England vs West Indies 2nd test Headingley

[bigfluffylemon]

Good use of DRS there. That's what it is supposed to be for - eliminating the clearly wrong decision, rather than the speculative hope of a wicket/reprieve. The batsman knew he'd hit it and referred it without a second's hesitation when he was given out. It was a pretty clear edge on replay (and I was slightly surprised it was given out in real time).

[Arthur Crabtree]

ZBGB batted at five on his previous try, and averaged 25 with one fifty in eight innings. Batting from 4-6 he averages 19 from 13 innings with still that one fifty. I'm not sure it's batting at three that has troubled him. Arguably as the stand out bat in CC he should be given every opportunity, so I suppose he'll be back. Can't see him doing well in Australia though.

With Ian Bell, I always thought he did better down the order just because he was a better player when he batted there. He wasn't ready when he came into the side and batted at 3, and he was finished towards the end when he moved up.

[greyblazer]

I have said it on many forums now that this WI side isn't as bad as what some make them out to be. And they have the right man to coach. However, they have learnt quickly.

[greyblazer]

Some of those English journalists and former cricketers perhaps haven't seen Shai Hope, Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Gabriel or even the wholehearted Bishoo. I don't know but the criticism was too harsh.

I mean S Hope is one of the most promising batsmen I have seen from WI in the recent past. His average doesn't tell the story but that 90 against Pakistan - a game I covered, was a special knock. When someone plays like that, you know he has potential.

[mikesiva]

Windies 109-3 at lunch.

Kraigg 63*

Shai 33*

Congrats on the half-century, Brathwaite!

[mikesiva]

Shai gets a half-century...about bloody time! It's time he repaid the faith the selectors have shown in him.

[greyblazer]

Having watched that 90, I would be ready to give at least 20 Tests for Shai Hope. He has come into a losing side but has the potential.

[Durhamfootman]

It's just a damned shame that this WIndies side is so useless

Can't bowl, can't bat..... total rubbish

Should be made to play in a different league to other test playing sides...... disheartening for them to be the whipping boys of test cricket and embarrassing for us to have to watch it

Terrible preparation for a tough ashes series down under.... just rolling half baked sides over and over and over again

be better off making the England team play a series of matches against county sides rather this lot of sub standard cricketers

the 3 H's

hopeless, helpless and hapless

[Durhamfootman]

It's just a damned shame that this WIndies side is so useless

Can't bowl, can't bat..... total rubbish

Should be made to play in a different league to other test playing sides...... disheartening for them to be the whipping boys of test cricket and embarrassing for us to have to watch it

Terrible preparation for a tough ashes series down under.... just rolling half baked sides over and over and over again

be better off making the England team play a series of matches against county sides rather this lot of sub standard cricketers

the 3 H's

hopeless, helpless and hapless

did I pass the audition for Cricket writer of the year?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great stuff from WI. Shame they dropped so many yesterday.

Might take an act of faith though to anticipate them backing up this stand with another of similar stature.

[Arthur Crabtree]

West Indies haven't gone past 400 for three years.

They went past 400 against ENgland once this decade, when England rested A&B at Edgbaston, and Best and Ramdin put on 143 for the last wicket.

[Durhamfootman]

then again I'm up against this

I take no pleasure in saying this – West Indies are the worst Test team I have seen in over 50 years

Geoffrey Boycott

and this

England v West Indies: Michael Vaughan says series will be 'sad to watch'

then there is this

England learn nothing from thrashing soft West Indies

george dobell

and this

England beating poor West Indies is no preparation for Ashes in Australia

Agnew

stiff competition.... I don't rate my chances very much

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's not what you know, it's who you know.

[bigfluffylemon]

Looks like better conditions for batting now, but fair play to West Indies. They got through a tricky session last night and again this morning with the ball nipping about quite a bit. Surviving tough sessions earns you the right to cash in when conditions get better.

Apart from the inestimable Anderson, England haven't got it quite right. Broad has been unusually inaccurate, Stokes has bowled too wide and I am not sure Woakes is match fit. He's well down on pace.

[Durhamfootman]

It's not what you know, it's who you know.

it has ever been thus