Batsman Devon Smith from the West Indies hooks the ball for a boundary during the second day of the first Test match against Australia in Brisbane yesterday. Smith has so far topscored for the Windies with 88. - REUTERS BRISBANE, Australia, CMC:
WEST INDIES fast bowling legend Michael Holding has called for the reinstatement of all-rounder Dwyane Bravo to the West Indies team.
The 51-year-old, a member of the Sky TV commentary panel for the three-Test series, said Bravo would bring more options to the regional team in the series against the Australians and should replace the out-of-sorts Jermaine Lawson.
"I think Bravo just offers more in terms of consistency and pressure because Jermaine is just not into gear at the moment," the Weekend Australian quoted Holding as saying.
"Corey Collymore was outstanding. He hit the seam and made the batsmen play and really troubled them."
A BETTER BALANCE
He continued: "Unfortunately, we weren't able to capitalise on that because the other guys just let the pressure off at different times. Having Bravo in the team just gives the bowling a better balance in my opinion."
Bravo has managed to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder in his seven Tests for the West Indies, taking 20 wickets and scoring 397 runs, including one century.
He was, however, overlooked by tour selectors as the West Indies sought to field four fast bowlers for the opening Test at the Gabba.
Holding, who grabbed 249 wickets in 60 Tests, said the West Indies bowling was lacking the edge necessary to stamp the authority on the batting side.
"Our inability to finish a side or really take advantage once we get on top is certainly a problem," Holding pointed out.
BATTING LOOKS SETTLED
"Our batting looks very settled at the moment but our bowlers are still pretty inexperienced."
He continued: "It showed on the first day and it showed against the tailenders. Against the top order they kept the ball up and in the right area most of the time but once they got to the lower order and the batting got a little unorthodox, (Daren) Powell, (Fidel) Edwards and Lawson just lost their line and length completely."
Holding said Edwards was the only one of the current West Indies battery with genuine pace and should be encouraged to bowl quickly.
"He is probably the only one with the genuine, raw pace and you never want to take that away from a young fast bowler," Holding noted.
"You can work on things like line and length, but you can't teach speed. You either have speed or you don't."
Says Jermaine Lawson should be dropped
AUSTRALIA 1st Innings
(overnight 340 for seven)
M. Hayden lbw b Collymore 37
M. Hussey c wkpr Ramdin b D. Powell 1
R. Ponting c Sarwan b Lawson 149
M. Clarke c wkpr Ramdin b Collymore 5
S. Katich c Gayle b Collymore 0
+A. Gilchrist lbw b Collymore 44
S. Watson lbw b Edwards 16
S. Warne c wkpr Ramdin b D. Powell 47
B. Lee c Collymore b D. Powell 47
N. Bracken c Sarwan b Edwards 37
G. McGrath not out 6
Extras (b5, lb13, w6, nb22) 46
TOTAL (all out) 435
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-101, 3-108, 4-111, 5-215, 6-273, 7-294, 8-369, 9-417.
Bowling: Edwards 21.3-1-94-2 (nb10, w2); Powell 20-1-100-3 (nb4, w2); Collymore 26-4-72-4 (w1); Lawson 14-0-73-1 (nb8, w1); Samuels 4-0-29-0; Gayle 20-3-49-0.
WEST INDIES 1st Innings
C. Gayle c wkpr Gilchrist b McGrath 10
D.S. Smith b McGrath 88
R. Sarwan c wkpr Gilchrist b McGrath 21
B. Lara lbw b Lee 30
S. Chanderpaul c Bracken b Warne 2
M. Samuels c wkpr Gilchrist b McGrath 5
+D. Ramdin not out 12
D. Powell not out 4
Extras (lb7, nb3) 10
TOTAL (6 wkts) 182
F. Edwards, C. Collymore, J. Lawson to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-74, 3-134, 4-149, 5-161, 6-174.
Bowling; McGrath 18-2-58-4; Lee 12-4-50-1 (nb3); Bracken 10-4-23-0; Warne 20-5-43-1; Clarke 2-0-1-0.
Position: West Indies trail by 253 runs with four first innings wickets standing.
Umpires: R. Koertzen, I. Howell (TV Replays: P. Parker).
Match Referee: M. Procter.
