England vs West Indies 2nd test Headingley

[sussexpob]

If ID windies id start to swing though. Dont want the light to become an issue in the next 9 overs.

[sussexpob]

Seems hope is playing for his avcerage here

[yuppie]

Whats the weather looking like?

Fine. Although half the internet is on fire from England fans complaining they are playing in the pitch dark

[Aidan11]

This has been a great game.

Well done WIs for a good hard-fought victory.

[Aidan11]

Blackwood goes trying to finish with the big one.

[mikesiva]

Blackwood out for a quickfire 41.

[Aidan11]

First win here since 2000 I believe.

[greyblazer]

Just store these tweets

https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status ... 6176537600

https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status ... 0139703297

https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status ... 8560417792

https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status ... 4927547392

[mikesiva]

Shai Hope 118 not out!

[greyblazer]

And happy for you Mike... WI cricket needed this.

[yuppie]

After the first test there is no way i would have predicted this result. A great win for WI, enjoy Mike and fellow WI supporters.

[Making_Splinters]

The question is obviously, is it worth risking a loss to potentially win? Root seems to think so, I hope this doesn't change his mind.

[sussexpob]

The question is obviously, is it worth risking a loss to potentially win? Root seems to think so, I hope this doesn't change his mind.

So you are essentially saying someone who plays russian roulette should be celebrated for his endeavor, should he blow his brains out?

[sussexpob]

After years of seeing Cook bat past a 700 lead, leaving 10 overs to bowl a team out, I can understand a willingness to be more risky, but there are levels of risk; this showed little more situational nous than shoving all your mortgage on black, and sitting crossing your fingers. It wasnt being aggressive, it was pretty suicidal, wantonly reckless.

I mean, you have to satisfy AT LEAST one of three criteria with a declaration. The first, set a target that you think the opposition is incapable of getting given infinite time. Second, give them not enough time to get it if it is within their capability given infinite time. Third, assess how likely the pitch is to give your bowlers the upper hand. Root essentially gave Windies a very easy target, on a pitch that had looked docile for 4 days, asking them to bat at a comfortable jogging pace. Now, I am pretty sure what Root was saying is this band of rubbish wasnt even worth exercising due process over, which lets be honest, is the actions of a rubbish leader.

A team coming here and not winning a game in 17 years, and there were plenty of matches in that time too, are less likely to play like that for 4 days and back away from a challenging total had they been given one, because lets face it, they would be more inclined deep down to play risky not knowing if they get another chance on day 5 to come away with a win. Australia in a very close series would probably be more likely to bat it out normal and take the draw.

Lets say England bat for another 15 overs, give Windies a total of say 380 in 85 overs. Doesnt sound a lot, but I have no doubt Windies would at least attempt to go for it initially based on the reason above. But instead of 3.2 an over, they are going at 4.6 or something. You are asking them to invest a lot more risk into it with every stroke, every ball. You probably buy a few more wickets with that while protecting your risk of losing, simply being forcing the other team to be aggressive.

Nothing but rubbish captaincy here.

[sussexpob]

Mind, its not suprising Root has shown so little respect to his opposition; every else has. I mean WTF was it Stuart Broad who said taking wickets in this series didnt really matter, and he quite happily return zero scalps for a decent haul in Australia? WTF was that about.