Story A Season In The Life Of.....................Me...!![C2005]

[Briggsey]

Fletcher: 'Places Are Up For Grabs'

Duncan Fletcher addresses the press

Duncan Fletcher today announced after England crashed to a series defeat in Pakistan that places would be up for grabs when the team travels to India in February. After a 2-0 series defeat in Pakistan, Fletcher remained optimistic about his sides chances in the one day series, but still gave hope to the England A touring party which recently arrived in the West Indies for their series.

"Obviously we are dissapointed to have lost the series but we are still very confident going into the one day series, especially after the good summer of one day cricket we played. The conditions out here in the sub-continent are very different to those back home and we probably lacked a frequent wicket taker, obviously Simon Jones was missed out here, but after the one day series ends, ill turn my attention to the A team tour and see how things go out there."

This news will please the touring party who now know that Fletcher will be keeping an eye on how things are going, giving all who get a chance to play the chance to impress and maybe earn a seat on the plane to India.

 

[Bala]

Greedy Bugger!

All the best Briggsey. Hope you board the plane to India.

 

[Briggsey]

Trinidad vs England A
Queens Park Oval

The first game of the A team tour to the West Indies gets underway today with England taking on a very strong looking Trinidad team. With players such as Daren Ganga and Mervin Dillon and not to mention the all time test run scorer, Brian Lara in the Trinidad squad, the A team are going to be tested to the max here as they look to get their tour off to a winning start. The Queens Park Oval was almost full as the crowd turned out in hope to see their hero Brian Lara in action today so the atmosphere is superb, with the drummers playing away and the typical carribean atmosphere in and around the ground. The two captains met down at the middle to check out the conditions of the pitch.

A decent looking pitch has been stored up here by the groundsman, and it could offer a bit for both batsmen and bowlers so the coin toss will be interesting. The boiling hot temperatures could effect the England team as the game progresses so it is important they adapt to the conditions quickly. The match referee made his way down to the middle to conduct the coin toss.

So, Ganga has won the toss and has elected to bat first on this track. With the Trinidad captain knowing the pitch better than most, you cant really question his decision. England will have a long day ahead of them in the field and are going to have to toil away at the strong Trinidad team. The teams were announced after the toss and the crowd cheered with delight as the players made their way onto the pitch.

 

[Cricketman]

cmon BRIGGS!

 

[Briggsey]

Batty And Mahmood Rip Through Trinidad
At The Queens Park Oval

Daren Ganga's decision to bat first has backfired against his team as England A kicked off their tour in the perfect way, bowling out Trinidad for only 109 in their first innings. After a decent start to the innings, Sajid Mahmood made two breakthroughs in quick succession, first getting rid of Sherwin Ganga, before claiming the huge wicket of Brian Lara who hit one straight back at the Lancashire quickie for an easy caught and bowled. It was then the turn of Gareth Batty to take center stage as he picked up 3 wickets, the biggest one being Dwayne Bravo who has come into this game off the back of a fine century knock against Australia in the recent test series. The Trinidad bowling line up containing two former test bowlers and a couple of current one's are going to have to use all of their experience and knowledge of the conditions to give themselves a chance of remaining in this game.

From Briggs View
Despite being the only bowler used not to take a wicket, Briggs still showed how effective he could be in the conditions as his 11 overs saw him go at only one an over, and he had batsmen jumping out of the way throughout his two spells in the innings. Briggs recaptured his former bowling presence which saw him being one of the most dangerous bowlers in the English County Championship this season and was unlucky not to claim the wicket of Ricardo Powell who after being struck on the glove saw the ball go straight up in the air, only for it to fall short of the diving fielder. Briggs will now have to go back to the pavillion and get his pads on, especially if the conditions remain true to how they have been at the moment, offering the bowlers plenty of assistance.

Shaun Briggs 11-3-11-0

1st Spell
1st Over: Briggs starts up with a maiden
2nd Over: Briggs thinks he has his first wicket when the ball hits Powell on the glove, only for the fielder to just dive short of the ball
3rd Over: Single from the over
4th Over: Another single comes from the over as the Trinidad team looks to consolidate
5th Over: 3 runs come from the over
6th Over: Briggs finishes his first spell with a maiden
End Of Spell 6-3-5-0

2nd Spell
7th Over: Single from Briggs comeback over
8th Over: Another single from the over
9th Over: Two runs from the over
10th Over: Briggs bowls his first no ball, but next ball hits Dillion on the helmet, sending the big man to the floor
11th Over: Briggs finishes his final spell conceding a single from the last delivery

Briggs comes into the attack, sporting the England colours with pride

 

[Briggsey]

Scorecards After Trinidad First Innings

 

[Cricketman]

Trinidad vs England A
Queens Park Oval

The first game of the A team tour to the West Indies gets underway today with England taking on a very strong looking Trinidad team. With players such as Daren Ganga and Mervin Dillon and not to mention the all time test run scorer, Brian Lara in the Trinidad squad, the A team are going to be tested to the max here as they look to get their tour off to a winning start. The Queens Park Oval was almost full as the crowd turned out in hope to see their hero Brian Lara in action today so the atmosphere is superb, with the drummers playing away and the typical carribean atmosphere in and around the ground. The two captains met down at the middle to check out the conditions of the pitch.

A decent looking pitch has been stored up here by the groundsman, and it could offer a bit for both batsmen and bowlers so the coin toss will be interesting. The boiling hot temperatures could effect the England team as the game progresses so it is important they adapt to the conditions quickly. The match referee made his way down to the middle to conduct the coin toss.

So, Ganga has won the toss and has elected to bat first on this track. With the Trinidad captain knowing the pitch better than most, you cant really question his decision. England will have a long day ahead of them in the field and are going to have to toil away at the strong Trinidad team. The teams were announced after the toss and the crowd cheered with delight as the players made their way onto the pitch.

wow thats England not england a....

anyways thats a tough trinidad team: composing of players like lara!!! Good work by briggs: 11 overs for 11 runs! Brilliant!

 

[Briggsey]

wow thats England not england a....

Because there is no England A in the game, so I had to use the next best thing I could. Ive tried to make it as real as possible with the change in kit to make it represent the England A team.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I never thought that when Fletcher said spots were open that he meant the whole XI :

 

[Cricketman]

Because there is no England A in the game, so I had to use the next best thing I could. Ive tried to make it as real as possible with the change in kit to make it represent the England A team.

ok cool mate, lovin this thread!

 

[Briggsey]

Sky Sports Announce TV Rights

It was today announced that Sky Sports would be showing the remaining games from the England A tour of the West Indies. After the current game involving Trinidad and England A, the A team will move on to play 2 tests and 3 one day games against a West Indies A squad still to be announced.

 

[Johann]

Nice stuff by England A! If they perform like this the competition will on between the guys to go to India. Good luck.

 

[Briggsey]

Openers Lead The Way
At The Queens Park Oval

A century from Alistair Cook and 74 from Stephen Moore helped England A to a healthy lead as they declared their first innings on 372 for 6, giving them an advantage of 263, leaving Trinidad with lots of work to do to save this game. England A couldnt have hoped for a better start as Cook and Moore put on 127 for the first wicket to give them a lead with only one wicket down, and when Rob Key came to the crease that lead was extended even further, but a couple of quick wickets, including Briggs for a first ball duck slowed down the England A batsmen, but fifties from Ed Joyce and Owais Shah helped England to build on the lead. Young quick Richard Kelly picked up 3 wickets and was the most impressive of the Trinidad bowlers, boosting his claim for a place in the West Indies A team.

From Briggs View
Briggs first duck in first class cricket couldnt have come at a worse time, with Duncan Fletcher only saying the day before the game that he would be keeping an eye on how the tour goes, Briggs gets out for a first ball duck, beaten all ends up by former West Indies fast bowler Marlon Black. Briggs was made to look quite the fool as he went to play a defensive shot but missed the ball completely and found himself making his way back to the pavillion. Could it be a case of nerves for the young Yorkshireman?

Briggs prepares to face his first and only ball of the innings

Delight for Trinidad as Briggs goes

 

[Briggsey]

Scorecards After England A First Innings

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Ouch bad luck for Briggs. As Richie would say, What was he thinking!?!