WI v England

Marshy

Pretty even Day 1 of the 1st Test.

England closing on 236-5, Pietersen again making the headlines with his run of 4,4,6, then out for 97.

West Indies bowled well, especially in the first half of the day with the spinners tying England down. The pressure will be on Monty to follow suit when he gets his turn.

myflipflops

Wow, this England attack is beginning to look toothless. Granted, the pitch does look a good one but there was very little impact made against Gayle and Sarwan (who looked nervous eary on and in fairness, should have gone in the reversal decision). but still, Monty looked like he could bowl all year without taking a wicket. Broad gets the benefit of the doubt and deserves more time due to youth but Monty is 26 and is continually failing on overseas tours.

Marshy

Yeah, the West Indies seized the initiative for sure on Day 2. Dismissed England quite quickly for 318, which is beginning to look below par.

Gayle and Sarwan batted very well to leave WI 160-1 at the close. If either make a big ton today then they should be looking at a healthy lead.

In relation to the Sarwan reversal, the issue seems to be whether the 3rd umpire acts as he would being on onfield umpire or just as someone feeding info back to the middle. The rules state that there must be conclusive evidence to reverse a decision. Of course that can be interpreted differently by the umpires and in that instance the ball did hit Sarwan high on the pads so a not out verdict was ultimately the right one in my view.

Royale with Cheese

12/3 in the second Innings for England at the moment. This could get quite embarrassing.

Washout

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

12/3 in the second Innings for England at the moment. This could get quite embarrassing.

from a game that seemed destined for a boring draw

Washout

51 all out.

only one man in double figures...

joke

Royale with Cheese

Holy shít. Anyone remember the last England tour of the West Indies? Same thing happened but roles reversed. Times have changed.

Good to see West Indies doing well again, but how much of it is down to their improvement, and how much is down to England being awful?

Gyalist

Washout wrote: »

51 all out.

only one man in double figures...

joke

You've got to give credit to the West Indies. England seemed to believe that they only had to show up to win not realizing that WI have been gradually improving over the last 18 months and actually aren't pushovers when playing at home.

However, this win masks a lot of problems in the balance of the WI team. They need a reliable opening partner for Gayle asap. Xavier Marshall is a talented player but clearly isn't yet ready for Test cricket and will probably be replaced by Ryan Hinds in the next Test. Fidel Edwards is still too inconsistent at this level but at the moment there doesn't seem to be any other young fast bowlers coming through in the current WI first class season.

Marshy

I'm so delighted to see WI win so emphatically. Its exactly what the game over there needs and the likes of Taylor bowling spells like that should provide great encouragement. England obviously batted very poorly but West Indies showed that they still have players with great talent. Even Benn seems to be a great find for them, both he and Taylor taking 8 wickets in the match.

HonalD

Gyalist wrote: »

However, this win masks a lot of problems in the balance of the WI team. They need a reliable opening partner for Gayle asap. Xavier Marshall is a talented player but clearly isn't yet ready for Test cricket and will probably be replaced by Ryan Hinds in the next Test. Fidel Edwards is still too inconsistent at this level but at the moment there doesn't seem to be any other young fast bowlers coming through in the current WI first class season.

Agreed! Sadly, England were guilty of being sporting racists in that all believed that the WI were ripe for picking - same thing as the Sandford 20s match, it shows again that it is 11 v 11 and that the best performing team on the day(s) deserve to win..........................Look at NZ, a year ago, they were being dismissed as a shambles, now they're knocking the Aussies off their perch!!!!

Rjd2

HonalD wrote: »

Look at NZ, a year ago, they were being dismissed as a shambles, now they're knocking the Aussies off their perch!!!!

Wrong they were always respected in ODI cricket, its just the test team has always being a bit ****e.

blue4ever

I saw a fella on setanta this morning talking about first match and the fact that the WI's are evens to win the series - which he thought was particularly generous of the bookies. Never bet on a cicket game before this morning!

Marshy

blue4ever wrote: »

I saw a fella on setanta this morning talking about first match and the fact that the WI's are evens to win the series - which he thought was particularly generous of the bookies. Never bet on a cicket game before this morning!

I suppose going on recent history its probably about right. I can't remember the last test series WI won.

The next match in Antigua is expected to be a high-scoring draw, so that'd leave it 1-0 with 2 matches left. 3-1 is being offered for a drawn series which isn't bad I'd say.

Washout

2nd Test looks set to be abandonded. its like running on quicksand for the bowlers.


Geoff boycott Says


"They can't even organise Test cricket, let alone beach cricket - they'd probably arrange it for when the tide's coming in..."

simonrooneyzaga

what a load of bull... I dont know what to do with the rest of my day now!

dfx-

Games in Antigua aren't generally worth watching with their high scoring draws, so it's not that much of a loss entertainment wise for me, but still...

It should've been abandoned for the ridiculous car park of a wicket

TrueDub

A new Test to start on Sunday at 14:00 GMT - in the Antigua Recreation Ground, which hasn't hosted a test since 2006 and is a state of disrepair. The 10-ball match will be expunged from the record books, according to Cricinfo & the BBC.

