sydney test match only seemed to spare him from being dropped. However, when this form carried on into the two Twenty20 international, the England selectors have found themselves with no option but to leave him out.

Collingwood's poor Ashes series led to his retirement after the
Sydney test

With only six matches left in the series, he may not have the chance to prove his worth ahead of February’s World Cup. England’s middle order looks very strong, with Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan looking as if they will be very difficult to dislodge when it comes down to their batting compared with Collingwood’s, especially on recent form.

However, after defeat in Melbourne, many commentators have said Collingwood’s medium pace may have come in handy, as England’s five frontline bowlers struggled under the floodlights. James Anderson and Stuart Broad should be back for the World Cup though, and this should strengthen the bowling attack, leaving Collingwood even more out in the cold.

It remains to be seen whether Paul Collingwood will be given the chance to represent his country in the forthcoming World Cup, but seeing him on the podium as part of a winning England team would be a great way for him to bow out of international cricket. 

This article can also be found at worldcricketwatch.com

England's One Day Side: The Seamers

Now that England's one-day series against Bangladesh has drawn to a close (with England recording a 3-0 victory), the nation's once ridiculed side is now threatening to become a professional outfit.

The omission of key players such as captain Andrew Strauss and premier bowler James Anderson has given opportunities to new candidates to be part of the team at the World Cup in 2011.

However, these new candidates to be on the plane to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will no doubt cause the selectors no end of problems

The Seamers

England's seam department is easily the most keenly contested, whilst also being one that causes the most debate. The sheer amount of possible seam bowlers means that the selectors will have the most difficult of all their jobs to select the three best.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad are believed to be England's first choice, and both would be very unfortunate to miss out on a place in the XI.

Anderson, on his day, is England's best bowler, matching wicket taking deliveries with consistent, economic spells. However, many England fans believe that he only becomes this bowler when the conditions suit, with his ability to swing the ball both ways a massive part of his armory.


It would also be hard for the selectors to overlook Broad's ability in the 50-over format, due to him being, like Anderson, a very economical bowler with both new and old ball, whilst having the ability to take key wickets. His ever-improving lower order batsman also means that the team's batting order can be lengthened more than most other sides.


So with Anderson and Broad almost guaranteed a place in the side, who will fill the position of third seamer?

Three Yorkshiremen are the main contenders for this berth.

Tim Bresnan now has 21 ODI caps and is slowly becoming an England regular in the shorter formats of the game. His form for Yorkshire with both bat and ball alerted the selectors to his talent, and his 4-wickets in the final one-day game in Bangladesh gave a timely reminder of his potential on the international stage.

Ryan Sidebottom is an interesting bowler. Since his return to the international set-up, the fiery haired son of one-test wonder Arnie has seen his form dip. Despite this, he still seems to be selected for crunch matches, most notably the final test of the recent series in South Africa. A further problem with the left-armer is he is prone to injury, illustrated perfectly by his early departure from the tour of Bangladesh.


Completing the trio of white-rose born internationals is Ajmal Shahzad, who is currently on his first senior England tour. His appearance in the final ODI showed some glimpses of what he can do, the dismissal of dangerman Tamim Iqbal with only his third ball was a good example of this.

There are plenty of other bowlers who could challenge for a place in the side. Liam Plunkett is seems to be back in the selector's mindset, Graham Onions has done well in his limited one-day outings, whilst it is yet to be seen how Steven Finn performs on the international stage.

All we do know is that the selectors will face some tough decisions come 2011.

England's One Day Side: The Spinners

Now that England's one day series against Bangladesh has drawn to a close (with England winning the series 3-0), the nation's once ridiculed side is threatening to become a professional outfit.

The omission of key players such as captain Andrew Strauss and premier bowler James Anderson has given opportunities to new candidates to be part of the team at the World Cup in 2011.

However, these new candidates to be on the plane to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will no doubt cause the selectors no end of problems

The Spinners

England's spin department is almost unique; the selectors should have no problem in choosing who is going to take up the role.

Graeme Swann's transition into a world-class off spin bowler has been nothing short of miraculous. Just over 18 months ago he was a good county bowler who was picking up wickets on a regular basis for Nottinghamshire.

However, after three memorable test and one-day series' against the West Indies, Australia and, most recently, South Africa, Swann has become one of the top spin bowlers in world cricket.

His ability to bowl at and get left-handers out has made him England's turn-to bowler whenever a leftie strides to the crease. His impressive lower-order batting makes him the perfect one-day spin bowler.

But what of the rest? James Tredwell has been called up to the senior squad after impressing last season and he hasn't disappointed. His six wickets in the first innings of England's three day warm-up match in Bangladesh this week has meant he is now unrivalled as England's second choice spinner and if he carries on to perform, it will be hard to dispense of him.

Whilst Swann & Tredwell are traditional off-spinners, the other varieties of spin have passed by for England of late. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid has spent two winter tours carrying the drinks, and the tonking he took against the hands of South Africa as meant the selectors have decided to look elsewhere, despite the undoubted talent of the Yorkshire all-rounder.

