As a Newcastle United supporter, I feared for those in black and white shirts prior to the past weekend’s clash with Liverpool.
A team in woeful form, rumours about management and the players’ commitment to the cause being questioned; it was all there and didn’t suggest a decent showing against a resurgent team who had been picking up some eye-catching victories with a new man at the helm.
But would you believe it, football, actually, sport in general, has a wonderful habit of putting in a spanner in any pessimistic works and the Geordies’ 2-0 win was well-deserved and a sign that writing off any side in any game can be a futile exercise.
Having said that, I’m now about to write off another sporting side.
On a scale of 1-10, the West Indies’ chances of claiming victory in the upcoming series against Australia are zero – see the aforementioned second paragraph for some scene setting.
This isn’t to stick the knife in and it would be grand if the tourists can make a real fist of the three Tests, but all logic suggests otherwise.
Not only is there the increasing difficulty of winning away from the creature comforts of home but the trend, which has escalated over the past few years, of the West Indies failing to give their Test side the necessary due care and attention.
It’s a desperately sad sight when a national team is in action and somewhere else in the world there are players of international calibre hawking their abilities about to make a few extra dollars.
This is preaching from an idealistic angle and I’m not naïve enough to expect a sudden change in tack any time soon, but it’s still a blight on the international game that a stint for a nameless franchise exceeds representing your country.
As Kerry Packer famously said: “There’s a little bit of the whore in all of us, gentlemen. What is your price?”
Money does indeed talk, especially when the paymasters are slightly better off than the impoverished governing body of your respective homeland, and human nature won’t alter because of a cricket fan’s wish.
But less on those who aren’t here and more on those who are. A quick glance at the names on the squad list reveals a handful of individuals who are more than decent cricketers, yet it may be pushing it to hope for anything tangible.
Kemar Roach isn’t the worst new-ball bowler knocking about, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels can certainly play, Jermaine Blackwood and Kraigg Brathwaite have shown glimpses of real ability and Jason Holder is a cricketer who shouldn’t be underestimated.
But half a dozen players, unless they are world-beaters, do not for a series victory make.
A thumping in a tour game prior to a Test series getting underway isn’t necessarily the worst thing that can happen, but when your form, in general, is pitiful it represents a continuation of the malaise rather than a setback that can be easily brushed off.
With a bowling attack that looks very light and with decent pitches, which is to be expected, then there could be some real hidings on the cards. Their chief hope lies in making bigger than average totals themselves as a weakness in bowling can be negated to some degree by runs on the board. Don’t be holding your breath, though.
As for the hosts, there were some good signs from victory over the New Zealanders even if any enthusiasm may have been dampened a bit by Mitchell Starc’s troublesome ankle.
The batting looks settled – they could really do with a specialist number six but that’s being picky and won’t happen if a five-man attack is to be fielded – and the bowling, with Josh Hazlewood back to form, is doing as it should.
After losing in England, getting the better of the Kiwis will have settled everything down and allowed any residual hysteria to dissipate and any team will find a rebuilding job that much easier when the clamour for people’s heads is pushed to the background.
Ahead of the Hobart series opener, any West Indies supporters will find themselves in the kind of position their Newcastle counterparts did a couple of days ago.
For the latter it turned out okay in the end. Will it be the same for the former? I really can’t see it.
Brasstax
Guest
@Davo86... right and Shaun Marsh is Test Number 4 and Mitchell is a specialist Test calibre number 6. Some of the arrogance on this site is amazing. Yes, the Windies are more likely to lose than win. But because they are for various reasons in a shambles, not because we have a great team. Barring Warney and Smith, our batting line up is composed of extremely average to poor players. Our bowling is very good though. Our batting would rate maybe 5 out of the 10 test teams.
