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

[Arthur Crabtree]

They are starting at least 15m early. It ay be more, but of course, it can't be more than 30m.

When Steely said before the tour how the future was Adam Lyth wearing his tour jacket, he wasn't talking figuratively was he? That was supposed to stop the press talking about 'the past' when he's not only not playing, but he's being kept out by a ... returning 34 year old.

This probably belongs in Shut Your Eyes and Think of England.

The future for England... Adil Rashid in a yellow bib. I'm sure that's something we can all get excited about.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Apparently Derek Pringle said a good return for England would be 13 wins in the coming fixture pile up. Thirteen! And that would suggest they were making progress, not that they were having an exceptional year.

I'd guess that would mean winning the two Tests in this series, and beating NZ 2-0. Now find nine in the Ashes, UAE and SA series!

[KipperJohn]

Re Stokes and Samuels and similar 'antics'.

This probably belongs on the Richie Benaud thread but I can't access it so this will have to do.

I just thought it timely to reproduce here the late Richie's dedication of his book 'My Spin on Cricket' (published 2005):

'Sometimes dedicating a book can run to pages, almost a small book in itself. This is simply to say thanks to all those who, for me, in the short space of 75 years, have made cricket a game of such character, full of so many characters. I've raised a glass to Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter and others who have provided a reminder that it should be no hardship to embrace the Spirit of Cricket as well as winning the game. Subtly, they have also posed the question of whether it really is impossible to win a cricket match without what, in theses modern times, is known as sledging.'

[Aidan11]

It's raining again.

[rich1uk]

Apparently Derek Pringle said a good return for England would be 13 wins in the coming fixture pile up. Thirteen! And that would suggest they were making progress, not that they were having an exceptional year.

I'd guess that would mean winning the two Tests in this series, and beating NZ 2-0. Now find nine in the Ashes, UAE and SA series!

maybe he meant winning thirteen sessions , we might manage that out of the 255

[sussexpob]

Adil Rashid in a yellow bib. I'm sure that's something we can all get excited about.

Are you confusing Adil with Rashida Jones

Now her in just a little yellow bib... now we are talking

[shankycricket]

Stokes bowling 90mph, Broad bowling 80.

Worrying that Broad's pace has dropped with a big summer on the way.

I used to be his biggest fan. Now I'm wondering if he can still do it. His batting has certainly gone backwards since that ball hit him in the face.

Nah, his batting had been going downwards long before that. For the last 3 years at least I think. That blow has just turned him into a proper tail ender but he had been in decline long, long before that (now that I've said it, expect him to score a fifty now).

[sussexpob]

Stokes bowling 90mph, Broad bowling 80.

Worrying that Broad's pace has dropped with a big summer on the way.

I used to be his biggest fan. Now I'm wondering if he can still do it. His batting has certainly gone backwards since that ball hit him in the face.

Nah, his batting had been going downwards long before that. For the last 3 years at least I think. That blow has just turned him into a proper tail ender but he had been in decline long, long before that (now that I've said it, expect him to score a fifty now).

Well apart from his 2010 effort against Pakistan, which was against bowlers who were purposefully underperforming (and a 9th wicket partnership out the blue like that is so suspect, it makes it meaningless) the last time he did anything was probably vs India in 2011 when he had a string of low order blasts for 50's, but if memory serves, they weren't exactly innings of any importance, more put the 5th layer of icing on an already well prepared cake.

Ever since UAE, his batting has been substandard

[Aidan11]

Due to start at 2.45pm UK time.

That is now out of the window as it's started raining again.

[Aidan11]

Quite heavy too. Probably wipe out the entire morning session.

[Aidan11]

Nope. Starting in half an hour.

[rich1uk]

looking like a waste of a review , they cant over-turn that

[Aidan11]

Worth a go I suppose. We get our reviews back in 8 overs.

[andy]

Cook drops a sitter

[Gingerfinch]

Cook drops a sitter

Can't see it on cricinfo?