WI tough nuts at home: Dravid

[jairamesh]

Watching the highlights of the WI-Pak match, I thought if this WI team get their act together (with all their top players playing) under strong backing from management...it's a good unit. I don't recall the following players having ever played together at the same time. 1) Gayle 2) Simmons (wkt) 3) Barath 4) Darren Bravo 5) Sarwan (capt) 6) Chandrapaul 7) Dwayne Bravo 8) Bishoo 9) Fidel Edwards 10) Ravi Rampaul 11) Roach Poor physiotherapy/aftercare of their injured/tired players (Barath, Jerome Taylor, Fidel, Dwayne) is screwing up their elite players, and competitiveness. Also they need a really top notch technical coach, who can help them with specific technique and application, Ottis Gibson has done piss all since he joined Wi besides moan. But I think the bottom line is WI need excellent support staff especially to manage them physically. WI region has not got the population that can continuously produce cricketers like in the sub-continent, but they do produce one or two gems (Barath, Bravo brothers, Fidel, Gayle) once in a while, and they need to be taken care of well to keep them in peak physical and mental condition. Also I think with India's prominence on world stage financially, BCCI should invite (and pay) players from WI, SL, NZ, Zim, Bangla, and other associates to play in the Ranji Trophy (i.e. maybe 1 or 2 overseas per team). This would help ensure competitiveness in the Test arena, and support these less financially well-off cricket boards by sustaining their players. It's better option than just giving a chunk of money (via ICC) to i.e. the corrupt WICB.

[sachinrox]

Not enough moolah paid and hence they prefer IPL over their national duty. case closed.

[ravishingravi]

That looks like a strong team

[rkt.india]

simmons is not a keeper he is a medium pace bowler and a batsman

[Sooda]

Watching the highlights of the WI-Pak match' date=' I thought if this WI team get their act together ([b']with all their top players playing) under strong backing from management...it's a good unit. I don't recall the following players having ever played together at the same time. 1) Gayle 2) Simmons (wkt) 3) Barath 4) Darren Bravo 5) Sarwan (capt) 6) Chandrapaul 7) Dwayne Bravo 8) Bishoo 9) Fidel Edwards 10) Ravi Rampaul 11) Roach Poor physiotherapy/aftercare of their injured/tired players (Barath, Jerome Taylor, Fidel, Dwayne) is screwing up their elite players, and competitiveness. Also they need a really top notch technical coach, who can help them with specific technique and application, Ottis Gibson has done piss all since he joined Wi besides moan. But I think the bottom line is WI need excellent support staff especially to manage them physically. WI region has not got the population that can continuously produce cricketers like in the sub-continent, but they do produce one or two gems (Barath, Bravo brothers, Fidel, Gayle) once in a while, and they need to be taken care of well to keep them in peak physical and mental condition. Also I think with India's prominence on world stage financially, BCCI should invite (and pay) players from WI, SL, NZ, Zim, Bangla, and other associates to play in the Ranji Trophy (i.e. maybe 1 or 2 overseas per team). This would help ensure competitiveness in the Test arena, and support these less financially well-off cricket boards by sustaining their players. It's better option than just giving a chunk of money (via ICC) to i.e. the corrupt WICB.

Good post, yes on paper a good side. A Taylor/Edwards/Roach pace attack could be a good one. Bit of a fallacy having Sammy as skipper , when he is not very good. Im not sure what kind of authority he might have in that dressing room. Not sure I agree with the BCCI getting players over to India idea! They should focus on sending our own players out a bit more. The ECB do a good job with this, sending the Lions to tour WI and take part in their domestic tourno. Lions have played Duleep trohpy too. Not sure why India A does not do soemthing similar. Overseas tours for our A team seem rare.

[jairamesh]

Good post, yes on paper a good side. A Taylor/Edwards/Roach pace attack could be a good one. Bit of a fallacy having Sammy as skipper , when he is not very good. Im not sure what kind of authority he might have in that dressing room. Not sure I agree with the BCCI getting players over to India idea! They should focus on sending our own players out a bit more. The ECB do a good job with this, sending the Lions to tour WI and take part in their domestic tourno. Lions have played Duleep trohpy too. Not sure why India A does not do soemthing similar. Overseas tours for our A team seem rare.

I think they do, they last one being to England last year around June. Also there is the Emerging players tournament, last two played in NZ (2009), then Austraia (2010). The problem is that these squads are usually an under 21 Indian team, rather than the next batch of best players after the India team. Though must say, Pujara was excellent in that India A tour to England in 2010. Averaged nearly over a 100 across all formats. Hope selectors stick with him for WI & Eng tour.

