Captain of the Australian Cricket Team, Michael Clarke, says he is “probably happy” that Dominican spin bowler, Shane Shillingford, will not be part the West Indies cricket team for the first of two Tests kicking off on Wednesday at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.
“We are probably happy that Shane’s not playing,” Clarke told members of the media with chuckles.
Clarke probably has reasons to be thankful Shillingford was not selected to play in the upcoming Tests.
In 2012, Shillingford wreaked havoc among the Australian team at the same venue capturing 10 wickets for 219. He became the first West Indies spinner, since Lance Gibbs captured 10 for 106 against England 1966, to achieve the feat and the second WI spin bowler to ever take 10 wickets in the Caribbean.
However, Clarke believes the West Indies team is a good one.
“I think they have a couple of very good spinners and their fast bowling is very strong as well,” he said. “That’s one of their strengths, their bowling attacks, so we have to make sure we are switched on with the bats and we will find a way to be successful in these conditions.”
The Australian skipper said members of his team will put their best foot forward.
“We know we have to do our best; we know the West Indies are high on confidence after drawing the series against England, so we have to make sure we are playing some really good cricket,” he noted.
He said although some team members have not played a Test match for some time and some players are coming from the Indian Premiere League (IPL), they are well prepared.
“I think the positive is that the guys have been playing cricket, whether is in the IPL or in the United Kingdom,” he remarked. “We have no excuses, we are as well prepared as we can be, we are ready for this Test match to start tomorrow.”
Meantime Clarke said the injury of the team’s left-hand opening batsman, Chris Rogers, will not make much of a difference since there are other options.
“It hasn’t made much of a difference at this stage. I think the good thing about our squad is we’ve got options; we’ve got plenty of guys who can open the batting and fill Chris’s position for this Test match,” he said. “Obviously I would love everybody to be fit and available for selection but I feel for Chris but that’s the way it goes. I will find a way to manage and make do.”
Why is not Shane Shillingford, Shriv and Theophile on the team? Shillingford passed the test and was re-admitted into 1st class cricket, performed very outstanding in the just concluded regional competition, he has a record performance against the Aussies at the Windsor Park:, similarly despite Shriv’s dismal form; Shriv is reliable and dependable especially when all else is crumbling; he has scored the most test runs at WPSS, including 2 centuries; aware that he is on his way out he would be motivated to bat forever; Regards Theophile, he scored and performed well in the domestic and regional tournament; last couple games granted he failed, (Bravo on occasion also but still kept on the team), difference he would be at an asset to W.I playing in familiar conditions; What all three have in common: all playing on home ground (Shriv being a citizen), outcome massive crowd support, ; impact psychological pressure on the Aussies and good economics for W.I; result a win, win for us.
This is how nasty the region has become! We have politicized everything including private events. I believe that Chanderpaul should be given a final chance even after he failed against England but most importantly Shane Shilling ford, After having taken 10 wickets and breaking those records he should have been called. This would have created a fear in the minds of the Australians and possible giving up the edge.
You see, we have representatives here in Dominica who sit after the greed of money saying nothing but for themselves while our talents are funneled and bottled up! We have no voice in Dominica, much less for the Caribbean. This is a reality that we are blinded to.
On another note we should all show up to the games to prove to the Caribbean that Cricket is still alive here.
We have to be realistic folks. Shane is not the force he used to be the last time the Aussies came around. His Doosra has been banned.
Well said, simple and direct. Soon there will be comments about small island and big island, the fact is he is no longer a threat to batsmen.
slap in the incompetent selectors,i hope the aussie beat west indies to the core,it seems they respect our players more than our own.
Certainly . Clarke knows about Shane , not being part of W.I team for a while now , and must be wondering why, such an effective and experienced offspinner not been recalled . I sensed that he realizes , playing us at home ,is not always one of total dominion , like it used to be, but that ,they will be watchful, recognizing some noticeable improvement in the team .
I hope the M I R machine at the Princess Margaret is in excellent working condition. Dominica has a reputation when involves specific medical machines. Dominicans cannot forget not long ago the hospital was infested with bed bugs and pulbouis. It is also alleged the President of Dominica had to be placed in an usual ward, because other appropriate wards were not available. I wish Mr. Rogers of the Australian Cricket Team the best of help and hope the man will not be placed in an embarrassing situation.
You are so full of manure!!! And your point is????
Cyrique, that’s not how we spell manure. Manure starts with a S and ends with a T. Him full of S..T
Bondiay some people really cannot read to understand eh boi…smh.
Did the article state in any way, shape or form that Chris Rogers was on island?? Jeez!
You senseless donkey. What kind of a person are you?
What does MRI machine have to do with Aussies being happy Shane is not on the WI team!!! Stuuuuuppes!!
Smh! Fell on your head man bro??
It’s a shame on the West Indies Board.!! Listen to the Aussies.
i would of love to see chanderpaul come here to play again make his 100 plus and be happy and he would retire here after all he has a dominican passport, shame on the selectors and wicb.
As a young man living in Dominica, I have always looked at the West Indies Board who oppress the smaller island states and wish we had a situation where we had an equal vote per island/country on the composition of the entire team or at least 60% of the team with an island/country not being able to vote for any player from their territory. I am sure we would have a more balanced team that truly reflects the best talent available from all the countries.
That is a very good idea.It would follow the system that governs the Euro vision Song Contest . No Participating Countries can vote for its Own Contestant.
Allyuh hear that? And all the time allyuh fighting for Chanderpaul.
Cyrique you still have not learnt. You do nothing to promote your own yet you accuse others who try.
At least people talked of Chanderpaul. YOU DID NOTHING. I say this not to offend you but to wake you up to joining in supporting your own, whether it is Shane Chanderpaul or the present team playing tomorrow.
but he a Dominican too oui