Mind The Windows, Tino!

There was no stopping Freddy Flintoff during West Indies tour of England in 2004. Stacks of runs, plenty of wickets, and some priceless sledging saw England’s talisman at his indomitable best. In this clip, Flintoff puts Dwayne Bravo firmly in his place before psyching out tailender Tino Best with hilarious results.

Dwayne Brings The Pain Train

Kevin Pietersen appeared to be cruising towards his third century of the 2007 Test series against the Windies when a bolt from the blue delivered by Dwayne Bravo left England’s No.4 dazed and confused.

Gayle Force

Unfortunately we won’t be seeing Chris Gayle in action during the Test series but the West Indian masterblaster looks set to return for the ODIs that follow after a breakthrough in his feud with the WICB. Here’s a reminder of the damage he’s capable of dishing out. Imagine what he can do with two hands!

Click here to watch last week’s Caught On Camera, featuring some bizarre umpiring decisions

The Cricketing Twits tried, and for the most part failed, to show their romantic side this February 14. Ladies you may want to look away now…

1. Plan ahead – remember, remember the 14th of February. Ok that doesn’t really work.
Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket
In the mire. Forgot to book a restaurant for Valentine’s. Everywhere full. Got about 10 mins till age gets back from hairdresser… There are some interesting programmes on Arabic TV on Valentine’s night…. working hard to salvage… .Arabian Corrie not going down well
Disastrous evening. How does ‘she’ become ‘age’ on predictive text? Lenses in the bin. Room service. Arabian TV…….Dog house

2. It’s the thought that counts – a gate? Really???!!!!
David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd @BumbleCricket
got a lovely quiche on the go ..then Emmerdale , then footy .’vipers’ in for a great night .she’s dressed up for it, too ….
valentins day gift gone down really well …new side gate …wrought iron , too ….Vipers only has to fit it …will look great !

3. Tell them how you really feel – no love lost there methinks
Michael Vaughan @VaughanCricket
Message to customs… Don’t let Tevez back in the country please..

4. Make the lady feel special – ‘auditions’ might not be very special?
Herschelle Gibbs @hershybru
I’d love to have a valentine but none hear in dhaka, ill have to find one wen I get back to cape town in 2 weeks time..auditions soon!! Haha
Dwayne Bravo @Newbigdog
To all the sweet ladies out there, happy valentines day, hope you all getting spoilt today

5. Keep the mystery alive – keeping him on his toes Mrs Swann
Graeme Swann @Swannyg66
‘Thanks for the flowers darling’ said the wife this morning. ‘My pleasure’ I said. Now I just have to work out who’s sending my wife flowers

6. Get Bromantic – you heard it here first
Steven Finn @finnysteve
Happy valentines day everyone. Me and @StuartBroad8 will be having a romantic dinner tonight.
Stuart Broad @StuartBroad8
Romantic Valentines Day dinner for… ummm… 5.
Would like to say it’s me and 4 women but I’d be lying.

7. Help a friend out – pimping might be taking it a bit far though
Iain O’Brien @iainobrien
Currently on a Faux Date with @FlorenceMasoe. I’m marred, she’s single and I’m trying to hook her up with a yummy man.#VDaySolution

8. Be understanding – showing you care = quiet life. Simples!
Kevin Pietersen @kevinpp24
No earphones required today if you’ve remembered its Valentines Day… Have a great day x

9. The best things in life are free – but there is no need to tell everyone!
Stuart Broad @StuartBroad8
“@AbuDhabiDaz: the mrs enjoyed her valentines day treat at the ODI in Abu Dhabi.”>> with free tickets?! Wow you do treat her well!! Ha

10. Don’t panic – there has to be one good thing about being single on Valentine’s Day
Steven Finn @finnysteve
Also, like the other singletons, enjoying not having to panic about valentines day flowers!!
Graeme Swann @Swannyg66
I don’t suppose that there’s a postal strike or mass walkout by florists tomorrow to save my bacon?
Stuart Broad @StuartBroad8
The best thing about being single?! Watching the lads panicking about Valentines Day and what to buy the wife last minute…

You can follow all the cricketing action (and not just the lovebirds) in real-time on Tweetsport. You might just be surprised what you find…

Some days you wake up and fancy something different. You want to shake things up a bit and challenge yourself. So what did those cricketing ‘twits’ do for their ‘new thing this week’?

