And Sulieman Benn.
But its hard to say he has been dropped, the fairer call would be that he has beenrested to ensure a draw.
While you understand why the Windies would go for a draw, it is slightly disturbing that they are.
Ofcourse more disturbing is the fact Powell is still playing.
Benn is in the best three bowlers in the Windies, Powell does not seem to be.
The thinking would be that with Hinds and Gayle the spin options are already there.
With Taylor out injured, and Baker coming in, only Fidel Edwards is of truly of test match class in this line up, but we all know bowlers have no place in a draw, best to let the opposition make as many runs as they want and then declare.
Then you bring in the big guns, and they don’t get any bigger than our man Lendl Simmons.
Since he smoted England in the warm up game he has been on ice, no literally, that would be odd.
Now he is back, and must be so exited to know his role in the Windian side is to play draws.
England has also made some changes, out goes Tiny Tim and Sidebottom the stroppy, in comes the reat Amjad Khan, and Monty.
The attack consists of Broad (batting at 7), Anderson, Swann, monty and Amjad.
Seems an odd line up in a must win match.
At least they are trying to win.
jrod, true but when series wins are so rare to come by as they have been for Windies, you can understand why they are trying this. Though I think this might backfire with England firing hard with their batting and the tired Windies having batting collapses
I am not sure England are trying to win by only playing four batsmen. The “upper” tail of Collingwood , Prior and Broad will not put on many runs. Anderson, Swann, Panesar and Khan are hopeless – unfortunately both with bat and ball
Monty was selected for (ton maker) Bopara.
How does Powell get in the side? Its a mystery to me, maybe he has incriminating pictures of the WICB with sand castles at Antigua. Makes no sense — anyone would be better than him.
It will be a good test of England though — if they cannot weedle out the useless Windies — what chance of stressing Australia in the Ashes?
West Indies have the proverbial ten men behind the ball, so I suspect England will find it hard to win this match. Their bowling is lacking, particularly in the pace department, and the farce in Jamaica has cost them, deservedly so.
Spin might be their best option in this match, but it will be interesting to see how Amjad performs.
I can understand West Indies approach, my gripe is more with the pitches in this series, which have less life than the Marie Celeste.