Tuesday, May 30, 2006

4-1. Great Start Windies - now time for real cricket.

For all who have chosen to close their eyes, the West Indies have won the ODI series against India, 4-1. The 5th game was horrible for India, as they were in the 25th over coasting towards victory, however they went into a terrible collapse, from which they never recovered, despite another masterful 90 odd from Sehwag, a dangerous batsman by any standard.

I did not expect the Windies to bowl their way into that 5th game at all - especially with Collymore out with a twisted ankle, and us depending on Taylor, Mohammed, Bravo, et al.

Lara made 38 in his farewell performance at Queens Park Oval, Dave Mohamed made a gem of a run out fielding his own bowling, and Dhoni, another Indian danger man, was out at 16.

Everyone hopes for the best for the test series. Chanderpaul hopes to recover from injury to play at St. John's Recreational Ground for the first match this coming Friday. Sachin Tendulkar has been ruled out of the series with his injury.

Laxman will be batting for India, not having played in the ODI's.

Folks the team now has the best lineup for several years and an improvement in their record is on the way. I think it is reasonable to say that, without going too far. If they continue the fielding they did in the last 4 ODI's, then they will be OK. The WI's fielding in the 1st ODI in Jamaica was atrocious. That has got to be put behind them.

Congrats to captain Lara, and on to the test.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Sarwan 115 not out! West Indies Cricket fan wannabes wake up!


Well the series is not yet finished, but for those of you in self-induced oblivion, the Windies soundly defeated India by 4 wickets today in the 3rd ODI held in in St. Christopher (AKA St. Kitts).

The Windies waited until the last over to seal the deal, in fact they waited until the penultimate ball, however, the victory, or a close finish anyway, was in sight (but not secured) from around the 35th over.

This is such an important matter that I am not waiting until the end of American Idol to finish typing it. I barely even saw what happened on AI. I saw one ridiculous pink jacket - Taylor should lose just for that to rass - but I believe he is a better singer than Katherine, whereas Katherine has a better stage presence. Someone please blog about it because me deh pan cricket right now.

Many of you that commented did not think the the West Indies could have won any games against India, but now they have won 2. I believe West Indies will win this series. (I won't go as far as Ja'can PM Simpson Miller and claim the Windies are appointed by God, but I am confident anyway. Neither will I say that all cricket fans must follow them, etc.)

There is a commentator called Jeremy Coney (former kiwi batsman). What a moron. From beginning to end, he has been hating us. He even once referred to India and said "we need to get more wickets".. he was totally missing from the closing ceremony and summary. Once, when we were about 17 runs from winning, he said "I hate to say this to WI fans, but I have seen the WI lose from this position before". The croud at Basseterre should have heard him (but they had no time for that, they were busy whining) and trampled him to rass, or at least knocked over his cup of tea and doused him with some Carib.

The replay showed that Umpire Rauf's LBW decision to end Shiv's innings at 58 was wrong. But, umpires have to look at things from the other end, in real time. My view, all LBW's should be referred to the 3rd umpire. So, just when either Jeff Dujon or one of the commentators was saying that this ump had a good day at the office, well, if we had lost, Rauf could have been responsible.

Again, I was sorry to see Lara and Morton fail with the bat -

On to Trinidad - watch it with me, folks, I believe we are looking good for this ODI series.

Instead of messing with our captain, try out today's vital error by Rahul Dravid (that's the Indian captain for those of you who prefer styroid driven "sports") messed up.

With more than 5 overs to go, he exausted the 10 over allocations of bowling by Powar and Harbajan (aka the Turbanator). Then, to the delight of Sarwan, Chanderpaul and others, he but back in a pace attack which I believe is worse than the Zimbabwe pace bowlers. (Do you remember Reon King, Merv Dillon and others who came in after Walsh and Ambrose? Well Dillon and King are better than India's fast bowlers.)

Then, Ramnaresh, the latest West Indian institution, blasted a huge century. He got 100 on his 100th ODI. And don't forget this, during a very threatening innings by India, Rammy also got a wicket bowled. I'd never seen him bowl before.. I was in paradise.

All bandwagonnists will be warmly welcomed, even you dissapear into the shadows if we don't do well at next years much vaunted World Cup.

NBA is on as well folks, well, I will watch some now until the disco at Bedrock calls..

Monday, May 22, 2006

If all else fails, Windies cricket will add to your stress

Folks

I hope you watched Saturday's thriller when the Windies beat India by one run. The margin does not matter, a win is a win.

I do not agree with some of my bloggionistas who have commented that the team is "piss poor". Such an assessment is unfair, if not unforensic.

Congrats to captain Lara and man of the match Ramnaresh Sarwan for an unbeaten ninety something. However it was dissapointing to see Chanderpaul, Lara, Gayle, Morton, Baugh and everyone else fail with the bat. Look forward to Tuesday in St. Kitts.

The Indian coach, Gregg Chappell, and indeed their captain, Rahul Dravid, have both commented that the Windies team has excellent players. Chappell says that the Windies have simply forgotten how to win. I believe that is true, however I also sense the beginning of a rebuild, and let it be known to all of you doubting Thomas bloggionistas, I will be there until it happens. I will not jump on the bandwagon when the time comes. But you all will be welcome to do so at that time.

Edwards, Taylor, Bradshaw, Gayle, Samuels - between those four, any batting attack has to be cautious. Our bowling strength is in pace, whereas India's bowling strength is spin. Harbajan (aka the Turbanator) can really deceive with that slow bowling.

Dorna had a nice post today with a bungling robber joke. Surf through that blog and you will see things less stressful than West Indies cricket. Yet, me and millions of dedicated fans continue steadfastly to be the advocates for the Windies. One day, I will have the last laugh. I am not that old, I will be alive.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Cricket again, one of my many loves


"Loves?" Well, this is the bloggosphere, so anything goes. Let down your inhibitions, and then the comments may come like bangarang.

It is not only that Zimbabwe is weak, folks. They have some good players. Inexperienced, yes, but they are not to be scoffed at, even if they were beaten by the UWI Chancellor's IX.

It is that we are improving. I cannot and will not stop harping about Runako Morton. He will excel against India. Look at the debut by Dave Mohammed. We now have strong cricketers. The numbskulls on the WICB won't hold them back forever.

And Jerome Taylor, what do you think folks.

I am just here noting a quick post on a Friday afternoon. I just absorbed, I mean drank a beer in several seconds. See Runako Morton, trust me, he will spend the next few days getting ready for India. India, no doubt, are ranked number 3 by the ICC and are not coming here to mess about. All the best Windies.

And another thing. Folks, let's be positive about the captain.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Not much Bloggage but, nice cricket

Hey folks... I had told you how Jerome Taylor was part of our future in good cricket, and also I told you how Runako Morton was a force to be reckoned with.

It matters not what these morons are writing on www.cricinfo.com. They criticised the Windies bitterly after the 2 wins last weekend. They almost crucified Tina Best for his wayward bowling yesterday (they gave him no credit for the wicket he did get) .. folks I am done with that website as I believe their writers are pre-disposed against us.

Folks, it seems that since I started working on my own my bloggage has slowed. My mind cannot focus on bloggage material. Anyway, I am back.. blog again hopefully sooner rather than later.