The Cricket Thread

Looks like Jimmy will be bowling before too long anyway

 

Strange decision in foresight. Anderson would have wreaked havoc in these conditions.

 

True.

 

Hope the Windies can get a good score when they bat, and not crumble before Anderson´s lethal seam and swing bowling. It will be good to make England work really hard as that is what England need to get themselves fitter.

 

I'm relaxed about us choosing to bat.

Not that I wouldn't have had any problem with us bowling first - I'd have been relaxed about that too. But as I said yesterday, the Bowl is traditionally a bat-first wicket. Countless number of times the opposition teams have come here, seen either overcast conditions above them or greenery below them, chosen to therefore bowl, and ultimately seen it backfire. If you're brave enough as a captain, choosing to bat first will usually bring rewards here.

 

The best score in cricket, 123-5.

 

The first drop of Stokes was poor, but understandable. But that second one was a really poor drop; got to be taking that.

 

He's gone now !

 

We need the Windies to bat really well, perhaps getting to around 250 to make this an interesting game but I fear their batting line-up has lacked resolve in recent years. Prove me wrong Windies and find that steel that made you do great in the mid 80s.

 

Who'd have thought bowling in overcast conditions would be a good thing?

 

No we don’t.

 

I am thinking of everyone's needs. If Windies can get to a total of around 200, we have a test match, if their innings is reduced to rubble, the only favours it does is to the wicket-takers. After so long without cricket, I think we could do with an evenly matched test.

 

Finally! A review goes our way, great bowling from Jimmy.

 

Come Windies. Don't let this go.

 

I'm not saying the umpires are biased, or getting it wrong on purpose, but having five overturned decisions by the away side is hardly likely to lead to home umpiring returning on a permanent basis any time soon.

 

Really good interview with Broad there. Fair play to him for being so honest. You could see how gutted he is to be left out, and that he really disagrees. As Nasser rightly said, it's so refreshing from the usual bland PR lines of "it's a team game" or "it's something for you to discuss with the coach, not me" etc.

 

Decision to bat first looking worse by the hour...

 

I would imagine Archer is a very relieved man!

 

I hope not. I hope it makes him angry.

 

Finally the reviews are going our way!