West Indies v England

Rjd2 · 13-04-2015 7:58pm #1

first test started today, nothing from new opener Trott, Cook and Ballance, however Bell and Root fighting back nicely.

Benn bowling non threatening ****e as he has for a long time now, really should have gone for Bishoo in the team with Holder at seven and Blackwood carrying drinks.

167/3

Tea, one session left.

West Indies after a good first session, have lost control, and will really need a few wickets tonight as the first innings score could get huge as the pitch looks harmless.

Dozen Wicked Words · 13-04-2015 9:38pm

Bell has played well, steadied the ship after rocky England start.

Rjd2 · 13-04-2015 10:09pm

He has been good indeed.

Poor Benn wont get his century today.

Gillespy · 14-04-2015 4:50pm

West Indies have fought back well this morning but damage is done. England will take 400 in the first innings every time.

Rjd2 · 15-04-2015 1:21am

Yeah the West Indies are fighting, but England are still in a very strong position. Shiv can be a nuisance, but he needs partners to give him some support. England will feel comfortable if they bundle them out for 300 or so.

Rjd2 · 15-04-2015 8:03pm

Fine performance by Tredwell, wasn't keen myself but for once English selectors got it right.

Totally overshadowed the West Indies "spinner".

Blackwood rode his luck, but he has something about him.

England look like they have this game under control.

Gillespy · 15-04-2015 8:10pm

Trott's return to test cricket hasn't gone well.

Rjd2 · 15-04-2015 8:39pm

Dravid hated opening and he was an immense batsman, its a really tough adjustment. I think they still hammer this lot, so he will get another chance or two, but at the moment, doubtful if Australia are to worried about he or Cook.

Gillespy · 15-04-2015 8:48pm

I haven't been able to watch too much, what have they been saying about Trott opening when he's not an opener? Needs must with Ali out but they could have done more to protect him on his return.

Rjd2 · 15-04-2015 9:22pm

Gillespy wrote: »

I haven't been able to watch too much, what have they been saying about Trott opening when he's not an opener? Needs must with Ali out but they could have done more to protect him on his return.

They had Adam Lyth who opened for Yorkshire and was excellent last season for them in the squad, he could have opened. The issue with Trott is its number 3 or open really,the middle order is packed and they want to squeeze both in.

They should win this test and he will get another few chances so its a bit crazy to give up on him yet, but initial signs aren't promising.

It probably doesn't help Trott that he opens with a horribly out of form Cook either though.

Rjd2 · 15-04-2015 10:39pm

England finished the day strongly enough. West Indies need to find a spinner because like in the first innings, any pressure the quicks built up by taking wickets evaporated once Benn and Samuels came on.

West Indies need Taylor to go through them in the morning, another 100 or so runs and England should be ok. To be fair, with seven wickets in the hutch, plenty of power to come only adding another 100 would be a huge dissapointment.

death1234567 · 16-04-2015 11:03am

England on course for a relatively easy win (despite Cook and Trott being woefully out of touch). The Windies are a poor side with a very poor bowling attack. If Benn is the best spinner they have then god help them. Even the quicks are poor. 2-0 series win for England.

Dozen Wicked Words · 16-04-2015 11:15am

death1234567 wrote: »

2-0 series win for England.

Probably right, the powers that be will think everything in the garden is rosy again, except it isn't really, and they will be badly found out against pretty much any other Test team.

Gillespy · 16-04-2015 11:21am

If Holder could find a few more mph he would be unplayable. The quicks have been decent I though. Spinners are releasing all the pressure.

Benn and Samuels are indistinguishable as to who's the out and out spinner. Where's Shillingford, is his action still suspect? he ripped through the Aussies a few years ago. Of course, it's Narine who should be playing here.

Rjd2 · 17-04-2015 10:04pm

Gillespy wrote: »

If Holder could find a few more mph he would be unplayable. The quicks have been decent I though. Spinners are releasing all the pressure.

