Posted on February 10, 2010 | Category: ODI
History
Nimsworth
Once a frequent visitor to our shores, the West Indies these days aren’t even living off past glories. Their record against Australia in ODI’s are abysmal with a 5-0 whitewash in the Caribbean in 2008. In fact the last time Australia lost a ODI to the West Indies was at the 2006 Champions Trophy in India and the last time the Windies even sniffed a victory against Australia in Australia was 1997. To say “how the mighty have fallen” is a gross under statement.
Freemo
Between 1979 and 1996, the West Indies completed in nine Benson and Hedges World Series Cups. They won six titles, and didn’t lose any of their five finals serieses against Australia. Between 1997 and 2008 however, the Windies competed in just three Carlton and United / VB / Commonwealth Bank / Hank’s Tool and Dye Serieses, and never looked like threatening in any of them. The master has become the apprentice, and what was once a blackwash is now a whitewash. But could this be the year that the wash turns?
Squads
Australia
Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Doug Bollinger.
West Indies
Chris Gayle (capt), Travis Dowlin, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Narsingh Deonarine, Brendan Nash, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Nikita Miller, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Gavin Tonge.
Predictions
Nimsworth
Chris Gayle reckons that the Windies will win the series 4-1. Not impossible but pretty damn close to it. Despite the thrashing in Game One I’m fairly certain we will be seeing a 4-1 scoreline although the four wins are chalked up to Australia. The Windies had some good signs with Kieron Pollard showing he’s not just a T20 smash and bash but the injury hit squad doesn’t have the depth that Australia does. 4-1 win for the Aussies.
Freemo
No Shivnarine Chanderpaul. No Ramnaresh Sarwan. No Adrian Barath. No Darren Bravo. No Jerome Taylor. No Fidel Edwards. No Sulieman Benn. No, it’s not another player strike; everyone’s just back home with their feet up on the couch, nursing various injuries, and poor Chris Gayle has been left with the ineviable task of trying to weave the left over scraps into some sort of team until capable of winning a cricket match. Water into wine, straw into gold, etc, etc. At least he has up-and-comer Kieron Pollard, as well as himself, Bravo I and a couple of decent quicks to work with. Pity about the rest though. A half decent side, capable of a half decent performance. 4-1 Australia.
» Filed Under ODI
