Selectors had nothing to do with the loss

Yeah, before the series even started I was saying I want Simmons instead of Gayle. Let's get a look at him and see how his form carries over into Tests. We already knew, from past history, that Gayle wasn't going to be a major game changer.

The frustrating thing is, there are only Bangladesh tests left for this year. The team going to make meaningless runs vs Bangladesh and convince themselves they know how to bat.

Repeat after me : Cricket is an ELEVEN man Game :

Repeat after me. If your top six cannot make 3 runs an over, and if they keep getting out cheaply in the same manner, then they deserve to lose. If you need Blackwood and Gabriel on your team so that the "balance they provide" secures you a win, then you have major batting issues.

I'm not denying that the Trinidad game, without Shillingford and with Blackwood, featured a much more balanced team. Im saying that, at the very least, major batsmen like Gayle, Chanders, Bravo, Ramdin and to a lesser extent Edwards, should have been able to hold out for at least a draw.

[quote author=Rev link=topic=90876.msg572754#msg572754 date=1404172469]

* Lendl Simmons has a mediocre first class average of 33.12---90 matches.

* In 8 tests Simmons has scored 278 runs at a pi$$ poor average of 17.37---

0 100s and 0 50s

http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/c...53116.html
[/quote]

Swap Gayle for a 17.37 Test average fellah ?  Laughable !

[quote author=TRINIDADDY link=topic=90890.msg572856#msg572856 date=1404232104]

Im saying that, at the very least, major batsmen like Gayle, Chanders, Bravo, Ramdin and to a lesser extent Edwards, should have been able to hold out at least for a draw.
[/quote]

That a 100 year old " CRY "......from all International Cricket fans re : their XI  :-[

When LOSING.

Swap Gayle for a 17.37 Test average fellah ?  Laughable !

Gayle averaged 24 at the same point in his career, and averaged, in his recent tour of India and Bangladesh, 24 and 22.

Simmons played those tests, which you criticise him for, 5 years ago. He is a different batsman now.

In ODIs and T20s, Simmons similarly averages above Gayle over the past 18 months.

Thats why he has be labelled a T20 and ODI player.

Do NOT look for him in TEST ever again .

Peace.....I have reconciled the faith of Sarwan as well 

In those 8 failed tests 5 years ago, Simmons regularly outscored Chanders, Sarwan and Bravo. They all were making ducks and single digit scores around him (and he was opening and facing the new ball). He was batting better than them.

Based on your logic, those 3 should be dropped.

They have been dropped ...No Sarwan , No Dwayne.

Chanders is a special case based on Merit ....

Darren, not Dwayne.

The point is, Simmons is in good form now.

And when he failed 5 years ago, he was batting better or no worse than the major batsmen around him.

Remember, Paint's first 8 tests had like six ducks, but we reward him based on current form.

What was his 4 day regional stats that Braff and Blackwood got Selected on ?

How does he COMPARE with these 2 for 2014  ?  :-\