West Indies v Australia, 2nd Test, Port of Spain, 15-19 April, 2012

So, Aus will probably be unchanged, I suppose. What about the Windies? Is Rampaul worth a go?

I tell you who's NOT worth a go and that's Fidel.

Rampaul was substitute fielding today so seems like he must be nearly match fit. He's probably their best bowler, anyway. As I said in the match thread, I think Roach and Sammy have picked up niggles and Bishoo has been off colour. Their strong suit could be said to now be in disarray. Not sure what to do with the batting. They're likely to stick with what they've got, I think they have faith in them and that's probably the right thing. They've had one good and one bad innings.

Aye Dan, Bishoo was disappointing. Ironic if Deonarine retains his spot on the back of his 2nd innings 4-fer (the first 2 off rank long hops).

Will Aust stick with Lyon?

at #4

Sammy also has a bit of a back strain, Roach was limping slightly but seemed more aggro than anything with the decisions that didn't go his way.

The pitch in Port of Spain is said to be going to take spin but Bishoo was disappointing today. Sammy does somewhat limit them because they're on quick short and the team looks slightly unbalanced.

Aussies should be unchanged because you wouldn't play Beer just because it might favour the slower bowlers.

All the squad members have been working out extensively in the nets and spent the whole of the lunch break on the ground jogging and honing their skills.

Australia's policy is to retain a winning side so i can't see Beer or Forest getting a run.

sounds like they're seriously considering playing 2 spinners. so which pace bowler gets the chop?

Meh, Cot and Milf probably move it off the straight more than Fudd does, and at 60 kph faster. Stick with Elmer, leave Fudd in the sheds (shoulda been left in Perth), and go with the same XI, I say.

On our tour of Trinidad today we called in at the ground and saw both teams practising - Windies in the nets at that stage and the Aussies on the field. Pattinson said he is hopeful of playing and he's over his niggle. Word is they may go with him for Siddle or Beer for Siddle with the pitch looking dry and a spinner's track. As mentioned by others though, they tend to stick with a winning formula.

Cot would be unlucky to be dropped. He has had the knack of picking up the big wicket when we need it.

Rikki?

Good f*cking point. It's about four f*cking hours away! Get to it then Pierre *wink wink*

Note these superb insights amongst the cricinfo pre-match comments:

Posted by puroniks on (April 15 2012, 09:36 AM GMT)

"Who cares about ths boring series with two boring teams with boring players like ponting who has mentioned many times before that he would like to catch up with sachin (thats why he is dragging on) who cares about this boring series with no great fast bowlers like SA/eng who cares about this series with dry unimaginative captain like clarke, in complete contrast to strauss/smith/dhoni. Who cares who wins or loose australian team is complete trash. @RANDY OZ PLEASE REPLY"

"...unimaginative captain like clarke, in complete contrast to strauss/smith/dhoni..."

Wow. I mean, wow.

NSR potential on cricinfo. Who'd have thunk it?

[cricinfo]

9.30am News is in. Australia have won the toss and will bat first. Team news from West Indies. Kirk Edwards is indeed out. Powell comes in. Shane Shillingford replaces Devendra Bishoo who disappointed in Barbados. And Ravi Rampaul stays out

9.50am Australia are without Man of the Match of the previous match, Ryan Harris, who has been rested. Peter Siddle is out with a stiff back. They have brought in James Pattinson and Michael Beer

[/cricinfo]

Huh! Kirk Edwards injured. Powell in. Shillingford for Bishoo. Fidel still in! Ridic.

Pattinson in for Siddle! BEER IN FOR HARRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WTF ARE THESE TEAMS DOING???

Fork thee lardeeeeeeeee

It was strange the first time.

Reinvent given caught out, but Sammy said it didn't carry. Think Edwards was appealing for a LB and Erasmus gave it out. Strange..

Looks as if Sammy has given Oz an extra wicket.

Odd start. Warner has clearly dodged a bullet.

Rhino and Cot unlucky to be dropped. I hope Fudd FFS takes some wickets.

What a deady. Even deader than the last pitch. Warner's still managed to make it look a bit of a miney what with a couple of flashy edges, one popping over short mid-wicket etc.

But it's not looking good for WI at all.

Warner's gone due to Strauss-esque cruddery against Shillingford. Could've got out to any of the first four balls.