England vs West Indies 2nd test Headingley

[Dr Cricket]

England needed that wicket.

[mikesiva]

Holder out for a useful 43.

[Dr Cricket]

If wi win this test this will be the biggest shock in my lifetime watching test cricket.
Still think England will win this game though.

[Aidan11]

We can technically still lose this game by an innings.

I think a draw is the best we can hope for in this test.

[mikesiva]

Blackwood run out for 49. Pity!

[Aidan11]

Another drop.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Good to see them finally taking action against Stokes.

The Ben Stokes Unappreciation Society.

President Sussex
Vice President Mike

[Dr Cricket]

Come on England lets do this.

[bigfluffylemon]

England needed to get west indies out this morning to have any chance at all, and they did it, but it was a costly drop from Moeen. If that had been held, lead might have been under 100. As it is, it's going to take a huge batting effort from England to turn this around.

It should be possible. England bat deep, the pitch and conditions are good for batting, and there is plenty of time left. But England are really poor at knuckling down and grinding out a big score when they are behind in the game, and unless the top order improves it will stay that way.

Ideal result from the game point of view would be for England to make around 400-450 and be all out after tea tomorrow. That would give a chase of about 250 and a day to do it, but a 5th day wicket, meaning all three results would be in play.

But what I expect to happen will be for England to fold in a heap for about 200-250 all out, and the west indies to knock of the 50 or so needed by lunchtime tomorrow. Call me a pessimist, but little recently gives me cause to believe England will turn this around.

I think we are going to get clobbered again in Australia. But England are so mercurial that they could win a game, or even two, or get thumped 5-0 again.

[Durhamfootman]

169 first innings lead

[bigfluffylemon]

Playing Woakes who is clearly not fit for bowling full pelt in place of TRJ was a mistake, and smacks of complacency.

[Dr Cricket]

If England get all out for 250 here and lose test they have a right to get severely critised by me.
You don't lose to wi at home.
Oddly enough if wi win England would have lost to them 3 times out of 4 in series.
Not talking about series but test.
Lost in 2009, drew in wi last time out and might lose this game.
With the players England got they shouldn't be getting thumped by wi.
If wi are to win a test it should be a well done chase.
Even then that is embarrassing as well.

If England lose bayliss and the selectors should go.

[meninblue]

When was the last time West Indies won a test .

[alfie]

Playing Woakes who is clearly not fit for bowling full pelt in place of TRJ was a mistake, and smacks of complacency.

Agree with this. Not sure it was complacency ; but certainly muddled thinking. Why make the change at all ? Presumably Woakes will go to Australia ; why not let him get red ball practice in the CC ? Not as if there was anything wrong with what TRJ was doing ...

Not giving this game up quite yet : England could bat big this time around...but it's true recent efforts would suggest they'll struggle with the scoreboard pressure. If they can set the tourists 220 or so we could see an exciting finish...

Maybe Moeen will make a big score : he will feel he owes the team runs after that dreadful drop that arguably cost seventy runs or more !

[alfie]

If England get all out for 250 here and lose test they have a right to get severely critised by me.
You don't lose to wi at home.
Oddly enough if wi win England would have lost to them 3 times out of 4 in series.
Not talking about series but test.
Lost in 2009, drew in wi last time out and might lose this game.
With the players England got they shouldn't be getting thumped by wi.
If wi are to win a test it should be a well done chase.
Even then that is embarrassing as well.

If England lose bayliss and the selectors should go.

They won't sack the selectors just because you end up donating to the bookies , bhavesh

You bet on England at your peril !