http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/ en Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:01:14 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss

'Shot selection is crucial, especially when you are driving' © Getty Images

Chris Gayle
I have to start this first diary entry for this new home series with something that I have talked regularly about before. What I have always stressed on is that our batting needs to do the job, and we have to get the runs on the board. For the last couple of months the bowlers have been doing a terrific job for us. Jerome Taylor, Daren Powel, Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Bravo have been turning up and working hard on the field. Hopefully we, the batsmen, can put the runs on the board now and give the bowlers something to work with and as a team we can take it from there. It is not going to be easy, we are up against a top class team in Sri Lanka and they have one of the best attacks in the world. The reason I say one of the best attacks is because you have the likes of Chaminda Vaas and the world record holder for the most Test wickets Muttiah Muralitharan. Those two are the main strike bowlers and we all know how experienced those guys are. We are up against it but we are up to the challenge. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/03/the_batting_needs_to_click.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/03/the_batting_needs_to_click.php Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:01:14 +0000 Ramnaresh Sarwan

	Marlon Samuels was certainly the ‘find’ of the series for us © Cricinfo Ltd

The West Indies will return to the Caribbean in a few days having lost both the Test and ODI series in South Africa. They lost the Test battle 2-1 and are trailing an unassailable 3-0 in the one-dayers with the final two games this weekend. Prior to all this, the Windies had beaten Zimbabwe 3-1 in a one-day series, with the last match being rained out. Fans will be disappointed with the outcome in South Africa, particularly as things started so well on this occasion for the team, prevailing in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals and triumphing in the first Test, both in Port Elizabeth. While the emotions that accompany defeat are understandable – and it’s been some time since our fans have had good reason to cheer loudly – I think there are some significant positives for the future.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/02/significant_positives_for_the.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/02/significant_positives_for_the.php Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:06:12 +0000 Denesh Ramdin

	I am pleased with my wicketkeeping but I am disappointed to have made little impression with the bat © AFP

I know fans are likely to say there’s nothing to play for in the remaining two one-day internationals this weekend in South Africa. However, I believe that even though we have already surrendered the series 3-0, there’s a lot to be gained – especially if we can execute our game plan – in the final one-dayers on Friday and Sunday. We have already demonstrated on tour that we have the arsenal to beat South Africa and it would be great if we can do so on at least one more occasion before departing for home next week. This, I think, would give us in the Windies camp a significant boost in confidence, particularly as we have been hampered by injuries to some of our top players. In addition, it would underline that we are capable of high standards and excelling among the sport’s premier teams once we perform to our optimum potential. I think South Africa has realised that, given our results earlier in the series. Unfortunately though, we have not been consistent on the field – and that’s why we have been outclassed.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/theres_still_a_lot_to_be_gaine.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/theres_still_a_lot_to_be_gaine.php Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:05:52 +0000 It’s been a few days since I returned home to Jamaica from South Africa and, despite the West Indies’ recent defeats to the Proteas, a lot of people have expressed positive feelings to me about our performance in Zimbabwe and in the first couple games in South Africa. Naturally, like me, they were disappointed that I was unable to play throughout the tour which began very well for us with a 3-1 victory in the one-day series in Zimbabwe and wins in the first Twenty20 and Test match against South Africa. I really appreciated the fans’ sentiments and well wishes for a full and speedy recovery to allow me to start playing cricket as soon as possible again. Thanks to all who have commented to me, it’s been very encouraging and I’m looking forward to being back on the field in the maroon cap once I’m fit and healthy. My hamstring and left thumb continue to improve steadily but, as I have stated before, I will not rush my return to competitive cricket. Even though the Windies physio had indicated that I should be able to hold a bat by January 26, I’m giving my thumb another week and then I will test things out. In the meantime, I’ve been running and working out in the gym. In addition, I’ve been to a couple training sessions with the Jamaica national squad which is now preparing for the Stanford 20/20 tournament after winning their first three matches in the regional four-day competition, the Carib Beer series. Overall, things are looking up and I hope it is sooner rather than later that I will be back in action, with runs flowing from my bat. After all, the reality is that I was starved of cricket on tour – having suffered the hamstring injury in the second ODI in Zimbabwe and then having my thumb broken by an Andre Nel delivery in the second Test in Cape Town. In total, I played in one-and-a-half one-dayers and two Tests. So, I definitely need to get some cricket under my belt. It’s also been critical to get back into my fitness routine quickly because of all the great food I’ve been eating since I landed in Kingston. I’ve had almost everything you can think of – ackee and saltfish, patties, curried goat, etc. To top it all off, my mum cooked me my big Christmas dinner which I missed out on in December. I’m still licking my lips. So, you see why I need to keep training! Of course, I was sorry to see my team-mates lose the one-day series to South Africa yesterday with two games to go. We managed a decent total of 252 for 7 in 50 overs, though we got off to a slow start. Marlon Samuels was again the anchor of our batting with an impressive 98 while wickets tumbled around him. It’s a pity that, for the second time on tour, he missed out on a century at Port Elizabeth; having scored 94 at that venue in the opening Test which we won. There were also good innings from Sewnarine Chattergoon (52) and debutant, Patrick Browne (35). St. George’s is a decent pitch and it was always going to be a challenge to blast out Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and company on that wicket. The Proteas romped home by seven wickets and we are now 3-0 down in the five-match series. However, we must keep our heads high and the guys have to play for pride in the remaining fixtures. It would still be nice to win them and come home with some positives. South Africa play hard and will be intent on a five-nil rout. If we can rally our troops, and give of our best in these two last games, we can thwart their ambitions of a whitewash. http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/ackee_patties_and_curried_goat.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/ackee_patties_and_curried_goat.php Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:34:21 +0000 Ramnaresh Sarwan