And let us not forget Monty Panesar. Once the Barmy Army's cult hero, the slow-left arm has not only been dropped by his national side, but also by former county Northamptonshire. His poor fielding and batting just added to the ease of his displacement as England's first choice slow bowler.

But remember, without Monty's first test heroics, the Ashes would be back Down Under...

England's One Day Side: All Rounder

Now that England's one-day series in Bangladesh has finished (with England winning 3-0), the nation's once ridiculed side is threatening to look like a professional outfit.


The omission of key players such as captain Andrew Strauss and premier bowler James Anderson has given opportunities to new candidates to be part of the team at the World Cup in 2011.

However, these new candidates to be on the plane to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will no doubt cause the selectors no end of problems.

All Rounder

The position of all-rounder in the England side is a position which many of the current players could easily claim. However, the likes of Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan should be classed as 'bowlers who can bat' as appose to full blown all-rounders.

That therefore leaves two main candidates: Luke Wright & Andrew Flintoff.

Wright is currently the man in possession of the position, and his selection in recent Test squads strikes me that he maybe the selectors choice for the long-term successor to Freddie. His swashbuckling style of batting and 85-90mph bowling would make him seem like the ready made replacement.

However, his batting is inconsistent and he is not getting enough overs with the ball (this was especially evident in Bangladesh where he bowled a total of 12 overs in 3 games). The bowling is the main worry, as a replacement for Flintoff would have to step up and cover the amount of overs he bowled. Instead, the likes of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen are having to fill these overs.

All this means that the door is by no means closed for Freddie. No one will ever doubt his ability, and especially his bowling, in the 50-over format of the game. However the fitness and speediness of his recovery from his latest operation means that he will have to do a lot for Lancashire over the summer to prove he is a gamble worth taking.

The debate regarding Freddie could be compared to that which is taking place at the moment surrounding David Beckham. There is no doubt both are extremely talented and are legends of the game. The question that remains is "Is there a better, younger replacement?"

In Freddie's case, there probably isn't.

England's One Day Side: Wicket Keeper

Now that England's one-day series against Bangladesh has been decided (despite the third match taking place this Friday), the nations once ridiculed side is now looking like a professional outfit.

The omission of key players such as captain Andrew Strauss and premier bowler James Anderson has given opportunity to others to stake a claim ahead of the World Cup in 2011.

However, these new candidates to be on the plane to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will no doubt pose the selectors no end of new problems.

Wicket Keeper

Ever since Alec Stewart hung up his gloves, the England wicket keeping position has been a point of much debate. Many have been given a go, but only now does there seem to be a regular stumper for the nation to rely on.

Matt Prior has all but cemented his place in England's line up. Prior's batting prowess has never really been questioned, but more so his keeping ability. It is in no doubt that he has made huge strides since his debut back in 2004, and he is now much more reliable than some of his predecessors. However, almost every keeper is prone to a mistake, and Prior is no different and some harsh critics still question his ability at international level.

There are those that believe that James Foster would be a better option. Foster is, without doubt, the best and most natural keeper at England's disposal, and his performance in the recent Twenty20 World Cup highlighted this. However, in today's modern game where a keeper who bats is seen as the best option, Foster will struggle. His one-day average of 27 is way short of his rivals, and this may mean he will have to play second fiddle.

Other candidates for the post include Craig Kieswetter, whose is yet to deliver with the bat on the international stage, and Surrey-bound, left-hander Steve Davies, who would be more naturally suited to opening the innings, a position that has enough worthy candidates as it is.

England's One-Day Side: The Openers

Now that England's one-day series against Bangladesh has been decided (despite the third match taking place this Friday), the nation's once ridiculed side is now looking like a professional outfit.

The omission of key players such as captain Andrew Strauss and premier bowler James Anderson has given opportunity to others to stake a claim ahead of the World Cup in 2011.

However, these new candidates to be on the plane to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will no doubt pose the selectors no end of new problems.

The Openers

The position of opener looks like it will be two from five, with Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook being in pole position.

After being installed as one-day skipper, it seems as if Strauss, who is also currently England's best batsman, will be the man tasked with leading the team to World Cup glory. Therefore it would be safe to presume that his place is secure.

Cook looks the most likely to join his skipper, with his one-day game now seriously improved since his early international career; his two quickfire half-centuries in Bangladesh are a fine example of this. His current one-day average of just over 33 will need some improvement, but the changes he has made to his game should land him in good stead as he presses his claim.

Craig Kieswetter is the man who is currently in occupation of the openers role, but his two failures in his maiden one-day series mean that he has a lot of work to do to prove he is up to the task of seeing off the white ball in the 50-over format as well as in Twenty20's.

Other candidates for the role include Jonathan Trott, whose Ashes winning century seems longer than just 7 months ago and Joe Denly, whose constant failures in the Three Lions shirt have finally worn thin with the selectors.

Outsiders such as Michael Lumb, who seems destined to open the batting at the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, and Ian Bell, a former England opener who hasn't played a 50 over game for his country since November 2008 in Zimbabwe, have just over a year to impress the selectors, but both face an uphill struggle.