Australia in the West Indies

Aussies are currently the best test side imo. They have showed it again in Windies...

Well I saw a couple of hours of the 2nd test and have to say that the pitch is close to a shocker.  That it is turning so early (the 15th over) is simply not good enough. Australia have gone in with 2 spinners - the first time they've done that in years! It was a good toss to win , batting last on this cabbage patch will be a nightmare. Just over 200 in the full 90 overs showed just how difficult batting is and added to that , the outfield is very slow making boundary hitting difficult.  It was here in Trinidad that Brian Lara hit 400* against England  - that wicket was a batsman's paradise , this one couldn't be more different.  You'll not see a side score 400 here and maybe not even with two innings !  West Indies cricket is short of money , but they're doing themselves no favours by preparing wickets of this nature.  There should be some punishment ,but that's unlikely  what with our lilylivered ICC.
            So Australia 5 down , I think they'ev got their noses in front and 250-270 will see them get a decent 1st innings lead.

The day would have to go to Australia, despite the Windies doing a fine job at the end with the ball. 309 is still a good score, Watson and in particular Hussey were wonderful and I think Pattinson has got a lot of batting talent too. Not the first time I've seen him bat that well, and he's definitely going to be a very handy no 8 in years to come. Probably Australia's longest tail in some time, but when you see Hilfy tonking a few and Siddle making runs in a lot of games, they're obviously working hard on their batting and that's nice to see.
      Wade is looking more and more out of his depth at this level, and I really think he is no more than a limited overs cricketer at best. I'd definitely like to see Peter Nevill play in the next test, although that won't happen. Nearly everyone who follows the Sheffield Shield knows that Nevill is the best and most in-form keeper/batsman at first class level.

     Pertaining to the bowling, Lyon, like all the pundits are saying is out of form. He's not using his body or his front arm at all through his action and there should have been a case to drop him for Beer, instead of playing them both. Lyon has a bit of work to do on his action, his technique is a mess at the moment, but hopefully tomorrow he can sort that out and find his rhythm again! It is handy having Watson in the side, does give the selectors the option to play the 2 spinners. Pattinson is looking quick and Hilfenhaus is curving the ball nicely. Bowling set up looks decent.

At 132/4 WI are still struggling, although there has been some sort of a recovery today, Work to do still and Chanders will have to be the rescue man once again. Deonarine, Sammmy and Baugh will have to bat well around him for WI to come close to the Aussie score.

It was Antigua SW , apologies !   A good fightback from the home side , but they're still in arrears and staring down the barrel. Tomorrow the Windies need to knock over the Aussies for less than 200 to have a chance methinks.

Still a lot of boring periods in this 2nd test as well, I don't really like these tracks where batsmen struggle or are unwilling to score at above 2.5 runs an over. I'm not saying I like high scoring games, but a pitch isn't meant to turn on day 1!

Roach has done a good job, I always rated him because he bowls well to the Aussies. His style is one which always troubles the Aussies, but it seems like batsmen from elsewhere around the world aren't as troubled by him. He certainly has the pace and bounce we see from bowlers in Aussie FC cricket, who do very well (as one can tell by the low FC batting averages in Australia in the last 5 years).

Windies can't win this series now, but really it's their own fault. They're lacking that killer edge, but their competitiveness in this series has enhanced their reputation and a couple of good test wins are very, very close. Lots of talent in the West Indies, their batting has looked respectable despite the long tail. Thrown in Gayle, hopefully Sarwan and maybe Narine and the Windies could break into the top 5 in the world.

Using cricket world on mobile for the first time! The site works good! The weather ruined a very intense battle. WI have played well though and yes I'm keen to see Gayle in weatindian colors!

Originally posted by Clobber Hopefully Sarwan's chances stay slim for a while yet, he's needed at Leics - got his first ton of the season yesterday too.

Still young too, I think he's only 31. Definitely would be a waste if he's making runs and not playing test cricket. A good season for Leics and he could be in the Windies fold again.

Didn't saw the game so far but if the conditions were indeed difficult then it is a good start for Australia 69/1 Lunch ... hopefully the rain will stay away from this test and let us have a good contest.

The no nonsense approach of the lower order batsmen with considerable ability, whether it be Siddle, Harris, Pattinson, Starc, Lyon or Hilfenhaus is exactly the way the top order need to bat. Time and time again we see the lower order showing up the top order and it is actually starting to get pathetic.

And this wicket... so much damn bounce! I reckon Starc will be a handful with his left arm inswingers, at good pace.

WI have messed it up once again... too many runs given and already 3 down... need to improve guys... but then half of them are playing the IPL!

This stat says it all

Balls per dismissal for Chanderpaul so far in the series v Aus: 298. Balls per dismissal for the rest of West Indies' top 7: 57.

Australia Haven't learn t much at all in current batting in this series, Ponting has been the main guy copping it but he isn't alone in having a poor series.

Yes alpesh , I can't see the Windies getting out of this. More than 300 ahead already and still batting to come , a deteriorating track and Lyon in form.  Unless the weather intervenes it'll be 2-0.

Hussey is out, and the lead at the minute is 334 runs. The lower order is in now, Starc and Harris are both decent lower order batsmen so hopefully they can bash some runs, probably not a bad thing that they're in now. Lead of 350 is sufficient here methinks.