Pakistan vs West Indies (2 tests)

[PhatBoy]

First test delayed by about 4 hours due to fog of all things.

Pakistan 4-80 at tea, mini recovery from them.

Seales continues to impress, 3-19 off 9 as the only pacer.

Have a feeling we f**ed ourselves not picking another quick simply because we don’t have enough test class spinners.

Seales now has 75 wickets at less than 22.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Bullshit there's no TV coverage, I swear Fox used to play most overseas series

Seales looks like a real talent

 

[010203]

Bullshit there's no TV coverage, I swear Fox used to play most overseas series

Seales looks like a real talent

It's on the Sports Central YouTube channel.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

It's on the Sports Central YouTube channel.

Oh shit, thanks

Edit: The frame rate is a killer though

 

[Bedi]

What absolute putrid weather that was to start off. Amazing start by the Windies given they're missing their main quicks but great fight back by Pakistan. Lost respect for Alzarri Joseph choosing to play T20 over a test series. The West Indies will forever be a basketcase so long that is allowed to happen

 

[PhatBoy]

What absolute putrid weather that was to start off. Amazing start by the Windies given they're missing their main quicks but great fight back by Pakistan. Lost respect for Alzarri Joseph choosing to play T20 over a test series. The West Indies will forever be a basketcase so long that is allowed to happen

I’m not sure what the full story was with Alzarri but I suspect there was some lingering residue from the walk-off incident. He signed that T20 deal within 4 weeks of it, and the subsequent suspension and his coach labelling it ‘unacceptable’ in a press conference.

He’s a pretty temperamental character albeit it doesn’t always show in what is a fairly emotionless exterior.

He obviously was pretty upset with it all at the time even though he apologised. Going to Pakistan to slog it out probably didn’t look like a lot of fun and he’s one of the few first choice guys who HAS prioritised the test side almost exclusively over the last 3-4 years so I can let this one slide.

Fast and full like his injured ‘brother’ might have offered could be what we miss more

 

[ioppolo]

Shamar & Seales are ahead of Alzarri at this stage imo. Given the Windies often find themselves at venues that warrant two spinners, Alzarri may only play when it comes to rotation/injury.

Has Kemar Roach called it quits or is he injured/on the outer?

 

[PhatBoy]

Shamar & Seales are ahead of Alzarri at this stage imo. Given the Windies often find themselves at venues that warrant two spinners, Alzarri may only play when it comes to rotation/injury.

Has Kemar Roach called it quits or is he injured/on the outer?

No Roach is on the tour. Could have badly used him too - we have undeniably f**ked up picking 3 spinners IMO. Just saying if all available I would have loved the 140+ full stuff of Shamar to have been the other option.

Greaves earned his spot too with his century against Bangladesh but Holder would have been a big asset over there.

 

[PhatBoy]

West Indian players are a different bunch to a lot of guys in that they can be totally indifferent to a format for a while and explore options for a certain period of time - Holder did this after seemingly carrying the weight of the region on his shoulders as our best players and for a time, the world’s best all rounder. Yes, even better than stokes and Shakib for a year or two. It got too much for too little reward and he’d had enough.

But he was never an elite T20 player and it didn’t work out quite as well as he wanted and he made a bit of coin but not heaps so he came back into the test frame but not with the same level of output, especially with the ball.

Now he doesn’t have a spot at all.

I suspect that will really sting his pride and he will have a big point to prove and be trying very hard to make it a priority in the upcoming domestic season, OR, it will go Bravo style and COMPLETELY the opposite direction and he won’t have one iota of interest in reclaiming his spot.

 

[Bedi]

I’m not sure what the full story was with Alzarri but I suspect there was some lingering residue from the walk-off incident. He signed that T20 deal within 4 weeks of it, and the subsequent suspension and his coach labelling it ‘unacceptable’ in a press conference.

He’s a pretty temperamental character albeit it doesn’t always show in what is a fairly emotionless exterior.

He obviously was pretty upset with it all at the time even though he apologised. Going to Pakistan to slog it out probably didn’t look like a lot of fun and he’s one of the few first choice guys who HAS prioritised the test side almost exclusively over the last 3-4 years so I can let this one slide.

