Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
I want to say it's awesome and so cool, but we all know it's just Cricket 22 being far too OP for spinners
Ken Tremendous
International Cricketer
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Location
- England
18 maidens from the skipper too with an economy under one!
Plenty of time left for you to force a result @Rumple43, 60 odd ahead, if you can go at say 3.5 an over till tea, that would be a lead of around 270 - but that would be a very sporting declaration with so many overs left - perhaps go for a quick run rate, set them 325 plus and then get at them just after tea?
Plenty of time left for you to force a result @Rumple43, 60 odd ahead, if you can go at say 3.5 an over till tea, that would be a lead of around 270 - but that would be a very sporting declaration with so many overs left - perhaps go for a quick run rate, set them 325 plus and then get at them just after tea?
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
All very plausible....but you'll have to wait until next week to find out because I'm just a big tease like that :-D
Ken Tremendous
International Cricketer
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Location
- England
Im hurt and saddened.
So much so i might need another beer to get me through this evenings play from Barbados
So much so i might need another beer to get me through this evenings play from Barbados
karolkarol
International Cricketer
Im hurt and saddened.
So much so i might need another beer to get me through this evenings play from Barbados
Going to need more than one I reckon, it's gone very flat!
Gaurav_7
Executive member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2010
- Profile Flag
- India
Oh wow another great story in the making and already loving your updates! Root surely will remember these bowling figures for a long time. 2 days remain with Eng 62 ahead, all 3 results possible.
Looking forward to what unfolds next if you stop being a tease now..
Looking forward to what unfolds next if you stop being a tease now..
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. Next update is tomorrow, I may move from 2 to 3 a week, I've got a decent backlog written and ready to go.
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
England take control of 1st Test following commanding day at Kensington Oval
A century from Rory Burns and quick-fire cameos elsewhere set up sizable run chase before Root once again puts the Windies in a spinA knock of 113 from Rory Burns plus contributions from across the scorecard helped England to a quick-fire 369-7 declared in their 2nd innings, before Joe Root took four wickets in four overs to leave the West Indies chase in tatters at 41-5.
Burns and Tom Haines shared an opening stand of 160 off just 202 balls, smashing the West Indies into submission under the blistering Barbados sun.
Between the heat and the rapid outfield, England piled on the runs at lightning speed once settled, with Ben Foakes (68 from 35 balls) and Ryan Higgins (52* from 32 balls) both teeing off late in the day to set the hosts a massive 431 to win.
After their first innings lasted over 146 overs, England were eager to get their opponents in before the close of play, forcing Kraigg Brathwaite’s side to negotiate 75 minutes before stumps after a demoralising day in the field.
Those 18 overs proved to be the West Indies undoing, with Kieran Powell inside edging Mark Woods onto his off pole, whilst Root came on for a late cameo that could likely have decided the game.
Removing both of the host’s top scorers from their first innings, Brathwaite and Roston Chase, the England captain also saw off Jermaine Blackwood and Kyle Mayers inside the final three balls of the day to leave England needing five more wickets for victory tomorrow.
Root troubled both sides of the bat with his off spinners and variations, collecting four key wickets at the cost of just nine runs.
That leaves him just one more scalp away from a maiden 10 wicket haul, something that England would love to see if it means they can take this contest on day five.
It seems a likely proposition given that the overcast weather is set to return tomorrow after today’s sun-drenched interlude, and with just five wickets remaining and 90 overs to still see off, it appears a tall order for the hosts.
England started the day brightly, needing quick runs in a sensible manner to not only build their lead but also leave as much time left in the game as they could manage. Folding too cheaply would also have opened the door for their opponents to chase a more modest target, making for a tricky balance in their approach.
Burns and Haines got that plight off to a stunning start before Root (44 from 57) chipped in during the afternoon.
It was Foakes and debutant Higgins that really blasted England out of sight though, with the duo combining for 95 runs off just 48 balls immediately after tea in a display that would have been worthy of the men they’re currently replacing, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.
England head coach Mike Hesson said:
Ken Tremendous
International Cricketer
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Location
- England
Super stuff, it'll be a formality to wrap this one up on the morning of Day 5.
Who knew Joe "Shane Warne" Root would be the man...well, probably most of us, given the AI and their spinning struggles!
Looking like a dominant start to the series for you.
Who knew Joe "Shane Warne" Root would be the man...well, probably most of us, given the AI and their spinning struggles!
Looking like a dominant start to the series for you.
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
England win 1st test against West Indies by 286 runs
Joe Root’s unlikely 10-50 match figures push England’s captain into all-rounder territory as tourist romp to victoryJoe Root’s England began life under new coach Mike Hesson with a win as the captain made headlines with the ball rather than the bat as his side won by 286 runs.
Blowing his previous best match figures of 5-33 out of the water, the Yorkshireman recorded England’s first 10 wicket haul since Stuart Broad’s 10-67 against West Indies in July 2020.
Victory means that the tourists now head to Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 up in the three match series.
