West Indies Tour of England - May to June 2012

[barmyarmy]

Falling apart this innings. Need to ensure we only have to bat once.

 

[puddleduck]

This is prime Bell scoring conditions though. Flat pitch, good start and already leading. 300-4 with a lead is .... 300-5 rather. Absolutely plumb, love how biased Botham is haha. "Might be angling down, quite far down the pitch".... no it's plumb Beefy.

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I know he's scored a hundred, but I can't help but feel when you have an opening batsman coming out with a new ball only an over or two old, and the next few batsman are all middle/lower order players with aggressive intent, you have to try and see out the first 10-15 overs and set the day up.

 

[Owzat]

Yup, I was vaguely aware of that. Strange for a quality batsman.

Not sure too many of the other England batsmen are much better at going on from overnight hundreds.

Strauss averages 42.14 as captain, only 36.95 against sides other than Bangladesh and West Indies (hasn't played the kiwis as captain yet) BUT as captain he has won 18 Tests out of 34 against India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa, losing just eight of which three were in UAE against Pakistan. He's beaten India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka a combined TWELVE times, twelve more times than Vaughan did......................

Taking his record between this hundred and his last :

Batting : 717 runs @ 28.68 (50 x6, HS 87)
Tests : P16 W9 D2 L5
Series : P5 W3 D1 L1

Not the kind of batting return you might hope for, removing the hundreds obviously reduces it but it is an indicator of what kind of runs he's been putting on the board and justifying (or otherwise) his inclusion. Over 16 Tests six 50s isn't too bad, but only one of more than 70 says it all about his ability to go on and get big scores. Given his knocks of any length are rarely chanceless I'd say he's not pulling his weight enough. 150 runs @ 25.00 in UAE was better than others, but they aren't struggling overall.

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Falling apart this innings. Need to ensure we only have to bat once.

Prior and Bell might well make hay, maybe Broad will put in a beefy performance with bat and ball, but I think a lead of 100-150 or more has to be priority in this situation. Out of form Bell, plus Prior, Broad, Bresnan and Swann could put out another 250 runs but I think it's more likely we will have to bat again unless the windies batting is blown away for not a lot.

 

[Themer]

Starting to pick up the run rate now could be a long day for the West Indies if they don't snaffle Prior soon. Looks in terrific touch. Bell's looking in decent nick as well.

I can see a lead of 200 here coming up especially if Broad and Swann get going.

 

[puddleduck]

The standard through the massive open gate between bat and pad dismissal for Prior

Hmm, good thing we played Bresnan for his batting haha. Well, all on Bell now to try and push us up to 400. Can't help feel Strauss as opening bat and captain has put the entire lower order under pressure against a hard ball in the usually more helpful morning conditions

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Haha, Beefy trying to get Holding to go off on one again

Ended with. "Ok, I just wanted to know why Benn isn't here, is he injured or just not selected."

Holding very bluntly. "He is not injured."

 

[harrisb]

Haha, it was Lloyd's face in the box yesterday after Holdings rant about Jerome Taylor, he obviously does have some problems with the WICB.

Anyway, we'll need Broad to get some runs here to stick around with Bell and get the score past 400, then up to 500 with Swann. We still may only need to bat once as the ball seems to be doing a bit this morning, although having the slope does help

 

[WestIndian]

Haha, it was Lloyd's face in the box yesterday after Holdings rant about Jerome Taylor, he obviously does have some problems with the WICB.

Anyway, we'll need Broad to get some runs here to stick around with Bell and get the score past 400, then up to 500 with Swann. We still may only need to bat once as the ball seems to be doing a bit this morning, although having the slope does help

Everybody has issues with the WICB, except Gibson and our puppet-on-the-string captain Sammy.

As for the score reaching 400 that is still a long way out

 

[Owzat]

I think my 100-150 lead 'prediction' may prove about right, not a lot of batting although Broad and Swann could knock up 50s. Shame they are batted so low, I reckon batting seven Swann could get a hundred (generally not just vs West Indies)

But England are too rigid with policies, especially batting order. At least there should be no nightwatchman, for England leastwise

 

[puddleduck]

Windies 250 a/o with Shiv getting obdurate runs and England getting 400ish was about as likely as the first game of the season getting rain

 

[WestIndian]

Windies 250 a/o with Shiv getting obdurate runs and England getting 400ish was about as likely as the first game of the season getting rain

Like I said 400 is still a long way out, and to be honest apart from the partnership by Strauss and Trott England really have nothing to talk about, the morning session was all West Indies and so far the afternoon looks the same.

 

[harrisb]

That's why we've added 24 for this wicket inside 3 overs.

To be honest, a 150 run lead probably won't be enough to win in one innings, but I'm sure we'll be able to skittle the top order this afternoon and push for the win on Monday, seeing as the forecast for tomorrow isn't great.

 

[WestIndian]

That's why we've added 24 for this wicket inside 3 overs.

To be honest, a 150 run lead probably won't be enough to win in one innings, but I'm sure we'll be able to skittle the top order this afternoon and push for the win on Monday, seeing as the forecast for tomorrow isn't great.

Well Swann did nothing with the ball guess he is making up for that with the bat.

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I wonder what is the jack rabbit Sammy waiting for to make a change Jah SMFH

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It is in poor taste to compare Hooper's offies with the of samuels at least Hooper did it @ an econ. rate of less than 3.

 

[swacker]

Delighted for Strauss yesterday. Must be good proving people wrong like that.

And a good fight back from West Indies this morning, taken 5 wickets.

 

[WestIndian]

Good wicket to take and well deserved, seems to understand not to give the batsmen width

 

[puddleduck]

Like I said 400 is still a long way out, and to be honest apart from the partnership by Strauss and Trott England really have nothing to talk about, the morning session was all West Indies and so far the afternoon looks the same.

Seems I was pretty spot on