Second Test: West Indies v England, April 21-25

[KipperJohn]

Stokes bowling 5- 10 mph quicker than Broad- and fuller.

England have bowled far too many balls that have been simply left alone, Haven't made the batsmen play enough. Need at least 2 or 3 more wickets tonight. If they do that and keep the lid on then the decision to bowl will be justified.

[backfootpunch]

another dropped catch to add to cooks collection

i remember seeing a stat recently saying he has only caught two thirds of all the chances which have come his way

would have been a timely wicket as well

[Arthur Crabtree]

He used to be very poor in the slips. He has improved though.

[Durhamfootman]

Is slip fielding a status thing, that captains feel obliged to do to assert their dominance? I don't recall him being trusted there when he wasn't captain. I think he used to get the helmet and pads 'life in your hands' positions

[budgetmeansbudget]

These look like conditions that you should be bowling a side out for 160/170. A combination of some not great bowling and some half decent WIndies batting means they will probably get a decent way past that score.

[Making_Splinters]

Broad's pace has gone down the pan since is injuries.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Broad's pace has gone down the pan since is injuries.

Can say exactly the same thing about his batting. If he wasn't such a senior player with a very good record behind him his selection would be highly questionable.

[backfootpunch]

Broad's pace has gone down the pan since is injuries.

Can say exactly the same thing about his batting. If he wasn't such a senior player with a very good record behind him his selection would be highly questionable.

his recent average in test cricket is excellent

averages mid 20s over his last 20 tests

[Arthur Crabtree]

Except Broad only has one Test in poor form behind him. It's not like he's been out of form for a long time. He's England's best bowler over the past two years, and he did well in his last series against India.He was easily England's best bowler over the back to back Ashes.

[ianp1970]

These look like conditions that you should be bowling a side out for 160/170. A combination of some not great bowling and some half decent WIndies batting means they will probably get a decent way past that score.

Should be a case of the new ball only being required to mop up the tail, with the entire innings totalling less than 100 overs. Might still happen of course, but we need to aim at the stumps more often.

[Making_Splinters]

I'm not sure you can get away with being a mid 80s pace bowler who doesn't do a lot with the ball in terms of seam or swing. Come to think of it, he struggles to bowl a decent line or length as well.

[yorker_129-7]

So many players in this England team look shot and could do with some time out of the set-up.

Cook
Trott (who should never have been here in the first place)
Broad

Give Jimmy a break too.

Bring in the young guys for a go in the final test. Lyth for Cook, Ali opens with him, Root captain, Stokes at 6, Rashid at 8 with Wood and Plunkett in with Jordan. Screw conservative selection.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Once the swing friendly conditions pass, this should be a featherbed. If WI are out for under 300, England will be in a good position, whether or not they should have bowled better.

[budgetmeansbudget]

.....and his reactions have slowed a bit as well!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe Broad shouldn't be in the side, but it's not like he's been hanging on to a place, like Cook has.

Trouble is Yorker, whenever these players come back from a break (Cook has had a long break) they come back looking as careworn as they did before. Maybe they are stale rather than tired.