The majority of Root’s damage was done late the previous day when he took four of the five West Indies’ wickets to fall, setting the hosts up for defeat this afternoon.
The skipper took just a solitary wicket on the final day, ending the stubborn resistance of wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva to end the match.
Instead it was Ollie Robinson who made inroads on day five, taking three wickets, including the key dismissal of Nkrumah Bonner. The West Indies’ #3 had made 47 from 139 balls that gave the hosts a glimmer of hope that a draw might not be out of reach.
Bonner and Jason Holder saw out much of the morning with little issue, stemming the flow of dismissals that littered the final session of day four. Holder eventually fell LBW to Ryan Higgins, who bowled tightly on debut with little reward before finally getting his man.
Bonner would then go shortly after lunch, dabbing tamely at a rare loose Robinson delivery to spell the beginning of a quick wrap up, with none of the tail able to stay with Da Silva before he ultimately departed as well.
Man of the Match was a clear choice as Joe Root collected his award, though Rory Burns made 181 runs in the match that included a stylish century.
Striking a major blow first up in a short series, the team can now head into the 2nd test with some measure of confidence following their Ashes mauling.
With overhead conditions as well as a pitch that is expected to favour ball more than bat at Port of Spain, England will also feel pleased that Root has managed to assert himself as a strike option in these conditions, giving his side some much needed selection flexibility.
England captain Joe Root:
England head coach Mike Hesson added:
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Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
England in WI: Higgins dealt cruel blow as training injury ends series
Newly capped all rounder suffer suspected torn calf muscle during net session, expected to miss remainder of WI series once confirmed
England’s Ryan Higgins suffered a potential series-ending injury yesterday as he was struck down by a torn calf muscle whilst bowling in the nets.
The Gloucestershire man was expected to form part of an unchanged England XI for the 2nd test against West Indies at Port of Spain, but the tourists’ selection plans have now been thrown into question.
It is a deeply unfortunate turn of events for a player who impressed on debut, scoring a quick-fire half century to set England up to secure a 286-run win, also taking 1-74 and 1-16 with the ball.
“Everyone is gutted for Ryan, who’s come here and done everything we’ve asked of him,” said England’s Managing Director Alec Stewart.
“His display with the bat in Barbados showed everyone just how much talent this young man has, and he also bowled well as part of a solid team performance.”
“We wish him all the best in his recovery, and he will be on our radar once he’s back to 100%.”
Higgins had been afforded an opportunity in the squad due to an injury to Ben Stokes and given the standing of the man he was replacing, the 27-year-old always faced an uphill battle to retain his place once the Durham man was available for selection.
His showing in the 1st test suggested that a case could be made for his repeated inclusion going forward, but those thoughts have been well and truly quashed as Higgins now makes the flight back to the UK to undergo further tests and if required, surgery and further rehab.
Only time will tell if Higgins is able to avoid joining the list of England’s one-test wonders, with the likes of Simon Kerrigan, Scott Borthwick and Sam Billings already notable names in that ignominious club.
Based on their touring party, it’s thought that England could well turn to the experienced Chris Woakes as the most suitable replacement for the 2nd test, which starts next week.
He has shown his worth with both bat and ball throughout his 42 tests to date, with a top score of 137* against India in 2018 plus a bowling average of just under 30.
It could be that Joe Root’s men go with the more outright pace of Brydon Carse or Saqib Mahmood, though that would sacrifice some batting depth on a second test pitch that is expected to favour ball over bat.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
West Indies v England (2nd Test, three match series, England lead 1-0)
Date: 16-20 March 2022
Venue: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Weather: Mostly sunny, with cloudy intervals. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 20s with the possibility of some warmer weather later in the match.
Pitch: The surface appears to offer plenty for bowlers at first glance, with patches of grass, a consistency that is already dry and dusty, and some light cracks visible.
England head into the 2nd test off the back of a commanding win in last week's opener against West Indies.
The tourists won that contest by 286 runs and will no doubt look to make it two from two, ending this three-match series with a game to spare.Consistency is something that has eluded Joe Root’s men in recent times, having not won a test series since the 2-0 victory in Sri Lanka over a year ago.
England's batting has been a concern for a number of games now, and the pitch at Port of Spain could continue that trend. Winning the toss will be important for both teams in that regard as the surface is unlikely to offer big runs to whoever bats last.
Line Ups
As expected, England are forced into at least one change with debutant from Barbados Ryan Higgins now back in the UK with a calf injury.
Chris Woakes is the obvious replacement and slots in as a like for the like swap, with the Warwickshire man perhaps offering a little more with ball than bat on a surface that may test England’s resolve.
Rory Burns and Sam Haines combined for 315 runs in the 1st test and will look to continue that trend, whilst Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook will form England’s batting reserves.
Woakes joins Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood as the tourists’ main bowling options, with newly-anointed spin threat Joe Root expected to reprise his role here.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite has kept faith with the same XI that lost at Kensington Oval, hoping that his side can level the series with an improved performance.