	If the team can recapture the consistency and focus which they had earlier in the tour, they can be victorious © AFP

West Indies have an opportunity to rebound in the one-day internationals against South Africa with two matches this weekend (today and Sunday) in the five-rubber series. They are currently 1-0 down to the hosts but I believe that, if the team can recapture the consistency and focus which they had earlier in the tour, they can be victorious. The guys performed creditably in the second Twenty20 International and the first one-dayer last weekend and, with a little luck, they could have won those games. Improved performances with both bat and ball would be the decisive difference. While they will miss Chris Gayle’s inspirational leadership and influence – now that he has returned home due to injury – it’s important that the Windies stick together and support Dwayne [Bravo] in these remaining four matches. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/windies_can_still_win_oneday_s.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/windies_can_still_win_oneday_s.php Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:41:46 +0000 Denesh Ramdin

	We had our opportunities in these [recent] games but we couldn’t capitalise on them © Getty Images

Things have not gone our way as we move into the latter stage of our South African tour. Last Friday, we lost the second Twenty20 international by four wickets and followed that up with a six-wicket defeat to South Africa in Sunday’s one-day international. In both instances, we were in with a chance of winning deep into the matches but, ultimately, we couldn’t come up with the killer blows when necessary. That's what was lacking. In the Twenty20 in Johannesburg, we scored 131 for 7 in 20 overs to which South Africa replied with 134 for 6 in 19.2 overs. Then in the rain-abbreviated one-dayer in Centurion, we managed 175 all out in 35.5 of our 36 overs, and South Africa romped to victory with 176 for 4 off 34 overs. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/looking_to_end_the_tour_on_a_h.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/looking_to_end_the_tour_on_a_h.php Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:25:10 +0000

Chris Gayle broke his thumb in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town © Getty Images

