Little Richard

Clarke and Dhoni updated after the end of the test.

Sportsbet were paying $1.03 odds that Bird would be in some kind of injury treatment this year.

Thanks H_T for organising this, it was great fun despite my poor grasp of the rules of the game lol. Here is a quick rundown of my team, which leaves a bit to be desired in the end... (I will update Clarke and Dhoni at the end of this test). Gautam Gambhir, 31 (IND) - 54 tests, 4021 runs @ 44.18 with 9 Hundreds and 21 Fifties. Umar Akmal, 22 (PAK) - 16 tests, 1003 @ 35.82, 1/6 Darren Bravo, 24 (W.I) - 21 tests, 1637 @ 46.77, 4/8 Ross Taylor, 28 (N.Z) - 43 tests, 3268 @ 43.57, 8/17 Michael Clark, 31 (AUS) - TBA Francois (Faf) du Plessis, 28 (R.S.A) - 7 tests, 558 @ 69.75, 2/2 (First Class, 85 matches, 41 wickets @ 35.80, legbreak) Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 31 (IND) - TBA Mitchell Johnson, 31 (AUS) - 50 tests, 1403 @ 22.62, 1/7 205 wickets @ 30.63, 5wi (7)/10wm (1) Doug Bracewell, 22 (N.Z) - 15 tests, 46 wkts @ 31.89, 2/0 James Anderson, 30 (ENG) - 77 tests, 288 wkts @ 30.39, 12/1 Ajantha Mendis, 27 (SL) - 16 tests, 62 wkts @ 32.48, 3/1 So after analysing my team more closely, I am pretty happy with the batting lineup though the bowling is less impressive. No bowlers with an average under 30 and two part timers (Clarke and du Plessis) making up the all rounders bowling quota. However this was a worthy sacrafice I think - both players are very capable of picking up partnership breaking wickets. Happy with a partnership of Johnson and Anderson - I reckon these two bowling together would cause a lot of trouble as they are two extremely different bowlers and would complement each other well.

Got starts in most games in that series, still a healthy career average at about 36. Good enough.

90. Umar Akmal (Pak). Anyone remember him? Debuted at 18 or 19 and starred straight away, very classy batsman. Form has left him a bit the last couple of seasons but only 22 now so expecting him back in the Pakistani line up soon. Brother of Kamran, ex keeper.

Haha just kidding. 89. Ajantha Mendis SL I need a tick to think about Pakistan.

Sorry, just saw the order. Ah shoot, I'm about to jump on a plane and I'll be away for three weeks, alright if I make my selections when I return?

So to clarify, am I up now or is it TD?

Haha sorry guys, I wasn't completely serious. Take it whenever.

I want to argue this. As your indescretion was the most recent, I reckon your puck should fall at the end.

Henriques has batted well today, didn't really expect him to bring much to the table but he wasn't too bad.

Good pick up, though he is really yet to prove himself outside the subcontinent.

No apologies necessary, I'll just have to pull out two gems at the end! Ideas are percolating...

Ashwin looking dangerous, should take a bunch of wickets this series.

Haha no sweat, my lack of concentration usually means I don't read the fine print. These are the consequences!

F***, I hate these rules

Never! Haha I was actually going to take him a couple of rounds ago but thought he might slip a bit more. Looks like I grabbed him at the right time!Between Powell, Darren Bravo, Narine and a few other guys, the Windies are building a very talented (very) young side. Will be interesting to see how they develop in the next few years. Could they become a strong test nation again? Or continue to flop in every match longer than 20 overs?

Haha, in need of an opener 45?

82. Kieran Powell (West Indies).

Not thinking of his uncle John are you? His old man only played a few tests I think.

Just quietly, Philander is a star. I don't think he should try and 'boost his pace' later in the innings though. If it ain't broke don't fix it and with Philander's injury history I don't think his captain should be pushing him towards another injury through over exertion.

At 22 I think he's a great bowling hope for them, big and strong, had height and does enough with it. He's not slow either. NZ are surprisingly building a reasonable battery of young quicks with Bracewell, Southee and Boult as well as a couple of others!

Doug Bracewell (NZ)

I reckon you stole my list!

But sadly in my next four picks I won't be grabbing Marshall, Benjamin, Walsh and Ambrose