Where to now for WI?

[Goatman]

Looking at the wider implications of the whitewash, how many positives can WI take out of this series? How can they halt thier decline? There's some talent there I think, but how do they tap it.

Edwards started to live up to his billing this series, and Bravo looked good in both departments. A strong batting lineup just folded though and the bowling resorces look somewhat thin. The quest for a new WI spinner seems to have progressed little.

Were you a WI selector what woudl be your plan for team development? Who, of those we have seen, should be deposited unceremoniously in the dustbin, and who should be given a run to prove themsleves?

Finally, what is your tip for the WI XI for thier next test, at home against a recently very heavily beaten and demoralised SA .

[DaveGillespie]

Edwards should be sent back to first class cricket, or even English league cricket, to learn how to bowl. Best seems to be a much more reliable option, not that that's saying a whole lot. An attack of Collins, Collymore, Bravo, Lawson, Best with support from Gayle & Sarwan looks more promising than one featuring both Edwards and Best. Dwayne Smith should be encourage to develop his bowling as the lad clearly has talent in every department of the game.

Regarding the batting, Devon Smith should not have been dropped. He looks more of a proper opener than Joseph for starters. Technically and talent-wise there doesn't seem to be much wrong with the batting, but the team needs a new captain, preferably a decidedly un-Caribbean Hussain-a-like to get the team motivated and playing. DEFINITELY not Lara, preferably Chanderpaul or Sarwan.

[Richard Jenkins]

Well, I think it's time for a new coach and captain for this young but talented side; Lara can stay on as a player, but I'd give gayle a try as captain. As for a coach, left hander Graham 'Foxy' Fowler would be a good ask. His experience and general left handedness could be good, but his coaching of Durham university was ' mediocre'. However, he is a good motivator.
They need to use the very long break they have until April to practice against the bowling machine, or turn their arms over.
It's interesting but their ODI team looks good on paperand plays quite well and think it's just a question of time. In five years time, the WI will ram the 4-0 whitewash back down our throats probably.

as for SA going to WI demoralisd and downhearted, maybe. But the WI are in so much disarray now that i'd back SA to win. Weather that changes is another matter.

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

The action required is the same as has been needed ever since the decline began - WI need to introduce some discipline into the way they play alongside the obvious talent.

Changes:-

(1) The Coach - appoint a foreign coach to instill the aforementioned discipline and who cannot be accused of favouring players from one of the islands.

(2) The Captain - Lara should return to the ranks and concentrate upon scoring as many runs as he can for the next couple of years. Sarwan seems to me to be the man for the job.

[Goatman]

Good to see some replies to this thread - I know its an ENG forum, but I for one tend to follow cricket wherever it is played!

What composition shoudl they be looking for in the bowling? I reckon Sarwan and gayle are both as good as any of the specialist spinners, and Bravo can certainly be considered a proper bowler. I reckon the selectors should looks to just play thier best 3 specialist seamers - I think thats all they need to compete. If either Best or Edwards find thier length and rhythm they could explode as a proper strike bowler in the Ntini mould, but the question is whether the team can carry two such patchy performers with little support? I would think not. I would say one of them would be best, supported by Collymore and Collins. IN the long term, I would be crossing my fingers and hoping that both hit thier straps in the not too distant. Otherwise the bowling will continue to be very dependant on Collymore and Bravo conjouring wickets from nowhere when they under the cosh........

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

On the spinning front they should get more overs from Gayle and Sarwan. I agree that you can only accomodate one of Best and Edwards in the side at present, to be supported by three from Collymore, Collins, Lawson and Bradshaw.

[Ernest]

There is talent in the West Indies team, you can be sure about that, thuy where unfortunate to come up against a resurgent England, where they so bad? New Zealand did no better before them!

I think they will be a force again once they have knitted thier side together, I think they need a new captain, Lara has tried his best, but he has to mant bad results under his belt.

The balance of power is changing in world cricket, England are the strongest at the moment IMHO, because the selectors have kept faith in the side, and we have youth and experience.

New Zealand and South Africa need to do a big rethink, and bring in new players where needed.

As for the Windies, I have been consistent, they will be back, and not many seasons away.

[Rachael]

I can't help feeling (sadly) that the WI are destined for at leat another 2-3 years in the doldrums.

Much as I dislike Fletcher.. I reckon he's the man fir the job in this instance: discipline and preparation have been the weaknesses under Lara... and some Fletcher like charachter with absolute power is surely much needed.

I distrust Gayle almost as much as I distrust Flintoff.. but the pair of them have such obvious talent that they cannot be ignored. Bravo and Collymore strike me as a more solid core for the WI team of the future.. with at least one from Best, LAwson and Edwards (god only know which one: they all suck) joining Collymore and Pedro Collins at the heart of a young but enthusiastic and promising team.

Chanderpaul strikes me as the member of the old guard with the biggest future.. and Baugh strikes me as the most obvious future captain.... but can they do anything withing 3-4 years? I doubt it.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I distrust Gayle almost as much as I distrust Flintoff.. but the pair of them have such obvious talent that they cannot be ignored. Bravo and Collymore strike me as a more solid core for the WI team of the future.. with at least one from Best, LAwson and Edwards (god only know which one: they all suck) joining Collymore and Pedro Collins at the heart of a young but enthusiastic and promising team.

Chanderpaul strikes me as the member of the old guard with the biggest future.. and Baugh strikes me as the most obvious future captain.... but can they do anything withing 3-4 years? I doubt it.

Rachael, I dont mean this in a bad way, but your post never cease to amaze me, the uncontaversial part, I think the Windies will recover sooner than you say, no one knows how bad they are, because no one knows how good England are, look what happened to New Zealand, and it would appear we are going to be no wiser in South Africa, they seem to be going down.

We will not know the true potentiol of England until we have played Australia.

Back to your post, lot of good points, but what on Earth do you mean, " I distrust Gayle almost as much as I distrust Flintoff", I dont have a clue what you mean, why them two

[Statto]

I think the problems the WI are having at the moment stems more from the behind the scenes goings on than the players themselves. I can't see them being any sort of force until the board stop the squabbling and infighting and all pull in the same direction. This will probably involve changing the entire management structure to get rid of all the ex players trying to take over on their own and replace them with a strong management which can work together without arguing over the slightest thing. I also think that the team needs more continuity with the coach and players given time to get settled and sort the team out from the beginning as it often seems that they are to eager to chop and change the side and call for a new captain / coach etc when it would really appear that no-one could have won the Windies that series. If the young players are going to improve I think they should be given a proper run as Englang are beginning to give their young players and not the wholesale changes that they made during this series (not counting injuries which can't have helped). I feel that 2-3 years is optimistic because by then Lara will have gone and they dont seem to have anyone to hold the innings together (possibly Chandapaul?) and he will leave a big hole.