Bizarre doesn't describe it...

DMC

I don't think it can be deleted, as a toss took place and a ball was bowled.

They are calling Sunday's game the Third Test.

Sir Viv sounded gutted on TMS.

TrueDub

DMC wrote: »

I don't think it can be deleted, as a toss took place and a ball was bowled.

They are calling Sunday's game the Third Test.

Sir Viv sounded gutted on TMS.

Seems that way alright. I feel bad for Viv Richards, he's a tireless ambassador for Antigua and would be very upset at something like this, especially in a stadium named after him.

Washout

the old rec wicket will not be a flat track according to pundits will be pacy and bounce.

it will be interesting to see how well everything is prepared. they have a day and a half to prepare what takes a min of 3 days

DMC

TV and radio will have to work tirelessly to pack up and get the gear together, ready for Sunday.

I saw it mentioned that there will be no time to have the referrals system in place for this unscheduled test, I presume that has to do with Hawk-eye being the most difficult to set up what with calibrations and stuff.

Washout

DMC wrote: »

TV and radio will have to work tirelessly to pack up and get the gear together, ready for Sunday.

I saw it mentioned that there will be no time to have the referrals system in place for this unscheduled test, I presume that has to do with Hawk-eye being the most difficult to set up what with calibrations and stuff.

I hate the new referral system.. if your going to use technology then why not go the whole hog and use hotspot, and hawkeye full path.

Marshy

Quite extraordinary alright, I don't know how the ground was given the all clear for this match if there was any proper inspection over the last few months. How could they have thought it was fit? I hope the ARG will be ready in time but the whole business of calling this the 3rd Test now is a bit silly really.

Washout wrote: »

I hate the new referral system.. if your going to use technology then why not go the whole hog and use hotspot, and hawkeye full path.

In general I like the idea. We saw from the last Test that more correct decisions were made because of it. The only issue I have is about the length of time they take to deliver the verdict. I agree about hotspot but the predictive element of hawkeye isn't seen as entirely accurate so thats why it isn't used I'd imagine.

dfx-

180-1. Strauss century and Cook out for 52.

Dead wicket as ever.

Marshy

Would seem like the typical Antigua wicket, but not sure how well WI bowled all the same. Draw is favourite but West Indies will still have to bat for quite a while.

Washout

Only got to see the first session...after the first ball I thought England would be bowled out inside 90 overs but WI bowlers complete had no line in that first session.

ITs gonna be one of those wickets that chanderpaul and sarwan are just going to bat out....bore written all over this one.

dfx-

No matter how hard I try, I still can't trust Devon Smith, Sarwan and Ramdin to not bottle it and Gayle to go mental. It's about batting time unfortunately

DMC

The ICC's referral system is flawed, imo. I just don't like the idea of a player or captain querying the umpires decision.

I much prefer the Stanford system, where the umpires themselves will query amongst themselves.

This game seems all the better without the referrals.

simonrooneyzaga

dfx- wrote: »

180-1. Strauss century and Cook out for 52.

Dead wicket as ever.

Offering a bit more now - slight bit of grip for Benn from time to time towards the end of the England innings and if you hit the 'half-way line' that crosses the pitch back of a length then you can cause some serious trouble, as KP and freddy found out!

DMC

Some over this.... just took the 12 mins!!

from Cricinfo...

Now then. How's Harmison feeling? Time for a quick burst? Yep - here he comes.

8.1 Harmison to Gayle, no run, and a good start it is too, cutting this back into Gayle who takes the bottom hand off his bat

8.2 Harmison to Gayle, (no ball) SIX, drops this short and it's a no-ball ... and it's into the road! Huge hook shot from Gayle, who took his eye off the ball, but it didn't matter a jot. That has gone miles

Gayle flanged Harmison for six in his first over in Jamaica, too. The ball is now lost. No one knows where it is, and a replacement bag comes on. Ah, but they've found it now. Here comes Harmison once more

8.2 Harmison to Gayle, no run, a wide delivery, too short, and Gayle tries to absolutely murder this but misses it comfortably

He is going to try and take Harmison to pieces here...

8.3 Harmison to Gayle, no run, short of a length, Gayle goes back and swats this to cover off the back foot. A cross-batted cutting swat - difficult to describe it any better than that

8.4 Harmison to Gayle, (no ball) FOUR, short of a length but it doesn't quite climb, and Gayle pulls it baseball-style for four! What a powerful, crunching stroke

8.4 Harmison to Gayle, OUT, a half-volley outside off which Gayle tries to carve through the off side, but he can't quite lift it over Anderson at mid-off who holds onto a decent catch

CH Gayle c Anderson b Harmison 30 (32b 5x4 1x6) SR: 93.75

Pretty ropey delivery by Harmison, and Gayle will be kicking himself

Powell is the nightwatchman

8.5 Harmison to Powell, no run, well, I don't know how to describe that. Powell just walked across his stumps and let the ball hit him

