England vs West Indies Second ODI Debate

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The backdrop to the 2nd ODI between England and the West Indies is a rather sad one, with the tragic death of Tom Maynard.
But the cricket nevertheless has to go ahead. For England, the massive win in the first ODI, with every part of their game working in decent order would give them extra confidence. Ian Bell has started his new innings as ODI opener in some style, now the greater challenge is to keep it going consistently. It is unlikely England would make any change in the team that won the first match, but the possibility of some spin might bring some thoughts about Samit Patel.
As far as the WI goes, they were kind of being built up as the favorits in some sections of the press, but at that point itself I had my doubts, although they have a far better side to challenge the English in this format unlike the case was during the test series.
The West Indies are forced to make at least one change, as the injured Darren Bravo is out of the series and has gone back home. The big question is whether Chris Gayle is fit to come into the side. If he is fit, then he would walk in for Bravo and either Simmons or Dwayne Smith, who had decent success in the first match opening, would bat down the order.
There is a questionmark over Andre Russell's fitness as well. If he is not a hundred %, then Tino Best might get a game.
cricinfo reports that the weather is good for the match, and that the pitch had taken a bit of turn during the domestic season.

Think Ravi bowls a touch quicker than say someone like Darren Sammy manages.

Good last few overs from the West Indies - much more proactive and now looking to set themselves up for a good bash. Should be aiming for 40-0 in the batting PP - don't go too hard because a couple of wickets and you're down to the bowlers (plus Sammy).

woops Kieswetter misses a stumping. not easy when they go under the bat like that but should have been taken.

Hmmmmm, Pollard taking Swann on, didn't quite find the middle of the bat, nevertheless it goes for 6. But a fine over at the end of it all from Swann, Pollard couldn't get a run of the other 5 balls.

Bad miss there by Kieswetter

Swann not over happy. Hope that doesn't come back to bite 'em

Poor from Kieswetter there, Pollard can be a real monster in the last few overs, that stumping was as easy as they come.

poor over from Finn, don't agree with the field at all, England letting it slip, need to tighten things up sharpish.

An excellent start to the batting powerplay from the West Indies, 15 of the first over there from Finn.

And a pretty poor over from Finn.

England don't want to go off the boil now ... Are still in a good position , but ...

I find it so frustrating to see this from England. 30 overs of excellent work, and a few overs of rubbish and we're on the back foot again. I mean, what's the point of every single fielder in the circle being on the edge and conceding 1, never understood that? 27 off the last 2 overs...

So who will be bowling the rest of the powerplay overs? Broad can bowl one more, but who will bowl the other 2? Anderson has bowled 8 so far, Bresnan hasn't really looked all that sharp today. Finn's had a dredful start to the powerplay spel. Swanny has 3 more overs remaining, I think he should have a go at Bravo and Pollard now, think he has the class to come up with the goods in this challenging situation.

Its not Swann, its Bresnan replacing Finn.

two more ridiculously cheap singles conceded, and then a boundary. awful.

Good over from Bresnan under the circumstances.

very surprised that England haven't tried a few more slower ones here...

Flower has some advice relayed to the skipper ...

Wonder what he's spotted ? And will it do the trick ?

Broad putting plenty into this over...

decent over from Broad though, but WI have the momentum and should get 260 from here.

Excellent over that from Broad despite the no ball.

Anyway , time to praise the batsmen...Good fifty , Bravo !

And 100 partnership ...

...and a wicket !

the world's most telegraphed plan works! Cook drops back third-man, deep square-leg and fine-leg to Pollard. The ball is, rather predictably, short. Pollard tries to smash it out of the park but top edges and it's easy as you like for deep square-leg. End of an excellent partnership, but a disappointing dismissal it must be said.

Swann back on, predictably.

Was that the Flower plan ? If so , it worked

Sammy time ...

and it's an excellent over, just two from it.

It was shaping up to be an excellent powerplay for the West Indies, but Bresnan has got Pollard at the end of it to restore some ground for England. but 47 for 1 is a pretty decent effort from the West Indies. Now Bravo needs to bat through the innings. Sammy can be a dificult proposition in such situation with his ability to play effective attacking shots rather effortlessly, but he often comes out to bat with his brain shut down.

