 So we are beginning this abbreviated edition of the Sportsmax own with Cricket veteran Kemar Roach is hoping that the Westerners ballers can reproduce the quality they showed in the first test when the Caribbean men take on Australia in the second test day night affair at the Gabba in Brisbane. The match is set to start at 12 midnight Eastern Caribbean time 11 in Jamaica and it will be live on Sportsmax. The winners who lost the first test by 10 wickets have taken positives from the fast bowling performance and Roach who is the most senior of that unit spoke on how impressed he was sharing the ball with two Josephs, Shamar and Alzari. Guys have come in, obviously Alzari is probably a senior player now. He's been playing for just as much as the Westerners now. So he's communicating much better. He's learning a lot more and he's been doing well in all three formats. So the young Josephs now Shamar are coming in obviously his first test series away. Obviously he has a tough Australian side. I think he handled himself pretty well, as you can see. And he's a very confident young man and I'm looking forward to both of him. He shares a lot of information with me and we have a lot conversations and he has a good energy that I love. So I'm happy to be around him obviously to be as far as career, obviously starting of it and let's see how long he can be at the end of it. So he's destined to be good and I hope he just puts the work in and puts some good performances with us in it. Okay, so joining us to preview the second test match in Brisbane, Fazir Mohamed. Faz, your prediction for the opening test in Adelaide was a loss for the West Indies inside three days. This second test is a day-night fixture. The Australians have never lost a day-night match and somehow the odds are stopped heavily against the West Indies. Again, what's your first thought on the job the West Indies has to do here to avoid defeat? Well, I suspect it's going to be even tougher this time around. The best prospect of avoiding defeat is maybe three days of rain, which is unlikely to happen at the Gaba. Because let's face it again, we're talking about a hugely experienced and successful and professional team playing at a venue where they hardly ever lose. They lost to India a couple of seasons ago. One was a significant one. Of course, the West Indies and the Caribbean's teams pumped in the 70s and 80s would start series by winning at Brisbane as the famous Thai test at Brisbane as well. But again, generally, when you talk about playing at the Gaba, a seamless track, even more so a day-night fixture, pink ball moving around, exaggerated movement in those conditions. And the experience of the Australian bowlers, even if the West Indies played to their very best with the resources that they have available to them, I can't see them getting the better of Australia. Yeah, and the previews suggesting today that Kevin Sinclair could take Gouda Kish motor spot in the 11, in one change, is that something you welcome? I have no problem with that. In fact, I thought that maybe both spinners might have played in the test match in Adelaide. But again, it was such an abbreviated encounter. There was little opportunity for the slow bowlers to have a say. And this is also one of the challenges. Not saying that Gouda Kish motor must be the first choice, but if you're going to really establish someone as your front-line spinner, it makes it difficult when you're in and in and you're out. But I thought that Sinclair would have played in the first test match alongside Morty. It didn't happen. But now he has his chance. So again, it reinforces how useless these two test series are because if he has a good game now, Sinclair or any other bowler for that matter or any other batter for the West Indies, to say, well, now they can move on to the next series with confidence, that's not until July when so much could happen along the way. But yeah, I hope the young man takes this opportunity. We've seen him in the white ball format in West Indies colors already. He's really confident and brilliant. That celebration, the flip when he takes the wickets and so on. Let's hope that we see a couple of those celebrations during the course of the test match. Yeah, Fazwan, Sports Mac's own presenter who will remain nameless. He told me earlier today that with this match starting at 11 o'clock, there is less likelihood that he'll watch much of the cricket compared to last week's evening starts in Brisbane. How much sleep will you be losing tonight? Well, let's just do the process of elimination. One Sports Mac's presenter who shall be nameless, he said, so it can't be you, it can't be Mariah. So let's guess for a whole week. Is it a current or a form of presenter, Lance? Current. Oh, it is. Oh, I wonder who that could be. We didn't even need to know that. Let's leave that alone for the moment and let people try to work out who we're talking about. But yeah, I could understand that because it really leaves you fearful of what could happen to the West Indies. You can only hope that the players take on the challenge as positively as they can. Even though, again, everything points to them being outgunned in every way by this very strong Australian team in conditions to which they are ideally suited. But again, having recognized that in every likelihood, it's going to be another steamrolling victory by Australia. I think you want to see these players do well as far as whatever opportunities come their