Unfortunately the news today is not good – well, maybe that depends on how you look at it. My tour of South Africa is coming to a premature conclusion because of my thumb and hamstring injuries. Given the most recent prognosis that I will require at least another two weeks of recovery before I could even consider picking up a bat again – furthermore being declared match fit – I have been granted permission by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to return home to Jamaica to concentrate on getting better. As a result, I will be leaving Johannesburg as soon as possible – perhaps this evening – and should arrive in Kingston later this week, travelling via London. It was far from an easy decision. I would love to be out on the field with the guys, fighting for the West Indies. There was some thought that I might be able to play in the ongoing one-day series in South Africa but that is not to be as our physio, C.J. Clarke has said that – based on a recent x-ray of my broken left thumb – I wouldn’t be able to do any batting before January 26 at earliest. I had already been feeling quite frustrated at just sitting around and having to watch my team-mates battling out in the middle without any contribution from me. This injury update only made me feel worse. I therefore spoke to team management and the WICB chief executive, Dr. Donald Peters, who was here in South Africa, and expressed the view that it would be best for me to head back to the Caribbean immediately and focus on recovering fully. Sitting on the sidelines was really beginning to affect me. While I’m sorry to leave South Africa on such a sad note, I have spoken with the guys and they understand perfectly. We will be hosting two top teams, Sri Lanka and Australia, in the coming months and I definitely want to be 100 percent fit for those matches. So leaving the tour is the most logical step at this stage. I have wished Dwayne (Bravo) and all the players the very best for the rest of the South Africa series. I know they will give their all and try to win the series. We played decent cricket in the second Twenty20 last Friday and in the first one-dayer yesterday, but we came up short in both games, losing by four and six wickets respectively. We just need to continue believing in ourselves and in the knowledge that we have beaten South Africa before and that we can do it again. Our batsmen must get better starts to give us a foundation on which to build. I have to say though that the pitches in these last two games were not the easiest to bat on. Our bowlers have been doing well overall but it’s hard to get ten wickets in a one-dayer sometimes with the fielding restrictions and the guys spread so far apart. I think our problem is in the ‘middle period’ of the match and that’s where South Africa has been able to get away from us. We will need to concentrate on restricting the runs if wickets are hard to get. I truly wish the West Indies well and look forward to watching the remainder of the series on television. Before I forget, I want to hail the Jamaica national team for their outstanding performances in the Carib Beer Cricket Series so far, winning all three of their matches. I hope they can continue improving and lift the title this year. Great going guys! See you soon! Finally, I want to thank fans for their support and encouragement throughout the tour on the African continent. As always, it was an honour to represent and captain the West Indies and I’m looking forward to returning to the team once I am fully fit. I trust that will be sooner rather than later.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/gayle_im_flying_home.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/gayle_im_flying_home.php Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:56:59 +0000 Ramnaresh Sarwan

	I’m getting more and more into the groove with the bat and was happy to score some decent runs against Barbados © The Nation

Though I’m currently out of the West Indies squad, I’ve somewhat had a taste of the kind of tough battle they have experienced lately. While the Windies plummeted to defeat by an innings and 100 runs in the decisive third Test against South Africa, I suffered a similar fate with the Guyana national team on Monday in the Carib Beer Series. We were beaten by Barbados, by an innings and 57 runs at the Kensington Oval. Just as with the West Indies, we batted first and were dismissed cheaply and then toiled long and hard in the field. Our opponents piled up massive replies, in excess of 500 runs each. As a result, we and the Windies had our backs against the wall and though – in either case – the teams batted better in the second innings, it was always going to be difficult to avoid defeat. In the same way that losing in Durban sealed the Windies’ fate in the Test series, our defeat has set us back severely in the quest for the regional four-day championship.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/selfbelief_can_spur_us_to_odi.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/selfbelief_can_spur_us_to_odi.php Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:27:41 +0000 Denesh Ramdin

	'Despite the circumstances, I know we have earned quite a bit of respect over here, both from the South African team and from the fans' © Getty Images