Benn and Samuels are indistinguishable as to who's the out and out spinner. Where's Shillingford, is his action still suspect? he ripped through the Aussies a few years ago. Of course, it's Narine who should be playing here.

Shillingford was poor last Summer against NZ,not half the bowler he was now he has to bowl legally.:D

Bishoo will hopefully come in the next test. He is a gamble as he throws in a lot of junk but can produce some quality. Fun to watch at least.

Holder has done superbly here, and yeah another few miles and he will be a beast. He is more than good enough to bat in the top seven across all formats.

Rjd2 · 17-04-2015 10:05pm

" He only takes wickets against tailenders"

One of the criticisms aimed at Rashid over the years....

;)

Dozen Wicked Words · 18-04-2015 10:40am

Thought the windies showed a bit of bottle holding out for the draw. Good to see them not just capitulate, cricket needs a competitive West Indies.

Rjd2 · 18-04-2015 10:58pm

Holder is a very impressive young man.:)

https://instagram.com/p/1nZN1zyRBn/

Benn has been dropped for Shannon Gabriel, so I assume Bishoo comes in next test for him. Ali on his way for England as well.

Rjd2 · 21-04-2015 5:41pm

So England bowling first in nice seaming conditions and Taylor injured, its a great chance for England to go up in this series.

Rjd2 · 21-04-2015 8:13pm

4 down some very soft dismissals though.

Smith wasn't even out and he didn't refer it.:eek:

Also Shiv, its the beginning of the end, getting out very cheaply these days.

Rjd2 · 22-04-2015 10:13pm

Pretty sure remember rating Gabriel when he arrived on the scene a few years ago, totally wasted the new ball and a serious step down from Taylor.

Bring back KING TINO. :P

Rjd2 · 24-04-2015 12:54am

Marlon is awesome.

Rjd2 · 25-04-2015 6:21pm

Rjd2 wrote: »

Also Shiv, its the beginning of the end, getting out very cheaply these days.

Another failure today.:(

Truly horrible from the West Indies today to lose 8 wickets with so little fight.

So many poor shots and a farcical run out to top the farce off.

Its a much needed win for England though after a pretty brutal few months though.

Rjd2 · 01-05-2015 11:00pm

Good old fashioned dig in century from Cook who to be fair has actually done much better in his last few tests than people think , 5 fifties in 8 innings isn't awful but as bad as his critics would lead you to believe.

Horrible to get out to Samuels "bowling" last over though.

Not a great position for England, need Buttler and the tail to bat well go get past 300.

They may regret not having Rashid here, turning and could be a spinners paradise in the fourth innings. However they will also be relived that on first inspection, Permaul simply does not have enough about him to exploit these conditions.

Also Trott probably has one innings to save his international career,no pressure. :eek:

Dozen Wicked Words · 02-05-2015 2:08am

Playing Trott lower down the order would help him but not sure how much. Not enough looking at his current form, and another poor shot to get out again today.

Adam Lyth needs to open next series imho.

riffmongous · 02-05-2015 10:29pm

England 39-5 now! :O

Dozen Wicked Words · 03-05-2015 12:45am

riffmongous wrote: »

England 39-5 now! :O

Nothing like an old school England collapse.

blackcard · 03-05-2015 12:47am

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Nothing like an old school England collapse.

C'mon the Windies

Rjd2 · 03-05-2015 1:14am

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Playing Trott lower down the order would help him but not sure how much. Not enough looking at his current form, and another poor shot to get out again today.

Adam Lyth needs to open next series imho.

Don't think he would add much to the middle order really, a top order batsmen for so long now.

Lyth should open I think. The public will want Hales, but not convinced yet.

Dozen Wicked Words · 03-05-2015 4:52pm

England dire second innings so Windies set 192 to win.

Cricket fan · 03-05-2015 9:12pm

WI definite favourites IMO.

We need more tests like this!!

West Indies v England

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