[vvvslaxman]

More i see Darren Bravo, more i believe he belongs to club not internationals. Lendl simmons is quality. But not good enough to make huge individual scores. He scores 50 or 60 and gets out. Chanders and Sarwan past sell by date. Only Gayle looks good. Barath still to prove a lot.

[putrevus]

who ever compared Darren Bravo to Lara has to be an Idiot, this guy has no clue how to play spin bowling and Lara was if not best was one of best players against spin bowling.

[Serani]

I see Darren Bravo as someone will will probably end up having a good test career [average in mid 40's] but not a great one like Lara, Tendy and Ponting. Seems a bit loose at some times but I guess time will tell.

[Feed]

WI tough nuts at home: Dravid More... WI tough nuts at home: Dravid By: Harit N Joshi Date: 2011-05-14 Place: Mumbai The ongoing crisis in West Indies cricket may give Gautam Gambhir's India an edge in the five-match ODI series starting June 6, but winning in the Caribbean is far from easy. Ask Rahul Dravid, who apart from leading India to a Test series win in 2006, was part of the Indian team on the 1996-97 and 2001-02. While India didn't extract any series-winning joy on the 1996-97 and 2001-02 tours, the Dravid-led team won the 2005-06 Test series for the first time since 1970-71. It was India's first significant series win outside the sub-continent (barring the win against Zimbabwe in 2005) since 1986. "It is going to be a big challenge for Gauti. West Indies do play good cricket at home. We need to see what kind of team they put on the park. If they field all their top players, they are going to be a very, very competitive team. There is no doubt about it. It should be an interesting series for India," Dravid told MiD DAY on the sidelines of a promotional event at the Puma store in Bandra yesterday. Dravid stressed on the adaptability factor. "Conditions can vary from island to island so we need a bit of adaptability. Wickets are very different in Barbados, St Lucia and Kingston. The weather changes from one island to another. Adaptability is going to be important when you play there," said the former India skipper, who went on to win a Test series in England in 2007 after his Caribbean high. Experience A lot of young faces from the IPL were expected to make the cut, especially after senior players like MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan were rested. But the selectors yesterday preferred players with some level of international experience. "The team has a good mix of players. A lot of them have played over 60 ODIs, so many of them are quite experienced. I see no reason why they shouldn't do well," he said. Will the differences between the West Indies Board and its top players have a bearing on the series' outcome? "It is hard to comment on something that you are not a part of," replied Dravid. "I don't know the internal politics of the players and WICB. From the WI fans' point of view, they would obviously love to see their top players playing."

[Blueraphael]

I wonder how Shahid Afridi would have answered the last question??? Very balanced interview.

[ravishingravi]

Yeah good call. And sack that Fu@#$g board. Gayle Barath Sarwan Chanderpaul Bravo Sammy Baugh Taylor Rampaul Roach Bishoo/Benn Now that is some team.

[ganeshran]

I hope Sachin plays in the test matches :nervous:

[ravishingravi]

I hope Sachin plays in the test matches :nervous:

Actually this victory could do India some good. There has been lot of talk of easy "inconsequential" tour from this board.

[Karan114]

Actually this victory could do India some good. There has been lot of talk of easy "inconsequential" tour from this board.

Not really, the board was clear the Test team will be at full strength. EDIT: Oh you mean ICF as the board...well I'd still say most of us are keen on the Test side being at full strength, ODIs not quite as important but that's the same for most ODI series bar the World Cup.

[Hell Raiser]

Yeah good call. And sack that Fu@# board. Gayle Barath Sarwan Chanderpaul Bravo Sammy Baugh Taylor Rampaul Roach Bishoo/Benn Now that is some team.

That's a good team. This team will be very hard to beat in their own conditions.

[diegovegaz]

irrespective of their current form, the windies will be competitive against us

[Cricket Tragic]

Actually this victory could do India some good. There has been lot of talk of easy "inconsequential" tour from this board.

Not in tests. Every test series is important.

[ganeshran]

RamPaul took 5 in the ODIs against us too. He seems a determined bowler with good pace and nice run up. Maybe not the controlled swing that great bowlers have, but still can prove lethal in helpful conditions

[ravishingravi]

Not in tests. Every test series is important.

Dude I say ODIs are also important esp. now that we are playing with the tag of World champions. But anyhow I do not appreciate the attitude that Indian player are taking towards this tour esp. with the whole "sehwag" injury thing.