From ZeeNews

After so many false dawns, West Indies cricket fans will be wary of reading too much into Sunday`s third test win over England but in drawing the three test series, the Caribbean side showed some significant signs of improvement.

Barbados: After so many false dawns, West Indies cricket fans will be wary of reading too much into Sunday`s third test win over England but in drawing the three test series, the Caribbean side showed some significant signs of improvement.

West Indies cricket had been close to disintegration after last year`s cancelled tour of India and the bitter dispute between the players and the board.

The regional team has also suffered from the preference of several players for the shortest form of the game – Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine were among those on duty in the Indian Premier League during this series.

It may have been undiplomatic but it was not unreasonable for ECB chairman Colin Graves to describe West Indies as “mediocre” prior to the series.

But the appointment of former West Indies test batsman Phil Simmons as the new coach looks a smart move and together with bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose, the backroom team appear to have instilled some much needed professionalism into the team.

Sunday`s successful run chase, with the home side set a target of 192 on a wicket offering plenty of encouragement to the bowlers, was exactly the kind of situation that might have led to collapse under pressure for West Indies teams of the recent past.

Instead, Jermaine Blackwood and Darren Bravo knuckled down for a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership, scoring at steady rate in 31.5 overs, to set up the victory.

There was focus, discipline and skill in that partnership and Blackwood, by instinct a classic Jamaican strokeplayer, showed with his crucial unbeaten 47 he could also play the kind of sensible knock that was needed.

The 23-year-old`s 85 in the first innings and his unbeaten 112 in Antigua in the first test, illustrated that he could become the middle order presence that West Indies have so sorely lacked in recent times.

Jason Holder shows great promise with both bat and ball, his unbeaten 103 to save the first test was his only big score but his five wickets in Barbados were vital.

Kraigg Brathwaite would ideally have an experienced opening batting partner to guide him through this early stage of his career but he too will be encouraged by a century in the second test in Grenada.

Jerome Taylor, whose career looked almost over due to injury two years ago, now looks back to his best as his performance in Barbados, where he picked up six wickets, illustrated.

There is still a fragility to the batting, as the second test collapse in Grenada showed, but this is, by test standards, a very young team.

The opening batting pair in the third test, Bajans Brathwaite and Shai Hope, were 22 and 21-years-old respectively, an unusually youthful combination to head a batting line-up.

They will have to grow up quickly though – next up in June is a two test series against Australia which will offer a stern test of their technique and composure.

At least they will go into that mini-series in a positive mood after drawing with the third-ranked team in test cricket.

Reuters

For more on this story go to: http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/windies-show-promise-in-drawn-england-series_1589541.html

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Cricket-Moores may face the music after Caribbean flop

May 4 (Reuters) – England cricket captain Alastair Cook has denied there is any need for a review of the team’s failure to win the test series against West Indies but coach Peter Moores may feel uneasy on the flight back from the Caribbean.

Incoming board chairman Colin Graves promised in March there would be serious questions asked should England not beat a team he termed “mediocre”.

While Cook showed a promising return to form with the bat, striking a century in the third test loss in Barbados, Moores may feel the heat after the series ended a disappointing 1-1.

In his second stint as coach, Moores has had his share of inquisitions and was already under scrutiny after England’s group-stage exit from the World Cup.

That scrutiny intensified with the departure of managing director Paul Downton, who appointed him last year.

Cook said Moores had brought “a lot of good stuff” but admitted decisions about his own future and that of the coach were out of their hands.

“I don’t think it’s inquiry time when you look at how we played over the 13 days, but I think we can all sit in that dressing room and know we’ve let an opportunity go,” Cook said in comments published by British media.

Pundits and former players were less sanguine.

“How much Moores?” asked British tabloid, The Sun, in a headline on its website.

“Sometimes you have to accept it’s not working,” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.

If hauled before Graves, Moores will have to defend his team on a number of fronts. Some issues he can claim were beyond his control.

England wilted under pressure, said Cook, perhaps an understandable reaction from a young and still-developing team.

Yet batsman Jonathan Trott’s reinstatement will be harder to justify after the veteran’s poor series.

Selectors are also under scrutiny for not picking another spinner after part-timers Moeen Ali and Joe Root struggled.

While the England board are quiet on whether there is space for a coach under the new more powerful ‘director of cricket’ role to be filled, questions about Moores’ future ahead of home test series against New Zealand and Australia will continue.

Highly-rated former Australia test bowler Jason Gillespie, coach of county side Yorkshire, has been touted as a potential successor.

Shortly after England’s loss in Barbados, Gillespie told the Yorkshire Post he had not applied to become a full-time coach his home state South Australia in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition, raising speculation he could be set to take the England reins.

For more on this story go to: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/cricket-england-moores-cook-idUKL4N0XV12S20150504

Shane Warne slams ‘ridiculous’ England for defending performance in West Indies and calls for ‘huge change’

By Joe Ridge From Mailonline

England draw series 1-1 with West Indies after five-wicket defeat Barbados
ECB chairman elect described West Indies as ‘mediocre’ before tour
Captain Alastair Cook said ‘I don’t think it’s inquiry time’ after defeat
Shane Warne labels Cook and coach Peter Moores’ comments ‘ridiculous’

Shane Warne has torn into the England hierarchy for their ‘ridiculous’ comments following England’s Test series draw against the West Indies.

The Australia legend questioned whether England coach Peter Moores and captain Alastair Cook were on the ‘same planet as everyone else’ in the wake of Sunday’s defeat in Barbados.

England lost by five wickets at the Kensington Oval to a team ECB chairman elect Colin Graves had described as ‘mediocre’ before the series.

But after the match, Cook said: ‘I don’t think it’s inquiry time when you look at how we played over the 13 days.’

Warne, though, did not agree. He tweeted: ‘Heard the result in the Windies, congrats. 1-1 is a fair result between two evenly matched teams, even though ECB boss called them mediocre!

‘I just read Moores say ENG are improving ! Are you serious ? Ridiculous, I would demand a huge change asap if I was an England supporter !!!

‘Also, just read Cook say that the team had a good tour !!! Are the Capt & Coach on the same planet as everyone else ! Honesty please…’

Warne has been heavily critical of Cook in the past and has called for him to be replaced by the exiled Kevin Pietersen as captain.

IMAGE: Coach Peter Moores – whose future is in doubt – looks on before the end-of-series presentation

For more on thios story go to : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-3067206/Shane-Warne-slams-ridiculous-England-playing-England-s-poor-Caribbean-series-calls-huge-change.html#ixzz3ZBVDVi4l