Powell is very much hook-happy. Short-leg and silly-point in place

8.6 Harmison to Powell, 1 no ball, outside off, left alone - another no-ball

8.6 Harmison to Powell, no run, better ball which cuts back into Powell, beating the outside edge of his forward defensive

End of over 9 (13 runs) - West Indies 46/1

DBL Powell 0* (3b) SJ Harmison 1-0-13-1
DS Smith 4* (26b 1x4) A Flintoff 4-0-20-0

dfx-

102-1 now. It says it all that even Daren Powell can stay out there long

Washout

lol well done you put the mockers on him.

he went for one mighty Heave off the bowling of Graham Swann and gets bowled.

edit wait wrong batsman

dfx-

A Powell-esque shot shall we say?:D

It's always great fun with him and Taylor batting, you're always feeling like just one ball from a suicide shot:pac:

happyhappy

powell gone, 103-3. wi under a bit of pressure now, ball starting to turn for swann.

dfx-

I wouldn't say so yet. Powell had to go because he was probably going to start causing problems with building partnerships and rotation of the strike. At least now if Hinds can stay in and Chanderpaul gets in, it might be with Sarwan than Powell..

John mac

Sir Viv used to bring 2 rubbers with him to a test match. (from TMS)

Washout

WI 107-3....any chane of rain tommorow?

Marshy

Not looking good for WI alright. England are strong favourites now.

If they're to save the game, they must realise that the pitch still isn't all that bad. Luckily for West Indies they have the worlds best at occupying the crease and much does hinge on Chanderpaul. Providing he doesn't play a rash shot, Sarwan should have a long stay in him too. Nash also seems adept at hanging around too but I'm being optimistic. Apart from that they won't have much left however and England should have enough to tie the series.

Washout

Marshy wrote: »

Not looking good for WI alright. England are strong favourites now.

If they're to save the game, they must realise that the pitch still isn't all that bad. Luckily for West Indies they have the worlds best at occupying the crease and much does hinge on Chanderpaul. Providing he doesn't play a rash shot, Sarwan should have a long stay in him too. Nash also seems adept at hanging around too but I'm being optimistic. Apart from that they won't have much left however and England should have enough to tie the series.

completely up to the current two at the wicket...they need to bat out till at least the middle of the second session.
with Harmy and Flintoff not at 100% there is a chance.

BTW the commentators said at close last night that there was a max of 90 overs on the final day...isn't there potential for extra hour if one of the teams can close out a win?

DMC

Listening to TMS, 5:30pm (9:30pm here) is the latest they can go, that's what happened the last couple of days. I know last days and final hours differ around the place, but I think 5:30pm is curtains.

Swann is crucial today, as said, with Flintoff/Harmison being injured/permanently below par.

If England can get past the no-out batmans early, then the hutch should empty easily. Boycott was right, the current team can't bat for time, they tire easy.

EDIT: Bah. Sky are saying there is a rain delay. Boo.

Washout

DMC wrote: »

EDIT: Bah. Sky are saying there is a rain delay. Boo.

Washout continues his rain dance.

Excellent

Marshy

The match still very much there for England's taking at Tea on Day 5 with another 5 wickets needed. Once Nash and Ramdin are dismissed there won't be much resistance left from WI one imagines. Just over 2 hours of play likely to be left, very hard to know which way it'll go.

DMC

one more gone... Nash..

287/6

Washout

this is why test cricket is better than limited over cricket.

1 wicket to go...light fading fast.

could it be Lords V India all over again...I hope so

Royale with Cheese

Match drawn. England couldn't get the last wicket, fair play to Powell and Edwards. Didn't look all that troubled there at the end.

Funkyzeit

Ya gotta feel sorry for the Barmy Army....don't ya...??!!

Marshy

What a dramatic conclusion that was! I was sure England had it won after they dismissed both Ramdin and Benn but sure enough Powell and Edwards managed to hang on in fading light.

Shame alright for the fans who stayed on and they and others will no doubt question how England didn't win the game. One way or another, WI are still 1-0 ahead with 2 to go.

Gyalist

Let me say this right about now - WI will win this series 3 - 0. After the hammering in Jamaica and the disappointment in Antigua England will be mentally broken.

If I were a betting man I'd put money on the WI taking this series 3-0.

aqua2027

anways good game and who says test match is dying/

Gyalist

I watched until lunch but after that I couldn't as the nervous tension became too much. I checked the scores on Cricinfo just after tea and saw that WI were 7 wickets down so I went out for a long walk only to return to find that we had managed to hang on for the draw.

dfx-

Some great test cricket indeed with South Africa in Australia, England in India (we'll forget that second test ) and now England in the West Indies. It's not all about big hitters like Gilchrist, Gayle and Gibbs. Dodgy bowler in Powell and Edwards making sure they don't go lbw with 9 men around the bat..

As for yesterday - I left it at lunch at 169-3, resumed in the pub at 307-6 and watched it to the end. I never doubted Edwards and Powell..... :pac: