England V West Indies, Lords, 1st Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

Just a little under 15 hours now until the English Test Summer gets underway with the first of three tests against the lowly West Indies. This is seen as little more than a tune up for England, with the bigger obstacle of South Africa to come later in the summer.

Indeed, England are seen as overwhelming favourites for the series despite a disappointing Winter campaign in the UAE and Sri Lanka which saw them just about hold on to their World no.1 ranking. In the red corner, the West Indies are coming over to England on the back of a 2-0 home defeat to the Australians but their captain Darren Sammy remains hopeful of an upset.

Teams

England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson

West Indies 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Fidel Edwards

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Enjoy!

[paulscholes]

chanderpaul has faced over 410 balls with out getting out probley go over 1000 vs us again

[trebellbobaggins]

This is dull. Half the crowd are asleep.

[alfie]

This is dull. Half the crowd are asleep.

Not any more

Boy did England need that...End of a great rearguard innings , well done Swanny

Sammy to hit out or what?

[robbo277]

We really needed that. Luckily the bowling has been tight throughout though and even though the West Indies have been batting for a long time and frustrating England, they haven't got all that many runs. The lead's up to 110, but England will run out after tea knowing that they're just a wicket away from opening up a really weak West Indies tail and hopefully rolling this line-up over tonight.

[alfie]

2/53 from 28 overs actually means England just about "won" that session in the end ... But it has taken a lot of effort and they still need four more wickets.

The weather could be a key ingredient here : I'd still fancy an England win in four sessions from here , but if a sizeable chunk was lost to rain...

[GSC]

Good god he can actually get out.

Brings down his average in England to about 300.

[trebellbobaggins]

Yeah they really needed that.



After the winter though I have no faith in their batting. 100+ feels too high. They should have got 500 first up.

[gboycottnut]

We really needed that. Luckily the bowling has been tight throughout though and even though the West Indies have been batting for a long time and frustrating England, they haven't got all that many runs. The lead's up to 110, but England will run out after tea knowing that they're just a wicket away from opening up a really weak West Indies tail and hopefully rolling this line-up over tonight.

110 runs can be sufficient to win the West Indies this test match as England have a history of producing spectacular batting collapses such as in the 1994 Trinidad test where they were bowled out for under 50, the 2009 Jamaica test where England collapsed there in their second innings and in the final ODI at the end of last summer where England got bowled out at the Oval by an average off-spinner.

[kemet]

Yeah they really needed that.



After the winter though I have no faith in their batting. 100+ feels too high. They should have got 500 first up.

If West Indies had bowlers like Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, etc. then I could understand your concern.

However, the current bowling attack is not in the same class, although Roach and Edwards certainly try hard.

[gboycottnut]

Yeah they really needed that.



After the winter though I have no faith in their batting. 100+ feels too high. They should have got 500 first up.

If West Indies had bowlers like Ambrose, Walsh, Holding, etc. then I could understand your concern.

However, the current bowling attack is not in the same class, although Roach and Edwards certainly try hard.

West Indies don't need bowlers like Ambrose, Walsh, Holding in order to bowl England out for under 100. Bowlers like Mathurin showed last summer that there is enough bowling talent in the Carribean to show that England's batting when put under severe pressure can collapse like a pack of cards.

[trebellbobaggins]

wickets are proving very hard to come by aren't they.



I would seriously Windies have this now. Eng just can't bat well enough under pressure to chase it down I fear.

[msp83]

Sammy rightly playing his shots, the leads up to 128 now. If that gets over 160-170, with the suspect weather, England might just find it dificult to chase it down. England have to have a wicket, and they need it right now!. Bring Swanny on for a new spel!.

[trebellbobaggins]

Leaving out Finn was a man sausage up. He could have got results, Bres has been honest but not much more.

[gboycottnut]

Leaving out Finn was a man sausage up. He could have got results, Bres has been honest but not much more.

Finn is nothing special and is nothing more than an overrated seamer like many of the other current England bowlers.

[trebellbobaggins]

well the windies will no doubt show these no hopers hot to do it then.

[robbo277]

10 for Broady. England will win this one.

[alfie]

Well I won't call this a draw yet - still too much time left (weather permitting) , but unless England can take these last four wickets a lot quicker than they have the previous two they are likely to run out of overs .

Despite several comments on here from other posters which may be meant seriously , I don't see this West Indian attack dismissing England cheaply on this pitch. But a draw is certainly possible.

But not likely ... As Broad gets Sammy !

Three to get ..

[Duty281]

England have shot themselves in the foot with negative, defensive bowling. So many short balls. We're showing the Windies too much respect but have no fear - Bangladesh could chase down 300 on this pitch against the Windies so I have no worries for England. And just as I type Broad takes a wicket! 3 to go!

[trebellbobaggins]

haha over-rated seamer see.

[msp83]

10 for Broad, Sammy goes for 37. WI 307-7. Kemar Roach the new batsman.

[Duty281]

I think the last 3 batsmen for the Windies - Roach, Edwards and Gabriel - have a combined Test Average of 15 so we should batting for a bit tonight.

[trebellbobaggins]

i don't agree out bowling is over-rated but i do think our batsmen are pants and we're going to lose this sadly.

[alfie]

A ten wicket haul for Broad , and with the real tail exposed at last he may add a couple more yet...

But you can see how easy this pitch is to bat on - Even Roach has played his first few balls with some comfort. England will have to work to take these last three wickets, and may well have to get 200 or so to win. And as long as the heavens don't open they will get them tomorrow.

[Duty281]

A ten wicket haul for Broad , and with the real tail exposed at last he may add a couple more yet...

But you can see how easy this pitch is to bat on - Even Roach has played his first few balls with some comfort. England will have to work to take these last three wickets, and may well have to get 200 or so to win. And as long as the heavens don't open they will get them tomorrow.

Agree with this. The pitch has done bugger all since the first session on the first day.

[mystiroakey]

come on england knock em out-- sweet ~!!

[robbo277]

Roach gone, bowled Broad, caught Bell.

[alfie]

Another one for Broad.

Might not have to chase 200.

[mystiroakey]

england massive favs at this point- i think the mash up batting curse is gone, especially with there bowling line up!

[Duty281]

And Broad has his 11th victim of the game, 313/8. Hopefully we won't be chasing 200 now!

[robbo277]

A ten wicket haul for Broad , and with the real tail exposed at last he may add a couple more yet...

But you can see how easy this pitch is to bat on - Even Roach has played his first few balls with some comfort. England will have to work to take these last three wickets, and may well have to get 200 or so to win. And as long as the heavens don't open they will get them tomorrow.

Agree with this. The pitch has done bugger all since the first session on the first day.

Absolutely. West Indies don't have a front-line spinner either.

[trebellbobaggins]

another.

[mystiroakey]

omg lol- dont review it!!!!

[GSC]

Our bowling isn't overrated, Lords' pitch tends to die after the 3rd day.

[Duty281]

Our bowling isn't overrated, Lords' pitch tends to die after the 3rd day.

Our bowling attack is the best in the World.

[mystiroakey]

overrated pah- best in the world is what it is!!, unless trebell is saying it then i agree he should say it!!

[alfie]

Blimey - if reviews were left up to Broad England would need ten not two ! Hits the middle of the bat and cries for lbw...

Broad should bowl , but not talk

[kemet]

Darren Sammy has really let his team down with his bizaare approach to his batting.

Nothing is wrong with looking to score, but he did not have to be so reckless.

Ones and twos work just as well as fours and sixes.

As a captain, he should have had a better reading of the match situation.

[Duty281]

If your in the vicinity of Lords for tomorrow:

Ticket prices for Monday are as follows: 10 quid for adults; five pounds for over-65 and free for Under-16s,.

[GSC]

His eyes do all the talking for him.

I mean yeah, that

[alfie]

With two wickets left to take I will leave you chaps to finish the innings ...I have to work tomorrow

Goodnight all...

[trebellbobaggins]

overrated pah- best in the world is what it is!!, unless trebell is saying it then i agree he should say it!!

i didn't say it. I only say it about ours batting as it needs a boost.

[GSC]

If we could play spin....

[mystiroakey]

overrated pah- best in the world is what it is!!, unless trebell is saying it then i agree he should say it!!

i didn't say it. I only say it about ours batting as it needs a boost.

well considering how tough it is to get wickets out there maybe you shoiuld put your spell on them!

[GSC]

There goes Ramdin.

the end is nigh

[trebellbobaggins]

Good to see Anderson clean bowl the better of the two.

Of course this might mean the pitch is turning into a minefield now? bad news for Eng if so.

We struggled chasing totals like this in the winter after all.

[GSC]

About 170 to chase right now. If we can get through to close, weather permitting it shouldn't be overly tough tomorrow

[mystiroakey]

wow nice to see bairstow playing

[Duty281]

Swann would easily get the last wicket, instead we bring on Bresnan...hope he proves me wrong!

[GSC]

Must say Bresnan's been a disappointment

[trebellbobaggins]

These two are doing well. Getting some good little rabbit strokes in and getting lucky and taking the game away as they do it.

The pitch may be good but England are so frail. Can't see them getting this. All out for 130 i reckon.

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