One conclusion is clear from the West Indies squad chosen for its forthcoming tour of Australia.

To have decided to send the same 15 players just beaten in both Tests and three ODIs in Sri Lanka to Australia, where the climate, the environment, and above all the opposition present altogether different, tougher challenges for the three Tests is an admission of a dearth of credible, available alternatives.

Chief selector Clive Lloyd and his colleagues simply have no way of assessing the competence of prospective Test players from a substandard regional first-class Professional Cricket League (PCL), devalued by the absence of several experienced players now committed to the numerous global domestic T20 franchise teams.

Nine West Indians have signed contracts for the Bangladesh Premier League, the closing stages of which coincide with the Hobart Test in Australia. Three are in Australia's Big Bash, December 10 through January 7. Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo headed directly from the limited-overs matches in Sri Lanka to South Africa for the closing stages of the T20 Ram Slam.

All have abandoned Test cricket yet are hardened cricketers whose involvement in the ongoing PCL would appreciably lift levels. As it is, the majority have appeared in little or no first-class cricket for their territories of late.

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Baby steps first....

It will be a moral victory if this emerging Star Team manages to 'win first innings points' in any of the 3 tests in Australia!!!

Some people always wished for the breakup of the Windies cricket team; some attitudes a throwback from the old Windies Federation.

As almost by osmosis, they are getting their wish, as the shorter game formats drain Windies cricket of any credibility as a competitive team, or, as recent results and operations show, any long-term viability. Jack of all trades, master of none.

A reasonable conclusion is for the demise of Windies cricket, should the current path be maintained.

DREAMERS,

IT HAS TAKEN HIM AWHILE BUT COZIER HAS FINALLY COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION AS THE SHEIK!

WONDIES CRICKET IS FCUKED!!

FUNNY AS FCUK!!

HA!HA!HA!

SHEIK

'awhile'

Hahahahahaha

OK, I can understand that The Windies' board may be just as responsible for the short lead-in time, but to give them a warm-up in Brisbane (where conditions should be fairly familiar to them) just before the first test in Hobart, where conditions may well be quite hard for them to adapt is not very hospitable by the hosts.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

The Sooner Wondies Regions realise this Truth, the sooner they will do course Correction.

Future is T20 and ODI cricket. + Going Alone.

Test Cricket, much like in the case of Zimbabwe, is no longer a viable and sustainable option.

It's the Bitter Truth.

T20 cricket, once it takes off in U.S. > will be a major money spinning competitor to regional cricket.

Honestly, I don't see much future for West Indies / Test Cricket in the region.

In reply to Sheik
I want you to bookmark this page because you will be made to eat your words.

I don't know what it is but something tells me that this team is going to surprise you and a lot of people down under.

I am predicting the following guys will be standouts: Kraigg, Chandrika and Blackwood.

Mark my words.

In reply to thefacts

The truth is that you , on this Issue have your Facts Wrong . Test Cricket
aint going anywhere . It will be financed by the other two versions of the game .

It is the only continuous link with the Past ; the Present & the Future , that
is somewhat akin to being a yardstick
in comparing & assessing Players of the Past ; the Present & the Future .

Test Cricket is like the Marathon , You perhaps will call the Marathon boring , however , like Cricket it tests the Will ; Concentration . Stamina - Mental & Physical of Players ; in a word the Endurance of Players in Cricket .

England & Australia will ensure that Test Cricket will never die , because
of their battles over the mythical Ashes . It is only in this Region , due to the Poor Leadership of those in the governance of Cricket in the Region why our Test Players have Regressed while Bangladesh has Progressed .

That will cause problems or the Region , but certainly not worldwide . My take is that all those who are of the belief that Test Cricket will die are going to be in for a very rude awakening .