1. Be a (retro) popstar… sort of – sorry lads I’m not feeling it. Razor Ruddock was more believable!
@RonnieIrani1 Liverpool are back at Wembley for the first time since 96! So talkSPORT have turned us into Spice Boys, shocking!

2. Embrace your inner Carrie – that’s Carrie from Sex and the City (shoes, fashion) not Carrie from the Stephen King novel (homicidal teen). Just so we are clear…
@blowersh Past the first test: Michael Vaughan has approved of my Tod two-tone shoes!!!

@AlisonMitchell Morning! @blowersh has gone for the yellow trousers today. I’d say daffodil, but he’s a Norwich City fan so it would have to be canary…

3. Become a golf coach – those who can, do. Those who can’t, shout from the sidelines. No one likes a backseat driver.
@VaughanCricket Seen it all.. @bumblecricket showing Richard Green how to do it on the 1st tee at the Abu dhabi open.

4. Reconnect with your culture – an Indian, an Aussie and a South African…
@LalitKModi Happy Republic Day.

@warne888 How has everyone’s Australia day been ?? Hope every single one of you out there is smiling and feeling proud to be Australian !!! X

@hershybru Happy australian day to all the ozzies…question is..wat are the women gonna do for their country today!!!!

5. Get your groove on – Dwayne Bravo: the coolest man on the planet?
@Newbigdog Guess who’s back in the studio with the real big man? Watch this space friends & fans!

6. Stop putting off until tomorrow – and get very excited, indeed
@Swannyg66 Seeing as my umpteen hints were ignored for Christmas, I have decided to treat myself to the audiobook of I Partridge…

…it’s hard to explain just how excited I am about this. It’s like when they re-released Star Wars on my 18th birthday #soggyundies

7. Take in some culture – no shame Iain, Tintin is a classic
@iainobrien I’m doing something this afternoon that I’ve never done before… Bet you’ll never guess! For the first time ever I went and watched a movie by myself. A bit weird, snuck in and out while it was dark! #Tintin

@GaleyLad Silent films?!! Can’t get my head round that!!

8. Prove you are never to old to try something new – but maybe have someone younger around just in case
@VaughanCricket I cannot believe @beefybotham has just posted his email address???? and he tells me he isn’t getting old!!!!!!!

9. Go to war – well, try to at least
@finnysteve Just scratched my Modern Warfare 3 disk whilst moving my xbox around. In a whole world of pain now. Feel like crying.

10. Live the dream – you can’t argue with a photo like that 
@DaleSteyn62 Every golfers dream 18th! #sunset #iphone #golf @ Shandrani Golf Course

You can follow all the cricketing action (old and new) in real-time on Tweetsport. You might just be surprised what you find…

A new year, a fresh start. Nothing but potential ahead. So what resolutions have you made? To be a better person? Get fit? Use more of the herbs, spices and condiments in your kitchen cupboard?

Working on that work life balance has been the focus of sportsmen too. So what did those Cricketing Twits get up to away from the field?

1. Join a gym – but don’t overdo it!

Herschelle Gibbs (hershybru):

Back to Perth now, cortisone injection at 330 and a week off til the next game..wat to do that is the question!! Where’s the party at Thursdays in Perth…

Right injection done and dusted wasn’t too bad..docs orders to put feet up tonight but tomor we can let things down again..aviary look out..

2. Get outdoors more – is camouflage really necessary (see main picture!)?
albie morkel (albiemorkel):

Great weather in Slummies. Day off time for some fishing!

3. Take a break – pace yourself now…
Dwayne Bravo (Newbigdog):

Relaxed @ the beach earlier today then went onto a gr8 win 2nite! Thx 4 all ur support #RedForce

4. Stretch yourself – mush! hike!
Matthew hoggard (Hoggy602):

Anybody got any husky’s to help me pull this?

5. Try approaching things differently – could catch on?
Michael Vaughan (VaughanCricket):

Always great to bump into @Jess_Ennis .. But slightly concerned that she was making sand castles in long jump pit..

6. Learn to cook – didn’t work out so well last time Shane, mind yourself now.
Shane Warne (warne888):

Slipped into my sexy new diesel jeans and having a BBQ with my 3 children and their friends – wind still howling , but sun shining ! X

7. Get a new hobby – Herpetology anyone? (Study of amphibians, thank Google.)
Dale Steyn (DaleSteyn62):

A little visitor just came hopping into the house…

8. Lose some weight – who ate all the pies? Kevin apparently…
StuartBroad8 Stuart Broad

Too many mince pies over Xmas @kevinpp24 ?!

