West Indies Cricket Fans

A forcing shot from the back foot off me when I had thrown my hands in the air, expecting the ball to bowl him.

No man could get his bat down in time to play a defensive shot to this top-spinner on a good length on the middle and off stumps.....obviously he hasn't picked it .....he thinks it's going to spin from the off and I've got him....

It's easy, of course, to be wise after the event. In fact he hadn't picked it as a top-spinner, and he did think it was going to spin from the off. As it skidded off the pitch and made for the off stump he was forced to change his shot completely and, instead of hitting it through mid-wicket where he obviously originally intended, he flashed his wrists and hit it between mid-off and myself like a bullet.

Arnik wrote:

Rev wrote:What says you Mapoui ? Bet you weren't aware of Sobers ordinariness against Aus/NZ.
Rev

In looking at Sobers I do not think that his performances against Australia and new Zealand can be lumped together.

Sobers v Australia
In the West Indies
9 tests, 38.87 average, 0 centuries

In Australia
10 tests, 46.35 average, 4 centuries

Now in the West Indies 4 of his tests against Australia was when he was 19 years old in 1955.

In 1965 he had just been appointed WI captain. IMO that was not a strong Australian side and WI won that series fairly comfortably with Sobers not getting a century and only averaging 39.11 with a highest score of I think 60+.

There can be no doubt about his performances in Australia when he has 4 centuries in 10 tests and the excellent average of 46.35.

Sobers stats does NOT include his stint as captain of the World XI that played a series of 5 tests against Australia in Australia in 1971/72. In those he averaged 48.71 and played what Sir Don Bradman at the time said was the best innings he had seen.

So no Sobers was NOT ordinary against Australia.

Rev wrote: Sober's overall test average was 57.78.

BUT IN 19 TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA SOBERS ONLY AVERAGED 43.14

And his CONSISTENCY(50+ scores as a % of innings played) AGAINST AUSTRALIA WAS AN ORDINATY 26.3%----Sobers had ten 50+ scores in 38 innings against Aus.


CONCLUSION:

THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE---With an average of 43.14 and a CONSISTENCY of 26.3% in 19 tests against Australia, Sobers was ordinary ---compared to his overall 57.78 average and 35.0% consistency.

Rev

Arnik wrote:
A test average of 43.14 is NOT ordinary and his average in Australia is well above ordinary.

There aren't too many WEST Indian players who can match him in Australia and certainly NONE of the current lot.

Rev wrote:By Sobers' high standards---57.78 test average and a 35% CONSISTENCY in 93 tests----his 43.14 average and 26.3% CONSISTENCY in 19 tests against Australia was ordinary.

PAY ATTENTION TO SOBERS' CONSISTENCY AGAINST AUSTRALIA

* 10 scores over 50(4 hundreds and 6 fifties) in 38 innings = 26.3% consistency.

SOBERS WAS ORDINARY AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

Rev

Arnik wrote:I am NOT talking about Sobers high standards NOR are I am talking about "consistency".

BY NO MEASURE WAS SOBERS ORDINARY AGAINST AUSTRALIA IN AUSTRALIA. YOU ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WHO CLINGS TO THAT NOTION.

The most distinguished innings of the season came from the captain, G.S. Sobers, 35, when in Melbourne at the New Year he scored 254 runs against Australia. It was an unforgettable display, combining such elegance of stroke play, power and aggression that the crowds responded ecstatically...

"I believe Gary Sobers' innings was probably the best ever seen in Australia. The people who saw Sobers have enjoyed one of the historic events of cricket. They were privileged to have such an experience"

Arnik wrote:Sobers was GREAT against Australia in Australia.