way. Try to build an innings. Take the chances that come your way in the field. Not be set up over and over again by the opposition, as we saw with Joshua De Silva. So it's so very important for their personal development, apart from, of course, being part of the West Indies, for them to have some sort of performance that offers a measure of encouragement moving deep into 2024. Yeah, you speak about forms of encouragement and, of course, just taking the opportunity that comes to hand fast. One such player was Kirk McKenzie. He got that start. He was doing well, but, of course, he lost his wicket. And I would say, for me, some of the manner in which these players give away their wickets and I'm using the word give away, I feel as if it's so irresponsible, I'm hoping that Kirk McKenzie, one of those players, can continue from that first test. Your thoughts? I hear your point on referencing it as irresponsible. But again, I reference the fact that, one, we're talking about players with very little experience, if any at all, at this level of the game. And two, performances at our regional post-class level where the standard is low, their numbers aren't outstanding. So essentially, it's sort of like the under-19s where you see them almost wanting to play a shot a ball, even though they want to date, which is good. But again, the way they play the last match, losing with 10 overs to spare, it seems that for many of them, and we're talking now back to the test squad, that it's not automatic for them to do what is required when we talk about test match batsmanship. And again, the flip side is, if you want to occupy the crease for a long time, as the likes of Craig Brathwood, Ortega Narang, Chanderpole are wound to do, it's not going to succeed in a place like Australia if you're entirely strokeless, as we saw happening on the first morning of the first test, because sooner or later, the bowlers are going to get you. So that is where the challenge comes in, for the stodgy ones to be a bit more positive without risking their wickets. And for those with hardly any experience to learn somehow what is required to bat for long periods in the toughest circumstances possible. Yeah, and I'm hoping, Farz, as you mentioned, that of course, the players that have more experience, because you're right when you say, these players have not played enough cricket to be going up, you know, fighting against an opponent like Australia. I'm hoping that the Craig Brathwoods, the ones with the experience, can actually occupy the crease. Tate Narang, Chanderpole really announced himself, and yet to see him put on another big score, I'm hoping he could at least get a start against Australia. Yes, and it's so important that getting that start, but getting runs as well. As we saw on the first test, they batted for over half an hour, but from the moment they went, the wickets started to tumble, and then we saw better resistance, McKenzie leading the way with that half-century. So it's not like taking on Zimbabwe in those slow, low pitches, and as we saw from Chanderpole, getting a double 100. We want to see more like Brathwood of 13, 14 months ago, where he got that 100 in per, when we saw successive big partnerships with himself and Chanderpole. At least that is going to give the younger players to come, who might be really very nervous about this sort of challenge, day and night conditions as well, to get a bit of confidence, to see the top two, provide the sort of resistance that is necessary, but no question about it. It is going to be extremely difficult. Yeah, Faiz, you know, despite the daunting task facing this West Indus team in Australia, as cricket fans, as regional cricket fans, we dig for positives. And one positive I'll suggest that I've seen on this tour, and I'm really digging here, is that there has been a certain unity that I've recognized with this unit in Australia, a type of unity that I think is quite commendable, the way they played the cricket in the first test, the way they rallied around each other. And I feel that sometimes, if you have that more often with better quality, there can be more success. But I just felt that was really good to see in the first test. Well, let me contradict you right away. Sure. I would rather have a bunch of players cussing one another every Monday morning and wanting to fight in the dressing room, as happened in the time of the 80s and 90s when the West Indus were winning and winning on the field, rather than a happy, together, unified bunch of players who are losing and losing by a mile and a half. I'm not just detracting from what you're saying about them being together and unified, but let me just draw an example for you. When the West Indus lost the test match at Headingley inside two days into the year 2000 on the way to surrendering the wisdom trophy, when they turned up for training next, you couldn't have seen a happier bunch of guys. They were all happy, they were all together. So I think that is sort of like a false image, a misleading image, because West Indians generally, West Indus players generally, get along quite well together. As I said, I rather they not speak to each other, but win on the field. Yeah, well, I don't think you're gonna see that type of quality anytime soon, Fuzz. So I would suggest to you that the unity is required to help the team move forward because the quality certainly isn't there and certainly isn't there to take on the likes of an Australia. A quick one, Fuzz, Kimar