I would like to start this week’s diary by congratulating South Africa for a well deserved 2-1 victory in the Test series against us. That does not mean that I – like all the other Windies players – was not bitterly disappointed to lose (especially after our 1-0 lead in Port Elizabeth). It’s just that I appreciate that they played better cricket and seized the majority of their chances. The manner in which the South Africans executed their game plan and took us out of the decisive match in Durban was an example of the consistency and level of professionalism that is needed to be among the top teams in international cricket. After we lost the toss and were sent in to bat, it was always going to be a challenge to negotiate the lively pitch at Kingsmead. To make matters worse, South Africa bowled particularly well and we were dismissed very cheaply. Then, the pitch and conditions changed, batting became much easier and the opposition played us out of the deciding game with a massive first-innings score. It was always going to be a tough task to overhaul a deficit of more than 400 runs. As it was, we lost by an innings and 100 runs. I managed the top score of 30 in our inadequate first innings of 139 and then 25 in the second time. It was again frustrating to get starts but not make a substantial impact. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/over_to_the_onedayers.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/over_to_the_onedayers.php Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:31:05 +0000

'I also want to hail Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels (above) for their gutsy batting at various times' © Getty Images

Well, the Test series against South Africa is over and unfortunately we were beaten in the final match in Durban by an innings and 100 runs. There’s really no point in sulking over our performance. I think by now everyone knows what we did wrong and where our plans fell apart. Suffice to say that when any team is dismissed for 139 quickly on the opening day of a Test – and then faces a first-innings deficit of more than 400 runs – it would take a miracle to escape defeat. South Africa batted us out of the game and again, in our second turn at the crease, we failed with the bat, though we did better than in the first innings. There’s no excuse and I don’t intend to make any. As I’ve been saying all along, consistency is the key. If we fail to execute our game plan then we won’t win. Still, as we shift our attention to the five ODIs, I can say that there are a number of positives which I will take from the Test matches. Overall, I thought we put up a good fight and gave South Africa something to think about. Winning in Port Elizabeth and taking a lead in the three Tests really surprised them. We also fought well in Cape Town and kept ourselves in the game until the fourth day when it ended. If fans are honest they will admit that they didn’t expect us to perform as well as we did in the first two matches. I need to give the guys credit for showing that we can compete against the best in international cricket. While there are clearly improvements still to be made we’ve shown that we can reach the required standard. I also want to hail Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels for their gutsy batting at various times. When our bowlers got the ball in the right spot, they proved a force to be reckoned with as well. Of course, it was frustrating for me to be restricted to the pavilion for the third Test with a broken thumb and a sore right hamstring. I really wanted to be out on the field with my team-mates. However, I know it’s best for me to recover fully before playing competitive cricket again. Right now, I’m just doing some light jogging and continuing my treatment for the hamstring ailment. I’m not going to take any chances and get re-injured so I won’t be playing unless I’m totally fit and ready to do so. The team must now focus on the abbreviated form of the game for the next three weeks, with the second of our two Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa to be held on Wednesday at New Wanderers in Johannesburg and five one-dayers thereafter. We need to get a jump on the South Africans and it would be good to set the tone for the series by winning the second Twenty20 as we did the first match back in mid-December. Buoyed by their Test success, I know South Africa will come at us very hard and we have to be able to keep our spirits and confidence high. Once we do that, and perform well on the field, I believe we can come away victorious.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/gayle_we_need_to_get_a_jump_on.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/gayle_we_need_to_get_a_jump_on.php Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:01:20 +0000

West Indies were bowled out for 139 in their first innings and they will need a much better effort when they bat again © Getty Images

Ramnaresh Sarwan
The West Indies players will need to show their mettle if they are to get out of the current dire situation in which they have gotten themselves in, less than two days into the third and final Test against South Africa. As I write this diary, South Africa are already moving in for the kill in Durban, having built up a lead of more than 250 runs over the Windies, who were dismissed for a meagre 139 just after lunch on the opening day. I was very shocked to see what happened to my team-mates when I woke up yesterday morning. By the time I tuned in, South Africa were batting and were looking to score, I thought that rain must have fallen and that the match therefore started late. I had no idea that we had batted and done so poorly. It was definitely not the start we needed in any bid to try and force a victory. As it stands now, it will require sterling fight-back if we are even to draw the game. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/west_indies_need_to_show_fight.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/west_indies_need_to_show_fight.php Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:45:03 +0000