Fast and full like his injured ‘brother’ might have offered could be what we miss more

i missed that whole story but for me that makes it even more unacceptable he's not on tour. He's setting some terrible examples in a team desperate to build a healthy culture

 

[Bedi]

Will be interesting to see if that black fog reappears or is a one off. Wouldn't be surprised if we get another delay tbh

 

[PhatBoy]

i missed that whole story but for me that makes it even more unacceptable he's not on tour. He's setting some terrible examples in a team desperate to build a healthy culture

He should have just taken his medicine no doubt, but he’s one player with some credits in the bank along with roach and Brathwaite (aside from that infield dummy spit, at least) so if it’s going to be a one off then I can live with to a degree. I’d rather he didn’t of course and as you said committed fully and set an example

 

[Bedi]

West Indian players are a different bunch to a lot of guys in that they can be totally indifferent to a format for a while and explore options for a certain period of time - Holder did this after seemingly carrying the weight of the region on his shoulders as our best players and for a time, the world’s best all rounder. Yes, even better than stokes and Shakib for a year or two. It got too much for too little reward and he’d had enough.

But he was never an elite T20 player and it didn’t work out quite as well as he wanted and he made a bit of coin but not heaps so he came back into the test frame but not with the same level of output, especially with the ball.

Now he doesn’t have a spot at all.

I suspect that will really sting his pride and he will have a big point to prove and be trying very hard to make it a priority in the upcoming domestic season, OR, it will go Bravo style and COMPLETELY the opposite direction and he won’t have one iota of interest in reclaiming his spot.

Chris Gayle and Holder both chose money over a legacy of being among WI's all-time greats, so it's an interesting choice one has to make. Hopefully Shamar Joseph remains true to his word and resists similar offers to play test cricket.

 

[yabsy]

Chris Gayle and Holder both chose money over a legacy of being among WI's all-time greats, so it's an interesting choice one has to make. Hopefully Shamar Joseph remains true to his word and resists similar offers to play test cricket.

Gayle played 103 tests over a 14 year period...That's a pretty good contribution

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bedi]

Gayle played 103 tests over a 14 year period...That's a pretty good contribution

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Absolutely it is, but it could've been so much better, all while not letting down a legion of West Indian cricket fans

 

[PhatBoy]

Chris Gayle and Holder both chose money over a legacy of being among WI's all-time greats, so it's an interesting choice one has to make. Hopefully Shamar Joseph remains true to his word and resists similar offers to play test cricket.

Gayle played 102 test matches, hit two triple centuries and played test cricket until he was 35, averaging 42. He was an excellent test cricketer but his longest absence and only major one from the scene was 18 months.

All Holder did was turn down a central contract that required him to play in the test side because in order to be considered for the World Cup squad, they had to play a minimum of tournaments so he chose his three (?) leagues. As it turned out he missed the Final Cut of 15 anyway after making the provisional squad. He has since returned to the test side but was ordinary with the ball in England (he batted okay)

 

[Bedi]

Gayle played 102 test matches, hit two triple centuries and played test cricket until he was 35, averaging 42. He was an excellent test cricketer but his longest absence and only major one from the scene was 18 months.

All Holder did was turn down a central contract that required him to play in the test side because in order to be considered for the World Cup squad, they had to play a minimum of tournaments so he chose his three (?) leagues. As it turned out he missed the Final Cut of 15 anyway after making the provisional squad. He has since returned to the test side but was ordinary with the ball in England (he batted okay)

I'm prob being very harsh, but it's precisely those 18 months that for me that have tarnished his career. Like i said, it's a hard one, as no doubt he was receiving a significantly lower pay cheque compared to other cricketers around the world, plus I'm sure there were other factors at play such as a poorly run cricket administration etc.

 

[PhatBoy]

I'm prob being very harsh, but it's precisely those 18 months that for me that have tarnished his career. Like i said, it's a hard one, as no doubt he was receiving a significantly lower pay cheque compared to other cricketers around the world, plus I'm sure there were other factors at play such as a poorly run cricket administration etc.

It happened a short time after the dispute with the board; so that happened and came to a head in 2009 where almost the entire full strength squad sat out the series with Bangladesh because of the pay disagreement and contract issue, and they returned in 2010 and Gayle actually hit his second triple century but after a series against Sri Lanka where there was a lot of rain and he didn’t fare particularly well, he said he was taking a break and he made his infamous ‘I wouldn’t be so sad if test cricket died’ comment. He was back within 18 months.

