The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket

FIRST CLASS MATCHES FOR TOURING TEAMS

Emir 1/11/25, 2:22:46 PM
Emir avatar image

debut: 8/9/14
18,564 runs

Just pure crap these days. I see WI warm up against some Shaheens team includes many teenagers and early 20 something players.

In the golden era, touring teams had a warm up match before every test against top class and full strength teams, take this example below:


Somerset took on the touring Pakistan side at Taunton back in July, 1982. The Pakistanis batted first and posted 5-344 dec. on the back of 153 by Mansoor Akhtar. In response, Sir Viv Richards led the charge for Somerset with an incredible 181 not out against the bowling attack of Imran Khan, Safraz Nawaz, Sikander Bakht, and Abdul Qadir. Somerset declared at 7/300. The Pakistanis batted again to register a target of 263 for Somerset but the home side could only manage 3-54 as the match ended in a draw. Sir Viv Richards' knock was, however, one to remember as he posted over 60% of his team's runs against a very capable bowling attack.


In the 70's, Barbados defeated a full strength India in one of a warms ups, and the Aussies faced teams like Trinidad and Jamaica that gave them top class warm ups.

If WI are do to better in Test overseas, we needs to give our team at least 2 full 4 day warm ups.
dayne 1/11/25, 2:45:29 PM
dayne avatar image

debut: 5/29/07
8,294 runs

In reply to Emir

Agree, especially for the WI, with so many players who have limited first-class games played, they should schedule 2 warm-up matches when they go one tours. Louis will play more Test matches than first-class matches by the time this present tour is over
Emir 1/11/25, 6:32:12 PM
Emir avatar image

debut: 8/9/14
18,564 runs

In reply to dayne

Louis will play more Test matches than first-class matches by the time this present tour is over


Wow!!!! wasn't aware of that.

In the just concluded 5th Test, Aus V India, the Aussies gave a debut to a player, I can't remember his name, but he has 5000 first class runs, is age 30, I believe, and he came into the test side and performed immediately, he bleonged.

His number of first class matches were, if my memory serves right was 70 odd.