Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

England get back into the saddle on Monday afternoon after they spilled at the first hurdle of the World Cup down under, and after their winter of snags on and off the pitch. The last time they took a pitch on foreign soil, in January last year in Sydney, Kevin Pietersen was an England number four, and the least disappointing batter of England's appalling Ashes defeat. And Paul Downton was a banker.

Of course, others will point out that England won their last Test series, 3-1 against India, and skipper Alastair Cook has made that point, and suggested that the World Cup defeat undermined the fine work he was doing with the Test team. But Cook's is pretty much a solo voice in that respect. Future ECB boss Colin Graves has labelled West Indies 'mediocre' and only a one sided win will convince anyone that England haven't slipped further.

But Graves handed West Indies their motivation in verbalising his slur. If West Indies did win, Graves' provocative comment will make the first paragraph of every match report. And England will go into an Ashes summer with a new captain and coach. This is the first of a number of last chances for Cook and Moores.

West Indies have named a young squad for the first Test, with Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jermaine Blackwood under 24. They beat Bangladseh at home last year, and took a Test off a strong New Zealand side, in a home series loss. They won't certainly be a pushover, but their weak batting demands that a decent side must beat them. It remains to be seen if England are that side.

England Test batting stats since the start of 2013.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

Bowling.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

West Indies batting.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

Bowling.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

Two Tests have been played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium: a draw with Australia, and a home win against New Zealand. Batters have dominated. Brett Lee, Sunil Narine and Kemar Roach have five-fers there. Pace bowlers have taken by far the most wickets (43-14). Thems the stats, data-peta, over to you.

Squads (including age/caps).

West Indies:

Kraigg Brathwaite (22/17)
Devon Smith (33/36)
Darren Bravo (26/32)
Marlon Samuels (34/55)
Shiv Chanderpaul (40/161)
Denesh Ramdin (30/64)
Jermaine Blackwood (23/5)
Jerome Taylor (30/37)
Sulieman Benn (33/25)
Devendra Bishoo (29/11)
Kemar Roach (26/29)
Jason Holder (23/3)
Shai Hope (21/0)
Carlos Brathwaite (26/0)

England:

Alastair Cook (30/109)
Jonathan Trott (33/49)
Gary Ballance (25/8)
Ian Bell (32/105)
Joe Root (24/22)
Ben Stokes (23/6)
Jos Buttler (24/3)
Liam Plunkett (29/13)
James Tredwell (33/1)
Stuart Broad (28/74)
James Anderson (32/99)
Adam Lyth (27/0)
Jonny Bairstow (25/14)
Adil Rashid (27/0)
Chris Jordan (26/5)
Mark Wood (25/0)

Didn't realise the first test will be Anderson's 100th.

And three wickets to be level with Botham.

Vic Marks seems to be anticipating MPV taking the new job as manager. And he will be in the TMS box in Antigua.

I think Graves' assessment of the West Indies is correct but it may not have been wise of him to give it in public. West Indies have a couple of dangerous fast bowlers who might do something special but England should win easily.

Yeah I knew about the wickets record.

Could even be broken on day 1 if we bowl first.

He's already only two behind with Devon Smith opening.

Amazing longevity for a pace bowler. Made his debut in 2003, and did well then against Zimbabwe. Deserves a lot of credit for great skill and keeping going, despite many setbacks. Regard probably suffered in the aftermath of the altercation with India, and the sledging of his latter years.

I wouldn't put him ahead of the best of the England quicks of the past thirty years, but not behind many either. Though he probably has worked harder than any other pace bowler

He's bowled the most balls for an England pace bowler since 1970, which I guess means ever.

I went back to 1970 to include Bob Willis, who is third. A bit surprised to see Broad and Freddie so high up. Freddie bowled a lot of these in that drawn match v SL at Lord's in 2006. But these are a long way behind Botham and Anderson.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

For all teams, since Tests started, Walsh and McGrath lead the way.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

It's also Trott's 50th Test. Will Graves be giving out their caps?

Will their commemorative gifts be spelt correctly?

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Amazing longevity for a pace bowler. Made his debut in 2003, and did well then against Zimbabwe. Deserves a lot of credit for great skill and keeping going, despite many setbacks. Regard probably suffered in the aftermath of the altercation with India, and the sledging of his latter years.

I wouldn't put him ahead of the best of the England quicks of the past thirty years, but not behind many either. Though he probably has worked harder than any other pace bowler

jimmy has had very little support over the last few years

since swann retired it has been him or the occasional spell from broad that has won us games

backfootpunch wrote:

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Amazing longevity for a pace bowler. Made his debut in 2003, and did well then against Zimbabwe. Deserves a lot of credit for great skill and keeping going, despite many setbacks. Regard probably suffered in the aftermath of the altercation with India, and the sledging of his latter years.

I wouldn't put him ahead of the best of the England quicks of the past thirty years, but not behind many either. Though he probably has worked harder than any other pace bowler

jimmy has had very little support over the last few years

since swann retired it has been him or the occasional spell from broad that has won us games

It should get easier now we have 5 bowlers. Doesn't have to be a stock bowler any more.

Although Broad (see link above) has exactly the same number of wickets in the last couple of years. Their records are about identical in every respect, apart from Anderson playing longer.

I agree about the five bowlers.