Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

[Bornadog]

Australian Test Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie

First Test: January 17-21, Adelaide Oval (10.30am AEDT)
Second Test: January 25-29, Gabba (3pm AEDT)

ODI Squad:

Steve Smith (c), Travis Head (vc), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Adam Zampa.

Men's Dettol ODI Series v West Indies
February 2: MCG, 2.30pm AEDT
February 4: SCG, 2.30pm AEDT
February 6: Manuka Oval, Canberra 2.30pm AEDT

Men's Dettol T20I Series v West Indies
February 9: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.00pm AEDT
February 11: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT
February 13: Perth Stadium, 7pm AEDT

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Is there any genuine interest in a Test Series against the West Indies? It is quite staggering how far this rivarly has fallen due to the West Indies competitiveness dropping off.

Growing up there was nothing more exciting that a five match series versus the West Indies when we had not beaten them for an eternity and their team was full of fastinating personalities and genuine superstars.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Is there any genuine interest in a Test Series against the West Indies? It is quite staggering how far this rivarly has fallen due to the West Indies competitiveness dropping off.

Growing up there was nothing more exciting that a five match series versus the West Indies when we had not beaten them for an eternity and their team was full of fastinating personalities and genuine superstars.

I'm still interested in it but a clear decline from WI sides now doubt

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

I'm going to the first day of the GABBA test, but only because a friend bought tickets.

Back in early 80s it was Viv, Big Bird, Marshall and Holding I was imitating in the backyard matches, not the Aussies!
It really is a shame to watch the seemingly terminal decline of West Indies as a cricketing 'nation'.

[Sedat]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

I'm going to the first day of the GABBA test, but only because a friend bought tickets.

Back in early 80s it was Viv, Big Bird, Marshall and Holding I was imitating in the backyard matches, not the Aussies!
It really is a shame to watch the seemingly terminal decline of West Indies as a cricketing 'nation'.

Same here, they were my non-Bulldog sporting idols (and AB of course, what a player!). There will never be another test nation to ever go 15 years without losing a single test series anywhere in the world like the Windies did from 1980-1995; I would go so far to say that the Windies circa 1980-1992 (they declined thereafter but Curtly and Courtney hid their sins for a few more years) are the best overall team in world sports history.

They have become a joke for 25 years now and will continue into the abyss unfortunately. This series will be a feast for the Aussies.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

I'm going to the first day of the GABBA test, but only because a friend bought tickets.

Back in early 80s it was Viv, Big Bird, Marshall and Holding I was imitating in the backyard matches, not the Aussies!
It really is a shame to watch the seemingly terminal decline of West Indies as a cricketing 'nation'.

And the worst part, we're watching every Test playing nation apart from Australia, England and India go the same way.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Same here, they were my non-Bulldog sporting idols (and AB of course, what a player!). There will never be another test nation to ever go 15 years without losing a single test series anywhere in the world like the Windies did from 1980-1995; I would go so far to say that the Windies circa 1980-1992 (they declined thereafter but Curtly and Courtney hid their sins for a few more years) are the best overall team in world sports history.

They have become a joke for 25 years now and will continue into the abyss unfortunately. This series will be a feast for the Aussies.

Why were they good then? Just amazingly lucky genetically rare talent all coming through together?

I still remember Deano telling Curtly to take off the wrist bands.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

And the worst part, we're watching every Test playing nation apart from Australia, England and India go the same way.

Urgh so sad lemmon...!

20/20 was always going to kill it. Surprised it took so long.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Same here, they were my non-Bulldog sporting idols (and AB of course, what a player!). There will never be another test nation to ever go 15 years without losing a single test series anywhere in the world like the Windies did from 1980-1995; I would go so far to say that the Windies circa 1980-1992 (they declined thereafter but Curtly and Courtney hid their sins for a few more years) are the best overall team in world sports history.

They have become a joke for 25 years now and will continue into the abyss unfortunately. This series will be a feast for the Aussies.

