2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

[sussexpob]

Well that English innings finished rather quickly

Yep. 4 wickets while I was making a tea.

Flakes apparently injured his hand, but I've not caught up? Says he got hit by the wicket ball, but he was bowled. What happend?

[yuppie]

Im not watching Im afraid. just walked the dog, came back and WI are batting.

[bigfluffylemon]

There goes the series. Somehow the pitch won't look nearly as treacherous when WI get in.

Is this the worst England batting line-up ever? Ok, ever might be a bit strong, but I'm not sure if the 90s we're even this bad. Poor to be sure, but at least those lineups had the excuse of facing McGrath, Warne, Ambrose, Walsh, Wasim, Waqar, Donald, Pollock, Murali etc. With all due respect to the West Indies bowlers who are playing very well, they're not that calibre.

[mikesiva]

Roach 4-30
Gabriel 3-45
Joseph 2-38
Holder 1-43

[sussexpob]

With all due respect to the West Indies bowlers who are playing very well, they're not that calibre.

Its probably the worst I have seen a line up bowl when reducing a side to 180. They were all over the place for large amounts of time.

[sussexpob]

Not really sure how Campbell is still there. He's played at more than a few balls that he could have snicked..... England need a bit of luck to get back in this, not getting it yet.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England batting worse a couple of years ago? Vince, Ballance, Stoneman, Malan, Westley, Duckett, Jennings. That lot won't have played together, but that's a good start for a team of the era.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Roach is on fire.

[bigfluffylemon]

Has the pitch flattened out a bit? Bad toss to lose, if so. I'm just going on the cricinfo feed, don't have the TV footage, so I can't quite tell if we've just been unlucky, or if batting is getting easier.

Or are the West Indies simply smart enough not to try and play 'positive cricket' all the sodding time?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Since the start of last year, averaging 18.9. Gabriel 19.9. Holder 13.6.

We looked at those stats and wondered if they were because WI were playing poor sides. Well, here they are against the world number two....

[bigfluffylemon]

Since the start of last year, averaging 18.9. Gabriel 19.9. Holder 13.6.

We looked at those stats and wondered if they were because WI were playing poor sides. Well, here they are against the world number two....

I'd argue that they're still playing a poor batting side. We beat India and Sri Lanka through bowling.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Played India away in there, which won't have flattered their numbers.

[sussexpob]

Has the pitch flattened out a bit? Bad toss to lose, if so. I'm just going on the cricinfo feed, don't have the TV footage, so I can't quite tell if we've just been unlucky, or if batting is getting easier.

Or are the West Indies simply smart enough not to try and play 'positive cricket' all the sodding time?

I said at lunch that the ball looked to have stopped misbehaving that much in England innings (did a lot for first 15-20, then settled down a lot more)... still the odd ball that jumps, but as the ball gets old, its clearly easier to bat. If Windies can grind out this partnership for another 10-20 overs, then England are in big trouble.

[sussexpob]

West Indies end the day 30-0..... great day for them, another nail in englands coffin for the series

[Arthur Crabtree]

England gone 90 overs without a wicket apparently.