9. Get engaged – sorry Ladies
Jason Krejza (JK404):

Proposed to my girlfriend yesterday. She said yes! Officially off the market

10. Get some sun – but cover it up!
kevinpp24 Kevin Pietersen

Today will be spent on a sun lounger until the sun sets.. But, I just realised reading a book on an iPad in the sun is a no go.. #damn

StuartBroad 8 StuartBroad

England have done, but when will the whole world realise its unacceptable for men to wear speedos round the pool?! #horrendi

You can follow all the cricketing action (and not just the New Year’s resolutions) in real-time on Tweetsport. You might just be surprised what you find.

At the time of writing the West Indies look well placed, weather permitting, to take the spoils in the second Test against Bangladesh and claim a 1-0 series victory. It is a far cry from last weekend’s weather-affected encounter in which the hosts had much the better of an inevitable draw, with the best part of two days lost to inclement conditions.

It is another glaring example of the inconsistency shown by the men from the Caribbean in recent times, but the simple fact of the matter is that, should they finish the job, it will be a vital victory for a side that last won a Test match on foreign soil in December 2007 (against South Africa in Port Elizabeth) and have gone some eight years without winning a series on their travels – and that against a Zimbabwe side rebuilding after the 2003 World Cup against the backdrop of political conflict. Such statistics are unacceptable by any standards, even those set by the West Indies in the barren years since they set the benchmark for all to follow.

The first three days of the Mirpur Test provided a rare glimmer of hope for the West Indies with Kirk Edwards confirming the talent he displayed earlier this summer with a debut century against India, by scoring another in the first innings in Mirpur and following that up with a well compiled 86 in the second dig. The Bajan has shown patience and good shot selection here as he did in that knock against India, which bodes well for the future. The challenge for him will be to maintain this, particularly with a tougher challenge ahead on Indian soil. The West Indian public will also have to show patience with him and remember that he is a young man with only 28 first-class appearances under his belt.

In contrast, the much-vaunted Darren Bravo has rather flattered to deceive given his immense promise, without an international century to his name… until this match. It has long been evident that the young left-hander is incredibly gifted, but he has shown a lack of discipline and patience on several occasions prior to his maiden ton in Mirpur.

He has, however, worked hard at his game and his short stint with Nottinghamshire at the end of the county season has clearly prepared him very well for the winter ahead. Like Edwards, he will need to work hard to maintain the consistency if he is to do justice to his talent, but the relief and joy was palpable as he finally reached that milestone.

If Bravo and Edwards are the faces of the future, then their namesakes represent several of the issues that have dogged West Indian cricket over the last decade. Fidel Edwards (no relation to Kirk) and Dwayne Bravo (the elder half-brother of Darren) are both blessed with great talent but their careers have been punctuated by injury and inconsistency.

Edwards’ record of 143 wickets in eight years over 47 Test matches is simply not good enough for a bowler of his natural athleticism and pace. Ottis Gibson proved himself to be a very good bowling coach during his stint with England and the early signs of his impact on Edwards, who at 29 is not beyond redemption by any means, are positive. He bowled well against India and his five-wicket haul in the first innings in Mirpur will give hope to those who know what he is capable of.

Many share the same belief in Bravo Snr who, when he made his debut in 2004, was feted as the great hope of West Indian cricket, the first natural allrounder in a generation. However, a batting average of 31.42 (including three centuries) and a return of 86 wickets at an average of 39.83 is a poor record for a player of such all-round talent. Being named captain of the West Indies A team to host Bangladesh was seen by some as a return to the fold; however, I cannot help but see it as a massive fall from grace for someone who was meant to represent the future of West Indian cricket.

Both have been blighted by injury, inconsistency in selection and continued changes of management. However, like so many of the recent era, they have simply failed to fulfil their talent. Because it is not talent that has been lacking in West Indian cricket; indeed, they’ve had talented cricketers that other nations would have envied. However, if there were a league table for the side that has most wasted its ability the West Indies would be out of sight with a few games in hand. It has to stop now, and a series victory over Bangladesh would represent the right time and the right place to start the process.