Roach. I listened to him speak about the fast bowlers in the unit and about his role and the players coming to him and speaking with him. I've been rather impressed with Kimar Roach and I wonder if you think he is the type of player who could transition seamlessly into a coaching role in the West Indus setup. I wouldn't be surprised if the next West Indus assignment, Kimar Roach is included in the squad as bowling coach because essentially he's been there long enough. We were talking from 2009 to the present time if you're talking Test Math Cricket, that's 14 years and he's seen it all. And again, he's even done a couple of stints as a television commentator, which tells you that he is a decent communicator. He is someone who quite clearly sees that role as a mentor, as a senior player, as someone who could impart that knowledge. And I think this could very well be the perfect transition time because you've got young fast bowlers, you've got Jaden Seales, still battling injury, you've got King Jordan, who many have suggested might be able to come in to the final 11 tonight. We'll have to wait and see. But again, I think Kimar Roach, who is a sensible individual from all my discussions with him that I would have had previously, would recognize that he's coming to the end of his career. And indeed, maybe that transition to some role with the West Indies team, whichever format is almost inevitable. Yeah, fast over in South Africa today, the young West Indies secured their first victory of the Under 19 World Cup as they defeated Scotland in that fixture. It was their second match of the series and they were up against a Scottish team that had lost to the English team in their earlier game. And the West Indies had won the toss, they elected to field and limited Scotland to 205 for nine off their 50 overs. Isaiah Thorn, the pick of the bowlers, the guy in the space with 4 for 46. And then after a shaky start in the run chase, man of the match, Joel Andrew continued his impressive start to the competition stroking an impressive 64, not out to lead the Windies to victory. For as you referenced the sort of happy goal, the lucky nature of the West Indies young batsmen in South Africa earlier on when you were talking about this or briefing the test match. Some evidence of that again today, but as you just mentioned, they ended up winning, which wasn't the case when they faced the host last week. Correct, and maybe against a higher quality team like England, who they're playing in two days time, which is going to be critical obviously because England have played 2-1-2. South Africa will know what they need to do in their final game coming up against Scotland the day after. So really the top order has to click. You can't have a situation where you're relying on your number six to pull you out of the fire every time. Like, okay, granted, it happened in the first match and again, because of that excessive aggression, West Indies lost the match with 10 overs to spare. This time around, they were able to pull it off and all credit to Joel Andrews for the way he's played. Should he be coming higher up the order? Because the top order looks very vulnerable and I think England have that mix of pace and spin, it's a wrist spin as well, that are going to present some challenges. But yes, a win is a win. It's good to get that victory, good to get that bit of confidence from the game, but surely they need to look at the stability of that top order going into that game against England. I want to suggest as well, Dolfaz, that while it was infuriating to see the West Indies batsmen giving their wickets away this morning, it struck me that it was the result of overconfidence and feeling comfortable at the crease, unlike the West Indies seniors who are taking on the Australians who are struggling to cope with the quality of the bowling. And I just wonder if there isn't just a thin line between confidence and overconfidence, because the top order batsmen haven't done anything yet on the 19th tournament, but they are solid batsmen as far as quality is concerned. I don't think they are inferior to Joel Andrew, who is the one who has stood up and batted so far. But I take the point that they have to be more responsible if they're going to take on and beat England in their next game, which they have to. Absolutely, and you're right. There is that fine line because you could run down the track and hoist someone over long off and you're praised and is described as a really audacious shot. You run down the track the next morning, you miss it by a mile and a half on your stump and you're ridiculed and you're pilloried. That's the way it goes. But again, the numbers don't lie. They may not tell you the entire story, but they don't lie. And therefore, if these players are as confident as they appear, then get the runs. Get the runs that reflect that confidence. Don't get 20 or 11 or 17 or 27. And then get out, take the match to its logical conclusion of a Westernese victory and you're maybe 87 not out or 120 not out. And then we can say, okay, you have that sensible head on the shoulders to match that supreme confidence. Okay, Faas, we're going to leave it there. And we're counting down the hours to your midnight start of the test match in Brisbane. Western is taking on the Aussies in this day night fixture and I'm sure we'll talk about that tomorrow and the day after as well. Thanks, Faas. Thank you. Yeah, back with more on the sports match zone after this.