Windies target Top 5 by 2015

[mikesiva]

I think West Indies might even struggle to get in top 5 in T20 and ODI.

Test top 5 is a more tougher task with India, OZ, SRL, SA, ENG being leading teams. Can they perform better than Kiwis and Pak?

so you think its mission impossible? Come on our cricket Administrators know what they are doing. We are rebuilding but what they failed to realize is that other countries are constantly rebuilding but with a mix with seniors which ease the transition for the newbies. Rather than the supposedly wise ones in the Caribbean starting with a clean slate. What a genius move!

It's not impossible, but its very tough for West Indies. As you said the other teams are improving as well so the competition will still be there for top 5 spots. West Indies had only one player who could knocks double or triple and he is dropped. Chanders is on verge of retirement so discount him after 5 years as well. Who wills core doubles amongst the new West Indian batsmen. Who will score 150+

I agree with both of you....I can't see the WIndies reaching top five any time soon. We hosted Pakistan, who are sixth in the Test rankings, I believe, and drew the two-Test series 1-1. That didn't move us up the rankings. What's going to happen when we visit Pakistan or play them in the UAE? If we can't beat No 6 at home, how can we beat them away?

[AFRO]

I agree with both of you....I can't see the WIndies reaching top five any time soon. We hosted Pakistan, who are sixth in the Test rankings, I believe, and drew the two-Test series 1-1. That didn't move us up the rankings. What's going to happen when we visit Pakistan or play them in the UAE? If we can't beat No 6 at home, how can we beat them away?

1. UAE isn't even their real home ground so it's not like they are that used to the conditions themselves,

2. We played Pak with a different team to the one we have now, no Fidel, no Barath, no Kirk Edwards, no Ramdin and Samuals only played one Test, while some of the wasters like Sarwan and Nash have been dumped,

3. There's a real chance that Sammy could be dropped by the time we play them again and then we would finally get to see Roach, Rampaul and Edwards/Taylor play together, no-matter what the doubters think that combo could be very dangerous against any opposition,

So imo by the time we play them again a lot will have changed, Samuels being able to bowl now is also another major bonus and i think Narine is gonna be an absolute superstar, so i don't think we'll have anything to fear at all, most of their players are getting very old now, Ul Haq, Khan, Rehman, Ajmal and Hafeez to name a few, plus their wicketkeeper is garbage.

[mikesiva]

Based on our batting against Bangladesh today, I don't see any reason to be optimistic....

[AFRO]

Based on our batting against Bangladesh today, I don't see any reason to be optimistic....

Yeah because a rubber match with half our first team missing really means something doesn't it Mike?

Barath, Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Chanders, Fidel, Rampaul and Bishoo weren't in the line-up, plus Baugh and Simmons , so again STOP TALKING NONSENSE PLEASE!!.

[BallOil]

Based on our batting against Bangladesh today, I don't see any reason to be optimistic....

patience Mike we rebuilding yet minnow Bangladesh routed us for paltry 61

[mikesiva]

1. UAE isn't even their real home ground so it's not like they are that used to the conditions themselves,

Pakistan have been playing at UAE for a while now, so it's like their home ground. They currently have Sri Lanka on the ropes, fighting for survival.

[AFRO]

Pakistan have been playing at UAE for a while now, so it's like their home ground. They currently have Sri Lanka on the ropes, fighting for survival.

Erm this is only their SECOND series in the UAE, so keep dreaming Mike!! , furthermore it wasn't that long ago that we made SL FOLLOW ON on their own pitch, plus they fell apart against England and were soundly beaten by Aus recently, so what Pak are doing is no surprise to anyone who has been watching!!.. SL bowling unit is just pathetic right now, so it's putting big pressure on their batters to perform.

[mikesiva]

Pakistan have been playing at UAE for a while now, so it's like their home ground. They currently have Sri Lanka on the ropes, fighting for survival.

Erm this is only their SECOND series in the UAE, so keep dreaming Mike!! , furthermore it wasn't that long ago that we made SL FOLLOW ON on their own pitch, plus they fell apart against England and were soundly beaten by Aus recently, so what Pak are doing is no surprise to anyone who has been watching!!.. SL bowling unit is just pathetic right now, so it's putting big pressure on their batters to perform.

They've played at UAE before this...It's not the first time that Pakistan haven't been able to play at home.

By the way, if Pakistan win this series 2-0, they will go into the Top Five long before we do!

Sri Lanka will then drop to number six, and we can try to set our sights on them....

But before you take out your rose-tinted glasses, we only made SL follow on in one match. The other one was heavily rained out, and in the third, you could almost say the rain came to OUR rescue.

[AFRO]

They've played at UAE before this...It's not the first time that Pakistan haven't been able to play at home.

By the way, if Pakistan win this series 2-0, they will go into the Top Five long before we do!

Sri Lanka will then drop to number six, and we can try to set our sights on them....

But before you take out your rose-tinted glasses, we only made SL follow on in one match. The other one was heavily rained out, and in the third, you could almost say the rain came to OUR rescue.

Erm playing a game there and GETTING USED TO THE CONDITIONS are two different things Mike!!.. i would have thought an old man like you would know that!! , furthermore the game isn't looking so "rosey" for Pak now is it? if SL bat out most of tomorrow then it really will be game on!!.

Lastly yes i know we made them follow on once!!.. are you suggesting that's not an achievement in it's self? IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'D DONE THAT IN 15 YEARS.. so drink that up and get over it!! .

[BallOil]

I think West Indies might even struggle to get in top 5 in T20 and ODI.

Test top 5 is a more tougher task with India, OZ, SRL, SA, ENG being leading teams. Can they perform better than Kiwis and Pak?

so you think its mission impossible? Come on our cricket Administrators know what they are doing. We are rebuilding but what they failed to realize is that other countries are constantly rebuilding but with a mix with seniors which ease the transition for the newbies. Rather than the supposedly wise ones in the Caribbean starting with a clean slate. What a genius move!

It's not impossible, but its very tough for West Indies. As you said the other teams are improving as well so the competition will still be there for top 5 spots. West Indies had only one player who could knocks double or triple and he is dropped. Chanders is on verge of retirement so discount him after 5 years as well. Who wills core doubles amongst the new West Indian batsmen. Who will score 150+

Wait, so you think we are being lied to? We have Sammy leading and Gibson working hard on the batting...