Australia, India, England, NZ and even SA need to consider some level of support project for the West Indies. Australia, India and England could provide money to help develop and coach WI talent all countries could offer spots in their various shield level teams to help develop players.
If 8 to 12 young WI players could be identified and given 4 year contracts to play cricket on top of whatever the WI can chip in with it might help identify 4 test standard players. Other than that WI cricket will even up on a par with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and just go through the motions.

[D Mitchell]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Why were they good then? Just amazingly lucky genetically rare talent all coming through together?

I still remember Deano telling Curtly to take off the wrist bands.

Genetically, explicable, West Coast of Africa with fast-twitch muscle then during slavedom, bred for strength, size and ability to work, in some cases, deliberately, particularly in the US. Post 70s-80s, US sports opened up to inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands so the Curtley Ambroses are now playing for Boston Celtics. Thank God, whisper Aus batsmen.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Why were they good then? Just amazingly lucky genetically rare talent all coming through together?

I still remember Deano telling Curtly to take off the wrist bands.

They were incredible, incredibly talented. Loved going to watch them

When you had opening Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, the master Viv Richards at 3, then Clive Lloyd, Dujon, Gus Logie and extreme fast bowling by Holding, Garner, Marshall, Andy Roberts, Ambrose, Walsh to name a few.

ICC Hall of famers:

Garfield Sobers, Lance Gibbs, George Headley, Brian Lara, Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Alvin Kallicharran, Andy Roberts, Rohan Kanhai, Frank Worrell, Gordon Greenidge, Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes, Curtly Ambrose, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Joel Garner and Wes Hall

The trouble now is the lack of money and bringing all the Islands together as one. The players make more money in either T20, or other sports

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

I'm going to the first day of the GABBA test, but only because a friend bought tickets.

Back in early 80s it was Viv, Big Bird, Marshall and Holding I was imitating in the backyard matches, not the Aussies!
It really is a shame to watch the seemingly terminal decline of West Indies as a cricketing 'nation'.

The big issue is that they are not a nation but a conglomeration of separate Island Nations.

No genuine focus on the sporting landscape.

[Sedat]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

And the worst part, we're watching every Test playing nation apart from Australia, England and India go the same way.

Yep, South Africa should be on the same level but are their own worst enemy and will become a joke soon. Rabada will hide their sins for a bit like Curtly and Courtney did.

NZ gives a bit of cheek but they are never good enough. The rest don't have the money to pay their players anywhere near the amount that T20 franchise cricket does.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Why were they good then? Just amazingly lucky genetically rare talent all coming through together?

I still remember Deano telling Curtly to take off the wrist bands.

They have probably been better at truly individual sports and the Caribbean countries still produce amazing athletes, particularly sprinters.

The American College system draw a lot of athletic talent and cricket is not on the College agenda.

They also suffer from 20/20 as individuals can make insane money without ever being available for West Indian teams and with no National pride at stake they are less likely to forego money for test cricket.

[Sedat]

Re: Australia v West Indies Summer 2024 - Test, ODI and T20

Why were they good then? Just amazingly lucky genetically rare talent all coming through together?

I still remember Deano telling Curtly to take off the wrist bands.

They always had the natural talent but after Australia routed them 5-1 with express pace from Lillee and Thommo in 1975 test series, they went to work on their own assembly line of fast bowling and intimidation. They also significantly improved their professionalism with regard to training standards and fielding (you can thank Kerry Packer/World Series Cricket for that).

They also had a brilliant opening combination as well as elite middle order talent (Viv, Richie Richardson, Lloyd). A few years later, they got a fantastic keeper who scored big runs under pressure (Dujon), which wasn't really a thing that keepers did before then.

They didn't need a spinner (except for one token over from Viv just before tea) because the 4 quicks were so ruthless and brilliant, and they just kept churning out brilliant ones for 10-15 years. Some of them like Colin Croft were downright nasty as well - Michael Holding once said that Crofty would bounce his own grandmother! And of course Holding himself once said to an Australian batsman copping a bouncer barrage, "if you want to drive, go hire a car"

If you want to see a brilliant sporting documentary, I highly recommend "Fire in Babylon" about the rise of West Indian cricket. One of the better docos I've seen.