WI tour of England, July 8-28

[alfie]

Not looking too hopeful then.

Draw must be getting short with the bookies.

[sussexpob]

Seen some criticism of root batting on now the bad weather has come, but I think he had to. If you likely to lose a whole day then you need to make the first innings big and hope not to have to bat again. In the end England should have been pegged back from a score that gives them a follow on option, but you never know with flaky batting and overcast skies. Pitch hasn't got that much in it when the new ball fades I'd think.

Windies need to grind out a long innings with the follow on the target the minimum, and if England need to bat again they won't be putting windies in until 350 ish lead is on the board.

If we get less than 10-20 overs today, I think a draw is favourite.

[alfie]

To be fair to Root I agree he probably had to bat on a bit longer than was ideal , as the slow scoring meant they really didn't have enough on the board...but I do question the overall approach as being a little too conservative in a match they have to win , to have a chance of taking the series.
I think after day one they needed to prioritise speed of scoring a bit more than they did - with the attendant risk , of course. Wouldn't have been easy ; and easy to say from my arm chair. But if today is virtually washed out they'd probably wish they were resuming tomorrow at , say , "England 380 West Indies 65/4 " than the actual situation.

Obviously , no guarantee that would have been the score ! But you see what I mean...

[Arthur Crabtree]

England need to win to regain the Wisden Trophy. They let WI score 150. Both sides declare. Obviously England need to sweeten the bait a little.

[mikesiva]

West Indies should bat as long as they can. When the rain stops that is.

Because Archer is available for the final Test.

[sussexpob]

Can't see windies taking any bait. An away draw for them is going home with a job well done imo.

[Durhamfootman]

England have been notoriously slow starters in a new series for decades now, particularly in 3 match series. I have no idea why. I've lost count of the number of times they've thrown away the first match and piled pressure on themselves to have to come with something extraordinary just to avoid losing the series 1-0

and of course, when you do fall 1-0 down in a 3 match series, the weather is absolutely obliged to make life as difficult as possible. That's what happens when England start off yet another 3 match series trying to be as off the boil and dozy as they are able to be.

you'd think they'd learn

but they don't

just a bit unlucky.... damn that blasted weather, we'd have been okay otherwise

blame Denly and move on

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sunny day in Manchester today. Shouldn't be any more rain tomorrow either. WI need 270 to avoid the follow on.

[DiligentDefence]

Would have opened with Curran today. He looked most dangerous on Friday night.

[sussexpob]

Zak Crawley is having a forgettable few days....adds a drop to his golden duck

[Arthur Crabtree]

Says Stokes dropped it on BBC live.

Woakes the unlucky bowler. Nightwatcher doing a good job.

[sussexpob]

Yeah sorry it was Ben. Zak doesn't help him by going for it though

[sussexpob]

Joseph departs as Bess comes on. Very handy cameo

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bats for an hour. Saw off the new ball.

Commentators saying this should be good for spin.

[sussexpob]

Bess got Shai hope first test with a lousy shot, he's not playing him convincingly as yet either. Bit of spin there for Bess, might be Englands best option today.