That means there’s still no place for seamer Shannon Gabriel, and Kyle Mayers (9.00 batting average in the 1st test), Jermaine Blackwood (9.50 average) and Kieran Powell (11.00 average) all retain their spots under a fair degree of pressure to perform in less than helpful conditions.
Tale of the tape
England will no doubt be hoping to ride the momentum of last week’s heavy defeat of the West Indies, and with largely unchanged line ups for both teams, the logical thinking from a prediction perspective would be a repeat outcome.That is assuming that all variables remain the same, however. Given England’s issues opening the batting in recent years, there is no guarantee that Burns and Haines can provide the sort of platform they did in Barbados. Likewise, relying on Joe Root to contribute another 10 wickets with the ball also seems a long shot.
With a lively pitch and the prospect for an England collapse ever looming, this could still be an even contest between two well-matched teams that is decided by one or two key partnerships.
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
England edge day one of 2nd test after nightmare start
Chris Woakes plays the hero on his return to the side, striking up a key partnership with Ben Foakes to rescue England from 21-5A sensational 137 from Chris Woakes helped England to close day one of the 2nd test all out for 292, with the final wicket falling to close play.
England had been in a desperate situation early in the day’s opening session, winning the toss and electing to bat on a bowler friendly pitch, preferring to weather an early storm than endure the problems of batting last as conditions deteriorated.
10 overs into proceedings, the tourists were staring down the barrel of their lowest ever test total, 45 all out against Australia in 1887.
Harry Brook was the first English batter to truly make a fist of things, he formed a useful counter-attacking partnership with Foakes as the pair put on 51 from 62 balls before the Yorkshireman was bowled by West Indies spinner Roston Chase.
That brought Woakes to the crease, who looked calm and assured, slowly accumulating with the Surrey keeper as England clawed their way out of trouble.
Drawing obvious comparisons to the famous 139-run partnership between Woakes and then England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler against Pakistan in 2020, the England duo eventually put on 158 from 289 balls for the seventh wicket.
Foakes departed shortly after tea as he was bowled by Jayden Seales (17-6-3-50), leaving Woakes to forge on with England’s tail.
Adding a further 61 runs alongside Mark Wood and then Stuart Broad, the Warwickshire man had long since made his second career test century by the time he edged a drive to Windies keeper Josh Da Silva, falling for 137 off 193 balls.
England's total of 292 at close was a world away from the carnage of the morning session when Rory Burns (1 from 8) and Tom Haines (14 from 24) both fell cheaply driving at balls they could have left.
Zak Crawley was then run out for a duck from mid-off going for what was always going to be a tight single to Kyle Mayers before Ollie Pope (2 from 7) edged a beauty from Jason Holder to the slips.
England’s Chris Woakes:
Rumple43
Survival Games Finalist
England turn the screw on day two, bowl West Indies out for 106
Efforts with the ball leave tourists 186 in front after the first innings, with England ending the day on 43-1Ollie Robinson’s 3-13 helped England to dismiss the West Indies cheaply on the second day of the 2nd test from Port of Spain.
In reply to England’s 292, the hosts struggled throughout as a slow run rate and the regular fall of wickets on a difficult surface left Kraigg Brathwaite’s side with a sizable deficit.
Roston Chase top scored with 18 as one of only four players to make it to double digits, showing England first hand what might have been were it not for Chris Woakes' heroics yesterday.
Woakes (15-5-1-20) can seemingly do no wrong in this match, adding to his 137 with the bat with the early wicket of opener Kieran Powell.
The Warwickshire man sent the 31-year-old’s stumps in all directions in an image that rather summed up the match so far, with England a long way on top against a host searching for any kind of answer.
Robinson trapped Windies’ #3 Nkrumah Bonner LBW for 3, with the score coming off 53 balls in an innings typifying that of many of his teammates.
The West Indies batted for 71.4 overs for their 106, a run rate of under 1.5, as nine of the eleven batters faced at least 25 balls without ever really troubling the scorers. Much can be attributed to the pitch, which England appear to have had the best of as the deterioration continues.
Robinson continued his good work to get all-rounder Jason Holder with a high-class delivery that moved into the all-rounder before seaming away and catching a thin edge.
Kyle Mayers’ 12 from 78 balls finally came to a close as he hooked Mark Wood loosely, looping a catch to Harry Brook at square leg.
Once wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva fell to a stunning diving catch at short mid-wicket by the unlikely figure of Wood, all that was left was for England to clean up the tail and head out to bat themselves.
Left with half a session to bat before close, Root's side were unable to make it through the 16 overs without losing a wicket as Tom Haines feathered a drive through to Da Silva for the second time in the match off Kemar Roach.
That is unlikely to concern the visitors too much however as they start day three with a lead of 229 and with nine wickets still remaining. A fair forecast and a still deteriorating pitch suggests anything but an England win from this position is remote.
Victory would give the tourists an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and hand England their first series win in over a year.
England’s Ollie Robinson:
