The summer of cricket 2020

[alfie]

Stokes gone at last...and Roach gets one at last ! Bit fluky , reverse leg side edge but I think Kemar was entitled to dome good fortune...

Hell of an innings from Stokes

[GSC]

Woakes gone first up and Roach on a hat trick

[Duty281]

Now Roach might get a hat-trick.

Funny game.

[alfie]

Woakes gone first nut ! Roach the second bowler to try for a hat trick this innings...

...Which is really weird with a scorecard like this

[Gooseberry]

Yep really not as easy as the "why arent they scoring at 12 an over" and " should we declare at 550" crowd would have you think ...

[GSC]

Don't think it's easy but equally the way England attacked (or not) the first 4 sessions, they had to ramp up the aggression

[Gooseberry]

Stokes 52 with the bat and 29 with the ball since the start of 2019

[Gooseberry]

Don't think it's easy but equally the way England attacked (or not) the first 4 sessions, they had to ramp up the aggression

Yeah but some had that for this mornings session...they could very easily have been all out for 300.

[guildfordbat]

A shame England don't have a spinner of the calibre of KP Fan to exploit the conditions!

[guildfordbat]

Like your plan , guildford .  So that means another 25/26 overs max to bat , if you want a dozen at them tonight. Trouble is the light might prevent them all being bowled...

Anyway they're going after them now. And Holder hasn't a lot of ammunition to throw at them after 141 overs so runs should flow pretty freely from here .

Sorry, keep forgetting the light - the problem doesn't show up on tv (or cricinfo when following on that! ). Furthermore, it's a gloriously bright and sunny day here at Bat Towers.

Anyway, hoping we get a full (or near to full) allocation. Stick with my suggestion of getting 10 to 12 overs at 'em tonight although Craig's target of 500 before the declaration now seems a trifle optimistic!

[alfie]

Young Sam has seen enough ...nice strike for six . Was wondering when the fireworks would start : last few overs have been pretty uneventful.
Looks as if England want 450 at least.

That was a fine spell from Roach Good energy after two days in the field.

[alfie]

Like your plan , guildford .  So that means another 25/26 overs max to bat , if you want a dozen at them tonight. Trouble is the light might prevent them all being bowled...

Anyway they're going after them now. And Holder hasn't a lot of ammunition to throw at them after 141 overs so runs should flow pretty freely from here .

Sorry, keep forgetting the light - the problem  doesn't show up on tv (or cricinfo when following on that! ). Furthermore, it's a gloriously bright and sunny day here at Bat Towers.

Anyway, hoping we get a full (or near to full) allocation. Stick with my suggestion of getting 10 to 12 overs at 'em tonight although Craig's target of 500 before the declaration now seems a trifle optimistic!

Yeah , doesn't look bad on TV ; but judging by other days in this series...

The way they're batting , they may well be playing for just your road map ... More declaration timing than a run target ?

[guildfordbat]

And a lovely quick single from Sam.

Roach has deserved much more than his 2 wickets so far over this series.

[Gooseberry]

Like your plan , guildford .  So that means another 25/26 overs max to bat , if you want a dozen at them tonight. Trouble is the light might prevent them all being bowled...

Anyway they're going after them now. And Holder hasn't a lot of ammunition to throw at them after 141 overs so runs should flow pretty freely from here .

Sorry, keep forgetting the light - the problem  doesn't show up on tv (or cricinfo when following on that! ). Furthermore, it's a gloriously bright and sunny day here at Bat Towers.

Anyway, hoping we get a full (or near to full) allocation. Stick with my suggestion of getting 10 to 12 overs at 'em tonight although Craig's target of 500 before the declaration now seems a trifle optimistic!

Does seem the question now is why bother declaring, is it likely to get easier to bat later in the game?

