WI tour of England, July 8-28

[alfie]

Early days in this series , some were complaining West Indies were getting a raw deal from the umpires on lbw calls. If so it has certainly turned around lately ...England on the wrong end of a few marginals : that last one really did look out live.

Brathwaite isn't a glamour player ; but he's done a good job on this tour. Hanging in to valuable effect

[sussexpob]

Hawkeye had it going over, Alfie

[alfie]

Hawkeye had it going over, Alfie

No not that one...the one they reviewed , I meant. Not out because umpires call on impact , though it was hitting. Always feel the bowler is a bit stiff with those.

The second one was high , certainly.

[sussexpob]

Brooks looks a real mixed bag. A few strokes to admire, mixed with some really shaky decision making. England need to keep the pressure up on him, he looks like he wants to chase a few

[mikesiva]

Who was that?

Francis de Caires. Played in the first ever test held on Windies soil, scoring 80 and 70, yet would only play 3 total tests all in 1930.

I didn't know that.

Thanks!

Brooks looking more assured than Shai.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another fifty partnership.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Brathwaite hasn't made a ton for two years, that's 11 tests. Average 17.5. I suppose you could make a similar point about all the top order bats, but I tended to think Kraiggg was doing a bit better than the others. Only Roston has more than one ton in that time, but only three bats have even a single ton. The point being... England are struggling to bowl them out in this series!

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... pe=batting

[alfie]

West Indies continue to make England work in the field...a much more disciplined outfit than previous teams from the Caribbean. Solid partnerships...no throw away wickets,

Not quite "nailed on draw" yet . But unless there is a sudden rattle of wickets in the next hour it looks likely they're going to pass that follow on target in some comfort.

Stokes giving it a good burst of energy. No takers for the old "go on , have a hook " trick though...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder if England will just reinstate the first Test attack for the next game, maybe without Archer, or pick a best-of from the first two games.

If the bowlers are getting rested, should Stokes be given a game off?

[alfie]

Wonder if England will just reinstate the first Test attack for the next game, maybe without Archer, or pick a best-of from the first two games.

If the bowlers are getting rested, should Stokes be given a game off?

Rest Stokes ? Suppose he must be weary ...but without him this team really would look a bit threadbare... I imagine the bowlers will be shuffled around again.anyway.

192/3. This game really needs some wickets . Even from a "neutral" point of view ; otherwise tomorrow will be a real bore fest. Crowd will be walking out mid afternoon...oh

[mikesiva]

Kraigg out for a well played 75.

[Durhamfootman]

In this situation, England would collapse like a house of cards.

I do not expect the WIndies to do likewise

but England would now lose 2 or 3 quickly from a similar position

Still.... we can always blame the weather

damn the weather!

[sussexpob]

Bit of a gift for Stokes that 4th wicket

[Arthur Crabtree]

As usual, WI getting in and then getting out.

I'll give Blackwood a pass for his innings in Southampton.

[Durhamfootman]

looking at the crapinfo commentary.... short, short, short, short, short, over after over from BS

He's clearly bowling to a plan

leg theory?

is it working?

does it look like it will work?

should we just let them duck their way to a draw and the wisden trophy and blame the weather later? Maybe blame Denly instead