England have been below par in the field today...

MFC and alfie, do you think keeping Anderson for the death overs is a very smart move? I do have my doubts, Bresnan and Broad are better in such situations for me, even Steven Finn for that matter. May be Jimmy should have bowled one of his remaining overs in the powerplay, perhaps in place of Finn, and bowl his last around the 45th. Don't really see him as the best of England's death over bowlers, although he's along with Swann the best of the lot overall.

Jimmy is the best bowler. He bowls a good yorker, too. He will be fine.

crikey they make good edges nowadays. Bravo doesn't get that one anywhere near the middle, but it just keeps going, over midwicket and into the crowd.

I'm not a big fan of Jimmy at the death TBH, he hasn't done that well there recently. I think Broad and Bresnan are prob our best death bowlers. Having said that, Jimmy's a better option than Finn I think.

again, that looked very top-edge-ish from Sammy but it's gone all the way for six. Who'd be a bowler hey?

So Swann into his last over. Will the WI get over 250? If these 2 can bat on for most of the remaining overs they should get it, and should get a few more beyond. Sammy hits Swann for 6 of his last ball. Swanny went for 23 in his last 2. 1- 49 from him, a pretty good effort, considering the wicket he picked up!!.

Sammy gone! cuts Finn straight to Morgan at point. easy catch. Not a bad little cameo from Sammy in the circumstances.

afternoon all.



so then, the oval and chasing.



what sort of total should Windies be setting here?

After missing out on an available run, Darren Sammy hits the next ball to point's hand to give Finn a wicket.
Good strike from Finn, Ramdin is not as powerful a hitter as Sammy could be. Even more responsibility now on Bravo, he has to somehow see them through to 250 here.

Ramdim works the last ball down to third man for one, England won't mind that. Fine over from Finn

hi trebs

as I said a while back I reckon 250 absolute minimum on this pitch, it looks a cracker to bat on.

I thought that. I watched some strokes and though "another 300 pitch here a the Oval".

Andre Russell could have been a real handful in this situation. Any word as yet on whether he's injured or dropped?

Who said Anderson was no good at the death? Lovely yorker to Bravo, followed by the removal of Ramdin.

now Ramdim goes, backs away has a swoosh and a thin nick through to Kieswetter. Daft shot from the keeper, should have been just pushing singles and giving Bravo the strike.

msp, there was talk before the game of Russell being injured, not sure...

Ramdin, like an idiot, trys to slog Anderson and edges behind. He should just have looked for the single that would have brought Bravo back on strike. What stupid note will explain this?

haha best is out and the lucky strokes have started.



cracks me up. worst best batsman ever. to be fair the guy can bat a bit but the way he's been hyped now after one match is amusing.

Tino Best ahead of Ravi Rampaul, and he starts with an edged 4. And he'll keep the strike!.

strange from Best. He scored his runs in the test by playing some decent cricket shots, here he's just swinging at everything. Another good over from Finn.

Jimmy gets Bravo! Bopara takes a really excellent catch at extra-cover as that one had snow on it!!! I take it back about Jimmy at the death. Bravo gone for a fine innings, but WI look like they'll struggle to reach 250 here, England have pulled it back well in the last few overs.

ah Bravo gone.

So now we see if Tino can do a little cameo.

Seems below par on this ground at the mo but then Eng arent the best at chasing so who knows.

Best going for the windows there and only managing to edge it on to his pad. And Anderson gets Bravo, 250 looks very dificult, unless Rampaul manages to have a few slogs well connected

he's just heaving at everything. i didn't see his cameo, must have been mad lucky if he played like this. as likely to get out as anyone here.

Anderson wastes a review. Probably just because he can (for once Broad hasn't got there first ) but that's an excellent spell from him. WI 236-8, one over left, Bresnan rather than Broad, surprisingly.

Trebs, that 95 was freakiest of all freaky knocks. Best just plays this way, that he played pretty much like to start off, a few edges got him a few runs, and then he somehow just got going.

ah fair enough, Thought it migt have been.

They have really squandered the position that good partnership gave them.

Looks a 300 pitch, surely should be minimum 270 batting first?

But you still have to get them and this is eng after all.