The Australian Cricket Tour Of the West Indies

[PlainSimpleJoel]

So the first test is due to start early on Friday morning (AEST) at Sabina Park in Jamaica. The Australian team, will have a few changes from the last test in Sydney back in January, with the main one being Brad Haddin making his test debut and either Simon Kaitch or Brad Hodge taking the place of Michael Clarke isn't playing the first test, due to personal reasons. Also a lot depends on the fitness of Matthew Hayden. If Hayden isn't fit, Kaitch will open with fellow New South Welshman Jacques. MacGill should also return, as the team has been lacking a quality spinner, since he missed the last few tests. I'm thinking the Australian pace attack will be Lee, Johnson and Clark.

Personally, I don't know much about the West Indies team. I know there is no Brian Lara anymore. Chris Gayle won't be captaining the side, as he is injured, and Sarwan has that responsibility. I think Australia has a bit more class than the West Indies.

Thoughts?

 

[GMac]

You had much the better of day 1 of the first test, thanks to Ponting's 158 and half-centuries from Hodge & Hussey. The Windies are improving gradually, after reaching a nadir in the earlier part of the decade, but they aren't on the Aussies' level and will do well to avoid a 3-0 series loss.

GM

 

[GMac]

It did look as if the Windies might win this one after skittling the Aussies second time out (good job Symonds played a blinder, as it could so easily have been a lot worse than 167 all out given they were 18-5 at one stage), but once again the home team look as if they've bottled it (no disgrace in that really I guess, much better teams have blown similar positions against the green & gold), having collapsed from 55-1 to 82-6. Their tail seems to be wagging a bit, but they still need over a hundred with only 3 wickets left as I type this so I can't see them pulling it off (which they didn't, losing by 95 runs). Shame really, because they' gave the Aussies a real scare yesterday....

GM