Either way England should get some decent conditions to bowl at west indies in and it really comes down to being able to take 20 wickets. Theres certainly enough in the pitch to interest Bess and Root is a better spinner than Braithwaite. The big ask will be on the 4 seamers to get some magic on a pitch thats going to make them look very pedestrian against a side who know will know the best result they are likely to get is a draw and that that isnt bad for them at all in terms of the series.
I dont think the West Indies have player whos capable of doing anything like what either Sibley or Stokes did, but 20 wickets is still a long way off.

[alfie]

Guess we won't know how easy taking 20 wickets is until we see West Indies batting. Hasn't looked that easy for England...they've battled away at a generally quite pedestrian rate - even with some Stokes acceleration it's only been 210 in 71 overs today. But only seven wickets in 154 overs...
I still think the more time they give themselves to bowl the better. Another twenty odd runs would do me fine.

[Gooseberry]

More pointless stats...Curran has more test sixes than test caps but that was his first in 5 innings batting against the west indies.

[Gooseberry]

Buttler doing exactly enough to not answer any questions about his long term future.

[alfie]

Buttler gone now. Think I'd be happy for the last two to just have a swing now . They've really mainly been just knocking it around lately so I'm not sure there's much point in persevering for any longer. Let's let the bowlers loose !

[Duty281]

Nine down now, another five-for for Chase.

What's Broad got left with the bat?

[alfie]

Buttler doing exactly enough to not answer any questions about his long term future.

Was never going to. If he couldn't make a few runs in this situation he never would ; but equally they weren't going to condemn him for getting out trying to up the run rate...

As to how he looked : still a bit iffy for mine. Some nice shots ...and some shaky play and misses. As you say , nothing really added.

Curran gone. Not going to be 450. But if the bowlers can do a job they have enough.

[Duty281]

Swing has persisted, even with the old ball, so Woakes and Curran should love bowling on this. Just a shame Anderson's missing this test.

[alfie]

Not often number eleven comes in with a Test best of 160...

But I'd rather see Broad bowling. Fiddling around for a handful of more runs is a waste of time. Since Stokes got out they've added forty in 16 overs. Hardly cashing in...

[Gooseberry]

Even Chase looks worn out now, 42 overs is a heck of a lot.

[Gooseberry]

Buttler doing exactly enough to not answer any questions about his long term future.

Was never going to. If he couldn't make a few runs in this situation he never would ; but equally they weren't going to condemn him for getting out trying to up the run rate...

As to how he looked : still a bit iffy for mine. Some nice shots ...and some shaky play and misses. As you say , nothing really added.

Curran gone. Not going to be 450. But if the bowlers can do a job they have enough.

If he hadnt made 20 the internet would've had him hung drawn and quartered.

[Duty281]

That sums up Gabriel's test - missing the easiest run-out chance since Lyon.

Up to 445.

[Gooseberry]

The psychological and physical toll of this on the west indies must be huge. Its one reason why England have prolonged things.

[Gooseberry]

Gabriel might even be hoping they get forced to follow on so he doesnt have to field again

[alfie]

Well Bess and Broad have got them to 450 ...and fairly briskly so fair enough I guess. As you say , goose , they are grinding them down in more ways than one.

I just hope they get a good number of overs to capitalise on that tonight. The good thing is the light looks OK , at least on my TV.

[Duty281]

I think they'll be alright for the light. Gabriel's bowling now descending from the erratic to the dangerous - think Dowrich has done a very good job behind the stumps this innings.

Would declare now and get a full hour at the West Indies batsmen tonight.

[Gooseberry]

The fieldings gone to pot too. Honestly get at the openers while they are tired

[alfie]

Bess and Broad enjoying themselves...poor old Chase looks exhausted.
These two have actually provided the fireworks we were hoping Buttler and Curran might put on ...

And that's it : 469/9 and about an hour to bowl .Thats not a bad call.

[Gooseberry]

Top stuff from England. Biggest threat now really is the drizzle tomorrow. The percentages are low but it could be similar to day one on the first test where theres a light misting on off all day

[Duty281]

469/9 - a laudable effort. Apparently the first time England have scored 450+ in a test at home since 2017.

Two or more wickets tonight and England will be delighted. Will be a horrible fifty-five minutes for the batting side.

[Gooseberry]

Bess and Broad enjoying themselves...poor old Chase looks exhausted.

Its by far the most hes ever bowled in a test innings. Worth noting as well hes the Stokes of the team batting at 5, the toll of this on him could affect his batting concentration too.

[guildfordbat]

Useful runs from Bess and Broad as well as adding to the Windies' frustrations.

Play can go on until 7 tonight (assuming light holds). Should allow for about 13 overs. Not too far off my call.

At the start of the day Bumble was talking up the successes of Onions, Bailey and Chapple bowling fast-medium for Lancs in recent years at Old Trafford. On that basis, Curran might fit the bill.

[alfie]

469/9 - a laudable effort. Apparently the first time England have scored 450+ in a test at home since 2017.

Two or more wickets tonight and England will be delighted. Will be a horrible fifty-five minutes for the batting side.

Two wickets minimum you'd think. They're attacking with a lot of slips and Broad has already got some movement going.
On the other hand ; if they don't get a wicket at all you'd think this might be headed for a draw - especially if tomorrow sees a lot of time lost.

Wonder if we will see a bit of Bess tonight ?

[king_carlos]

Poor Shane Dowrich must be absolutely exhausted right now. I think he kept really well to erratic bowling on a wicket with some changeable bounce and the ball frequently swinging after it passed the stumps.

Chris Woakes is hitting handy Chris Woakes areas, at handy Chris Woakes pace, getting handy Chris Woakes seam movement and just generally doing handy Chris Woakes things. I think Chris Woakes could do well on this wicket.

[guildfordbat]

Carlos - don't disagree about Woakes but would still like to see Curran having a bowl and pitching it up into the batsman's pads.

[king_carlos]

Broad and Woakes are hitting good areas, last wider ball from Woakes aside, but I'd like to see Curran and Bess before the close.

Curran to see if it swings and Bess to see how it turns. Just change things up for the final few overs.

[king_carlos]

Carlos - don't disagree about Woakes but would still like to see Curran having a bowl and pitching it up into the batsman's pads.

Snap! I didn't get the usual a new post has been made whilst you were typing message there so we must have posted just about simultaneously Guildford!

[alfie]

Getting your wishes , gentlemen.

And has Sam got one ? Review...

[alfie]

Think he might have ...

Yes

[Duty281]

Woakes was just a little short for my liking. Broad trying a little too hard to find the magic ball.

Think Curran's got one here though...yes he has. That golden arm again. Howler from the umpire.

[guildfordbat]

YES!!! I was screaming at Root to review!

[alfie]

Important break. Looked pretty good live...the umpires have been pretty good in this match , but not over- keen to give lbw. Think he suspected an inside edge.

A good review.

Night watchman time.

[guildfordbat]

Joseph in as nightwatchman.

As regulars will know, I'm never keen on using nightwatchmen. Right, let's have 'im!

[alfie]

Now Bess will have a go. Good . Mix it up. And probably ensure an extra over or two.

[king_carlos]

Yes Sam.

I've been a fan for a long time (since his list-A debut against Northants when I saw that whippy Wasim-esque action and late swing take several wickets on a day David Willey did very little with the ball) so I am biased but when some refer to him as a medium pacer who bats a bit during quieter days I find it incredibly short sighted.

He isn't a perfect bowler but in the right conditions (horses-for-course and all that) he can add a lot to the attack with his left arm angle and hitting the right areas.

[Duty281]

Joseph hasn't exactly batted like someone intent on seeing it out, as he now chips one just over the infield. Risky stuff.

[alfie]

Good day for England . One more tonight would have been nice ; but at least they've made one break.

Ha ! If they'd reviewed that Sam would have had another ! Ah well...hard to be sure of those.

Hopefully not too much time to be lost tomorrow . Think twenty wickets are still going to take a bit of work.

[Sponsored content]