He missed some good output and didn’t help his reputation but he always marched to the beat of a different drum and at that stage the guy in charge of the WICB, Dave Cameron, was genuinely tearing the game to pieces so no one really blamed him

 

[Bedi]

It happened a short time after the dispute with the board; so that happened and came to a head in 2009 where almost the entire full strength squad sat out the series with Bangladesh because of the pay disagreement and contract issue, and they returned in 2010 and Gayle actually hit his second triple century but after a series against Sri Lanka where there was a lot of rain and he didn’t fare particularly well, he said he was taking a break and he made his infamous ‘I wouldn’t be so sad if test cricket died’ comment. He was back within 18 months.

He missed some good output and didn’t help his reputation but he always marched to the beat of a different drum and at that stage the guy in charge of the WICB, Dave Cameron, was genuinely tearing the game to pieces so no one really blamed him

i just remember West Indies cricket being at an absolute all-time low all while their best cricketer sat on the sidelines, which is why I don't regard him with as much esteem as i'd like to

 

[PhatBoy]

i just remember West Indies cricket being at an absolute all-time low all while their best cricketer sat on the sidelines, which is why I don't regard him with as much esteem as i'd like to

I was pretty disappointed in him at the time too.

When I began to interact with some Caribbean folk on social media who gave me some insight into this Cameron fellow that was running the game, and I even had a stint as Darren Sammy’s Facebook friend at one point - not that there was any special interaction there - I got a bit better understanding of some of the internal politics and financial aspects at play and the other thing too that we tend to often overlook is that the national pride that we probably always take for granted, is a bit more complex for all of these guys because they’re not representing a nation. If there is any hint of disunity over any aspect of the team or money behind the shirt they’re pulling on, they don’t have that to fall back on in the professional era.

And it is amazing how after all these years it is still things like England calling them mediocre, Rodney Hogg calling them sub standard that unites them etc rather than the emblem.

 

[Bedi]

I was pretty disappointed in him at the time too.

When I began to interact with some Caribbean folk on social media who gave me some insight into this Cameron fellow that was running the game, and I even had a stint as Darren Sammy’s Facebook friend at one point - not that there was any special interaction there - I got a bit better understanding of some of the internal politics and financial aspects at play and the other thing too that we tend to often overlook is that the national pride that we probably always take for granted, is a bit more complex for all of these guys because they’re not representing a nation. If there is any hint of disunity over any aspect of the team or money behind the shirt they’re pulling on, they don’t have that to fall back on in the professional era.

And it is amazing how after all these years it is still things like England calling them mediocre, Rodney Hogg calling them sub standard that unites them etc rather than the emblem.

Very good point regarding complexities of team unity given the West Indies is indeed made up of different nations. But then, as you say, of course they are one, which is on full show when you get greats like Lara and Hooper weeping with pride as they beat Australia. I don't recall that level of passion with any other cricketing nation

 

[Bedi]

Surprised Da Silva has been dropped. A pretty decent gloveman i thought and can bat too. Pretty controversial to drop your vice captain but guess we saw Sharma 'rested' recently. Am guessing he's not the first choice of keeper in turning conditions?

 

[Bedi]

Does my f*****g head in to see empty stands in the subcontinent. Do they like cricket over there or not?! Cheap tickets for this series too

 

[Bedi]

Highest 5th wicket stand for Pakistan vs West Indies

 

[PhatBoy]

Needed that wicket badly.

Can see Brathwaite is TRYING to fight his defensive instincts and attack with the field; had a slip, leg slip and a silly point or short leg in almost the entire first hour. But still had the long on long off in most of it as well. I guess it’s hard when probably the two best batsmen are well set.

Yesterday the crowd was reasonable or sounded like it anyway. Looks pretty barren today.

On JDS Bedi hes had a really poor time of it.
Played that great rearguard innings in Brisbane to basically change the course of the test but his output has dropped off noticeably and he has a knack of dropping crucial catches as well.

Imlach has been a bit of a success story based on the whole ‘picked on a hunch’ the first time he joined the squad because his domestic form shot up since then. So I am glad he got his turn