Brasstax
Guest
Ambrose has a point though about our batting order. Honestly when I look at the top 7, only Warner and Smith are test class. Neville looks like a fiesty player. Khwaja and Burns had a couple of good innings against the Kiwis on batting beauties... but both were making a comeback after being tried and discarded earlier so the jury is still out on them. Shaun Marsh continuing to be in the team means one of two things: He has compromising pictures of Cricket Australia CEO in his closet or the cupboard back in shield cricket is bare. Mitchell Marsh at least at this stage in his career is a joke at number 6. I mean... come on... if I have a half decent bowling line up I will more than fancy my chances.
rasty
Guest
Nick, you hit the nail on the head with the first segment of your starting sentence.
rasty
Guest
That is right soapy and unlike soccer and Rugby, it is not as easy to disguise the empty seats in the stadium.
soapit
Guest
because empty stadiums look bad on tv
Camo McD
Roar Guru
Largely I agree with your assessment on those players Davo but if they had been given any incentive to developing their first class game in addition to T20 over the last few years, several of those guys might easily be test regulars. When players like Chandrika (FC batting Ave 25.93) and Hope (29.58) are in the senior test squad as specialist batsmen, the other guys not even being in contention hurts. As an all rounder Dwayne Bravo averaged over 30 with the bat and played his last test aged 27. Pollard has a better record than just about any current batsman in WI FC cricket too. Ultimately there is no real incentive for them to play. WI cricketers are paid poorly compared to the big 3. Give it a couple of years of leading a losing side, Jason Holder might do the same and who could blame him?
Nick
Guest
I'm not an expert but I think that's probably rubbish. Success, or more significantly the lack of it, is why fans are turning away. Some success in the field and some great performers back in the side and fans will be back in droves. There's too much history for this side to be lost on its fans because you feel it's 'made up' It's the same thing as everywhere.... Win and we'll follow you.
matth
Guest
The best thing for the series is for Australia to win the toss and bat. The Windies bowling attack is not dreadful and if there is a bit of first morning swing and seam around, and if they can get Warner and Smith, then we could be in for a good test match as Australia will have to chase the game.
matth
Guest
"a stint for a nameless franchise exceeds representing your country". But that's the point isn't it. they are not representing their country. They are representing a made up regional team, albeit one with a wonderful history. But right now in those islands they compete for their own country in football and athletics. That is why the players and spectators, especially from the younger generation, are finding it increasingly difficult to identify with this team.
Joel
Roar Rookie
Why would they really care about crowd sizes when they have tv rights deals worth squillions?
Joel
Roar Rookie
A spirited performance could push the game into day 3, which would be nice.
Simoc
Guest
Also the writer doesn't seem to have heard of Jerome Taylor who I think would be the only West Indies player to be picked in this Australian side if available. He is capable of running through the Oz batting lineup at his best.
Brian
Guest
5 and 6 are walking wickets for Aus, so who knows? I predict that Smith and Warner will plunder runs. Both marshes will average about 20 for the series, but cement their place with a solid 50(200) when we're pushing for runs in the third innings of the third test.
Virender
Guest
warner actually played shield- these guys haven't played long form cricket for like 5 years Gayle was a good test player, Bravo was alright, Sammy, Simmons and Smith were downright ordinary and Russell and Pollard have never really tried to play long form cricket So they are going in with basically their best side, expecting a spirited performance from them
Sydneysider
Guest
The Bush my guess is that CA justifies the pricing because the product goes for 8 hours (including, drinks breaks, lunch break, tea break). what they don't realise is that if the opponent isn't competitive (eg.NZ, Windies) then people have other forms of entertainment that don't go for 8 hours in a day that they can get their entertainment fix from. Drop the prices and get people into the ground, especially for non-Ashes series tests.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I agree with the fact there's no hope of the Windies winning a Test.... I think Alec has underrated their bowling attack! I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as made out in this article. I do however think the batting line up is very, very thin!
Straya
Guest
How did you manage to not mention Jerome Taylor? He is their spearhead and a massive key to their success. Over in the Caribbean he caused the Aussies plenty of problems and if he gets assistive wickets to bowl on here I'd imagine he'll be very effective. Kemar Roach is a shell of the bowler who ruffled Ponting up all those years ago so he needs to put in a big effort to ensure he doesn't get knocked around the park.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Athletics is the real killer for West Indies cricket, I would've thought. Way more money in it, and they avoid dealing with the hopelessly shambolic WICB.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Their pricing is insane. Whilst CA is obviously in a position that is 1000 times better than the ARU, it does remind me of the over priced tickets the ARU charges to Test Matches that aren't the All Blacks. The end result - half empty stadiums.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Exactly, those players missing are hardly world beaters, they're no better than this mob, except for Gayle and at 36, he's well within his rights to give up long form cricket and make some money around the world. The thing is, that is actually even sadder. Because it means that the Windies are really just no producing Test level players anymore. This team is young, we can only hope that some of them progress to the point of being competitive against the top teams.