1. Dwayne Smith sucks in WI colors, and his batting looked scratchy today, but 46 quick runs at a strike rate of over 100 is a decent platform. We need these kinds of explosive, fast 50s at the top by at least 1 player. Unfortunately, Smith's fielding has been getting worse.
2. I like Dwayne Bravo opening. He didnt make runs, but he rotates the strike well, when our top order usually gets bogged down. I would like to try him as an opener for 2 more games.
3. Darren Bravo is too slow and keeps getting out cheaply. Give him one or two more chances, or maybe drop him for Leon or Simmons.
4. Is this the Third Coming of Marlon Samuels? Samuels was batting poorly for a number of months, was rightfully dropped, did very well in the CPL, and has arguably earned his place back on the team, the way it should be earned. So far, the selectors seem to have gambled well on bringing Samuels back.
5. More players should be dropped, forcing them to earn their place.
6. Very little foot-work from Samuels today. He played deep in his crease and often off the backfoot.
5. Ramdin is amazing now. He pushed Samuels to take singles and doubles, read the game situation perfectly, accelerated at the right movement and is generally sexy to watch. Got out to an unfortunate top edge. Had he stayed a while longer, we'd have an extre 30-40 runs. Ramdin's wicket caused a mini-collapse.
6. Samuels, Pollard and Russell didnt contribute much with the bat. They owed us at least 1 six each, which they didnt provide. Can't judge them too harshly, though, given how late in the innings they came.
7. Why is Roach not on the team?
8. Rohit and Jadeja were the only bowlers who troubled our batsmen. The Indian bowling was poor.
8. Benn bowled really well, I thought. I feel he was underused and would have picked up the tailenders quickly. Benn also built up some nice pressure.
9. Bravo juggled his bowlers alot, keeping the Indian batsmen somewhat unsettled. I think he overbowled himself and Taylor by about 1 over and should have used Benn a bit more, especially on the tail. Bravo thinks only pace-men can knock over tailenders.
10. Taylor looked hostile and dangeous for his first 5 overs. Got wayward after that. I hope Taylor specialises in killing Kohli. We need him to take down Kohli a few more times.
11. Rampaul washed up?
12. I think Ambrose has led to big bowling improvements in Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Sammy and Taylor.
13. Because our bowling attack is so.....weird and filled with part-timers, I think it confuses a lot of good batsmen. Give guys like Samuels, Simmons and Pollard the odd over, and the sheer mediocrity of their bowling gives you fluke wickets.
14. Do we keep this team for the next game?
15. I think WI need get it into their heads that they need 320 plus runs in each of these ODI games. That should be the mission every time. I dont see our bowlers defending anything less on these pitches.
16. We had multiple captains on the field today: Ramdin, Bravo, Pollard and Sammy, and they seemed to be working togther without animosity.
17. West Indians bat better with the threat of a salary cut? This is Llyod's master plan? Is Lloyd actually, not senile and old, but a total genius?