Daren Ganga and I tried to rotate the strike as much as possible and get runs wherever possible. The South African bowlers were quite accurate in their line and length and it was hard to score © Getty Images

Denesh Ramdin We start the last of three Test matches against South Africa in a position that very few people expected we would be in at this stage. We have had some challenges, especially with key players suffering injuries at critical junctures, but we are determined to persevere and seek a historic and victorious conclusion. None of us is thinking about a draw. We are going out there to win this Test and we will be trying to execute our plans in that vein. We are going to give it our all at Kingsmead. Over the past few days, we have been back in the nets working hard to correct the things which cost us the second Test in Cape Town. The guys are happy and relaxed and are looking forward to this match. We are confident that if we do things right consistently and support each other on the field – build partnerships, bowl in the right areas and field well – that we will be in a position to pressure South Africa. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/seeking_a_historic_victorious.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/seeking_a_historic_victorious.php Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:24:09 +0000 Chris Gayle

	Even worse than losing the match was the expected prognosis that my thumb injury will necessitate another layoff of two to three weeks © Getty Images

How quickly things change in a week. In my last diary, we were basking in the glory of having upset South Africa in the first of the three Test matches. Now, the stakes are even 1-1 with one to go in Durban, starting on Thursday. Our seven-wicket loss in four days at Newlands in Cape Town was very disappointing, given how well we had battled to victory in Port Elizabeth. Yes, we fought – and at times held our own – in the second encounter but, in the end, our effort fell short. We definitely did not bat as well as we did in the first match and returns of 243 and 262 were just not good enough, though Shivnarine Chanderpaul stood out with unbeaten scores of 65 and 70. We really should have scored at least 350 in our initial outing at the crease. ]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/i_strongly_believe_we_can_beat.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/i_strongly_believe_we_can_beat.php Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:15:37 +0000 Ramnaresh Sarwan

	I’m eager to get back in the middle and score some runs after my recent ankle injury © Getty Images

It’s been a truly memorable start to 2008 for West Indian fans all across the world. Just days ago, the majority of the cricketing world was writing us off against South Africa even before a ball was bowled in the first Test. Now, we’ve done the unthinkable and gone 1-0 ahead in the three-match rubber. It’s confounded the critics and given Windies supporters just the lift they needed to go into the New Year. In addition, we’re competing keenly in the ongoing second Test, though we’ve got some work to do in our second innings, having been led by 78 runs in the first innings. I was ecstatic with the performance which the guys put in last Saturday in a historic maiden Test triumph on South African soil. It was an unforgettable occasion and I extend my congratulations to Chris [Gayle] and all my team-mates who made us extremely proud.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/windies_success_has_series_on.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/windies_success_has_series_on.php Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:12:19 +0000 Denesh Ramdin

	It was simply awesome to experience winning a Test match for the first time © Getty Images

What a way to end 2007 – with my maiden Test victory! In all the time I’ve been playing cricket – at junior, senior, regional and international level – I’ve never known such a feeling. It was simply awesome to experience winning a Test match for the first time, and against a team as strong as South Africa, after more than two years in the West Indies side. In addition, the nature and tone of our success in Port Elizabeth - in that we executed our plans, dominated the match and finished it in four days - made the outcome all the better. It was very special as we had not won a Test match for more than two years and had never won in South Africa.]]> http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/the_thrill_of_a_test_win.php http://blogs.cricinfo.com/sg_tourdiaries/archives/2008/01/the_thrill_of_a_test_win.php Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:43:44 +0000