England vs West Indies 3rd test Lords

[Arthur Crabtree]

Restart in 20 minutes.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Apparently the PM was on TMS this lunchtime.

Headline is that she denied being a robot.

[alfie]

Hope they don't get back on today, weather much better tomorrow, and with the sun out Stokes, Bairstow and Ali could easily put on 200 between them.

The top order is totally screwed. Instead of being used to sod all for 3 in recent years we should start getting used to bugger all for four with the Ashes looming.

What a dilemma for the selectors, Stoneman, Westley and Malan will get no runs in Oz and there's diddly waiting in the wings.

Of course the conditions here today bear no resemblance to what they'll encounter in Australia. But it's true confident selection of the batting list is currently ...difficult.
I fancy Hameed only needs a couple of scores in the CC to be in the plane. But as to who goes at three ...going to be a guess. Five I'm less bothered about : Malan may do a job : and frankly it all turns on what that top order can do. And neither Stoneman nor Westley have done enough to prove they're any better than Jennings , Ballance , etc... Still a second innings here...

Is there time for a new prospect to claim a spot ? Big runs in the CC ? Would be a gamble to take an uncapped number three to Australia ! You'd want to be sure he had a rock solid technique...and frankly if such a man is out there why hasn't he been picked already ?

Anyway still plenty to do in this match : won't want to lose the home series to the oft despised West Indies... Need to get that score up past their total for a start. I can't see a big lead so it will come down to the second innings ; but the more they can get now the better.

If they ever get back on the field...

[sussexpob]

Stokes dropped.....

Honestly ben, tie a blindfold round your head and throw darts into the ft index of ftse companies, when put your life saving on shares in those company's

Billionaire in a week

[sussexpob]

I'd estimate since bd away, he's been dropped or had his stumps hit without breaking in 95% off his innings, and that is literally not me being ott

[alfie]

I get that it's damp and gloomy. But even so I'm surprised at just how difficult batting has looked over these two days...at times you wonder if run scoring - or even survival - is possible.

Two modest batting teams against some good fast bowlers who keep getting refreshed by constant breaks in play , I guess.

At some point surely there will be a partnership and the bowlers will tire...if there are any wickets left

[alfie]

I'd estimate since bd away, he's been dropped or had his stumps hit without breaking in 95% off his innings, and that is literally not me being ott

95 % ?

I think that is you being OTT , Sussex.

He does have a lot of luck - batting , anyway . Though his bowling often seems to attract rather the opposite...

But by the same token , Root has had a fair few early let offs this year too. As did Jennings - the difference being he couldn't do anything with his extra lives !

England will be praying Ben stays lucky today.

[sussexpob]

I honestly don't think it's me being ott. I can only think of one score he's made where he hasn't been dropped recently.

[alfie]

I honestly don't think it's me being ott. I can only think of one score he's made where he hasn't been dropped recently.

I'm far too lazy to research it

I'd still be surprised if it's that often though : and I think a few of those drops came after he already had a score on the board.

On drops : there have been a lot in this series. Suppose it's down to : (1) Pink ball (2) Bad "seeing" ground at Headingley and (3) bad light here.

Still been way more than you'd expect. One hopes England are catching a higher percentage in Australia !

[Arthur Crabtree]

Interesting stat... this is Bairstows 18th test since his last 100.

Only three batters have tons this summer. Stokes and Root have two, Cook one (and only two fifties).

[alfie]

Interesting stat... this is Bairstows 18th test since his last 100.

Only three batters have tons this summer. Stokes and Root have two, Cook one (and only two fifties).

And Bairstow does have a 99.

Hundred up for England...and a vital fifty for Stokes

The two gingers are fighting hard to restore some order to the scorecard. Wonder if there's a stat for ginger partnerships ?

[Durhamfootman]

I'd estimate since bd away, he's been dropped or had his stumps hit without breaking in 95% off his innings, and that is literally not me being ott

95 % ?

I think that is you being OTT , Sussex.

me too

he has put in so many MOM-worthy performances of late, that SP must be ready to gnaw on his own liver at the sheer injustice of it all

it's like me and the blasted ball biter

[Durhamfootman]

50 for the gentle one

well played, sir

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes turning the game yet again. After six wickets too.

Stunning swing bowling yesterday, best he's bowled.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's my impression that Root has been giving him more of a chance with the ball. More propitious overs, better fields.