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West Indies v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Trinidad
Michael Holding: Fielders' support was a big factor in this win
April 6, 2008
Michael Holding analyses the second Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Trinidad and says while West Indies deserved the victory as they played good cricket throughout the Test, Sri Lanka weren't mentally prepared to bat on a pitch that wasn't as flat as the one that they played on in Guyana in the first Test
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to imz25 and windiescricetfan, Samuels hasn't been performing in the recent regional Carib Beer series. That is what I've based my comments on, not a series concluded months ago, and certainly not because of any allegiances of my own. It is not his CLASS that is in question but his ever patchy FORM. Even Flintoff has been dropped for poor form. Are you suggesting that Samuels is a better allrounder than Flintoff, that he be retained despite an average of 7.25 !?!? (and NO BOWLING !). Leave aside petty regional squabbling and focus on performance. Can't the WICB find another batsman in the region with better form? Sure they can. The question is, will they pick him?
Posted by riverlime on April 08 2008, 20:01 PM GMT
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While I agree with much of what Michael has said I think his mention of Samuel's role is invalid. The selectors had no right to pick him in the first place and certainly not for the second test after his poor performance in Guyana. Michael is strangely silent on Gayle. He ran from Vaas in the first test and gave away his wicket in the crucial second innings in POS. Not a captain's knock by any means. Sarwan's batting in the crucial second innings was a signal that he is ready to be captain again.
Michael Holding should be more West Indian and less Jamaican. We can never forget his criticism of Lara for every possible fault. Why a different standard for Gayle? If Lara had done what Gayle did in this series Holding would have been very critical.
Posted by Bertonellus on April 08 2008, 02:20 AM GMT
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I agree with Bryan Davis...these players do not know fundamentals of cricket or they would have blocked the ball for the last seven overs and drawn the test. As simple as that , west Indies would then have won the series. Amazing the difference between winning and losing. Apart from that I dont mean to be a cynic but this team is only supporting each other because Gayle was attacked for dropping himself down in the order in the Guyana test. Unfortunately a house built on sand will easily crumble. That is no reason to stick together. When the going gets tough they will fall apart like all the the most recent West Indies teams. In the meantime though, as a fan I will take what little joy I can from any win we get.
Posted by jlow on April 08 2008, 01:10 AM GMT
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I disagree with riverlime. Samuels doesn't deserve to be dropped since he was Windies best batsman in the test series against South Africa in which he faced a formidable pace bowling attack.
Posted by Imz25 on April 07 2008, 23:55 PM GMT
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Marlon Samuels should be dropped until his obviously pouty attitude improves. He is unquestionably a talented player, but he has too much peripheral garbage going on in his life right now.
The current crop of WIndies fast bowlers had better get it through their brains very quickly that they can't intimidate anyone. Holding, Garner and Marshall they most definitely are not. Fidel Edwards so clearly telegraphs his bouncer that only a 2nd division player would have trouble with it. They should be bowling with their brains.
Posted by flybynight on April 07 2008, 17:00 PM GMT
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West Indies has got to find a way to settle the batting order real soon. In a two match series we had four openning batsmen.
The selectors picked Gayle to open the batting. It is not fear to the selectors, for whomever decision it was, to juggle the order because of some eni meni myni mo and come up with Bravo openning.
Posted by Frocktail on April 07 2008, 15:09 PM GMT
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its after a long time that i can see some veteran west indian speaking something good abt the west indian team and i feel that these guys deserve all the applauds. they took the challenge to level the series going 0-1 at the end of first test.sarwan's effort was outstanding and became deciding factor in this match. here onwards west indies team should take the confidence and gear up for greater tasks which will be in favor of international cricket. it will be difficult for them to get back where they were but they can still have a respectable place.even chris gayle showed that he had no fears from vass as he got back to opening the innings in both innings.everyone had their role in this victory. bowlers took it to sri lankan batmen and didn;t allow them to take the game away. fielders responded and so did the batsmen. so, in all it was a true professional approach that this team had been missing for some time. i wish west indies best of luck...
Posted by himanshu_winning_11 on April 07 2008, 11:39 AM GMT
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Marlon samuels finished the South africa series with scores of 94,40,51,18,6 and 105 for 314 runs at an average of 52.33. That was more runs than a player on either side and an average 2nd only to chanderpaul for the West Indies, yet there seems to be an anger and resentment agaist him in Trinidad. How can anybody say he is a waste of space? Having said that the match fixing allegations have obviously taken their toll on him and I cant understand why the West Indies would pick somebody who obviously has personal problems to deal with. He should be allowed to sort himself out and then come back into the squad.
Posted by windiescricetfan on April 07 2008, 11:27 AM GMT
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it is nice to see WI winning... we all love to see them back to winning way. But we also know how bad is their board (which is very evident while world cup and their failure to conduct the practice match between 1st and 2nd tests in this series). To be honest they cant clame the past glory till they have proper board members neither they have that kind of players.
Posted by bonaku on April 07 2008, 10:54 AM GMT
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Well said, Mikey. I agree with everything except your argument that Samuels isn't a total waste of space. One runout and two easy catches are not enough to warrant inclusion as a specialist batsman. He's had the lowest series average of ANY player, on EITHER team, lower even than Powell , the archetypal walking-wicket paceman.
Posted by riverlime on April 07 2008, 09:47 AM GMT
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