shaz619
Test Star
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- Mar 31, 2010
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England saved by the rain
[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

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Ideal situation for WI is probably Pom tail bat for couple of hours & score at 1.7 rate - that's 170 all out & the day ends there��
If anything this series can prove - it's the scale of incompetence & corruption of WICB.
Show that Caribbean dustbowls are not playing to West Indies' strengths. Their players look better on pitches with some pace and bounce.
Show that Caribbean dustbowls are not playing to West Indies' strengths. Their players look better on pitches with some pace and bounce.
England saved by the rain
[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]
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Useful runs for England, frustrating for West Indies not to have knocked over that 11th wicket partnership sooner.
Only used 3 bowlers in the end, Bishoo nor Chase got a single over![]()
I suggest before going to AUS, Poms should light few candles at St. Paul Cathedral.
CA as well, otherwise unless it rains for long, they'll lose lots of revenue from those scheduled 25 days of Ashes.
Ideal situation for WI is probably Pom tail bat for couple of hours & score at 1.7 rate - that's 170 all out & the day ends there��
If anything this series can prove - it's the scale of incompetence & corruption of WICB.
I think Australia will win the ashes aswell, maybe 3-1. You seem convinced it will be 4/5-0, why is that?
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] I checked the score on the train and England had a very slim lead with 2 wickets left and now it's 70 now !!!!! wow, very valuable runs![]()
I don't see how ENG is going to get 20 wickets in AUS - not much in spin & their 3 pacers were bang average in their 20s when it's sunny & hard, scratchy AUS wicket; at this age I just don't see Jimmy & Barbi giving 45 overs/day flat out; rest are just not good enough.
Batting lower half is good, but they won't bail out 50/4 against AUS every time. Againt Kookaburra, unless your top 4 carries to 35th over at least, by 2nd ball tail won't wgah. And, these 3 pacers can reverse it at pace. Finally, this is the worst catching unit from ENG in my memory - going to AUS, where they'll need to take 12-15 catches to take 20 wickets, without dropping ore than 3 in total.
Draco averaged 27 there last time. Anderson reverses it. Stokes has a Michelle there and reverses it. But Moeen will not take wickets, and R-J and Woakes will get whacked on the up. They really need Wood back.
The real problem is the top order batting. Jimmy got 24 wickets @ 26 on the Strauss tour but he had a mountain of runs to bowl at.
I know the figures more or less, but these 2 are old for AUS now - I don't see Jimmy/Berbi surviving 5 Tests.
But, coming to batting - is this really that desperate that ENG has Stoneman & Westly at 2 & 3!!!! I mean, even our Imrul Kayes at least once played a match saving hundred against PAK on Day 5 wicket ..........
Four big batters retired or were dropped around the same time which left a big hole. They have made some silly mistakes trying to plug it. Always batting Ballance out of position. Making Bairstow into the keeper (though he is now very good at it).
Hameed is the one to watch but he picked up an injury and lost form. I think they could move Stokes up to #5 on current form but he will have to bowl a lot in Australia. Even Imran and Botham were usually #6.
Is there anyone good with gloves & a bit of bat? Ideally, the line up should be
Cook, 2nd Opener
Root, Jhonny, Middle order
Stokes, Moeen, WK
3 specialist bowlers on absolute bowling merit, who can give quality 140 overs/Test.
Foakes is a name going around for the WK position.
If he is good with bat, then they can take a risk of taking out that 5th Middle order, put Ali at 5, Fokes at 7 & may be Woakes at 8. This should allow ENG to bring Adil (or Carne) in the mix as Leggi. Otherwise, these is extremely stereo type attack and they don't have Finn either. Warner'll score 700+ at 75+ SR![]()
I think they can't risk that. If I were going into Oz I'd play Roland-Jones, Anderson, Broad and Woakes. Malan missing out. Push everyone up 1 in the order.
AUS will chase anything on 4th innings against that attack, while I don't think ENG can win batting 2nd. Only chance I'll give Poms is to bat first at Gabba, MCG, SCG or Adelaide, and set 300+ on Day 5 & Adil/Moeen having a lucky day, with Jimmy/Berbi doing some damage with old/new ball.
If it's like old WACA track at Perth - I'll take a friendly bet right now : Aussies won't bat twice.
That 3rd wicket shifts the balance to ENG, otherwise game was in balance.
If WI somehow bats for three more sessions, England might be in for a surprise series loss
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] what sort of lead you reckon would give WI a chance here? It also depends on the weather to but I think it should improve to help them but mornings are always really bad
Test match is on a knife-edge here. Anything above 180 will be difficult for England to chase in my opinion.
3 more session means, a lead of 275+, which I don't think WI is capable, neither required. If the weather remain similar, Poms might struggle to match their 1st innings. Had WI not dropped so many & got their discipline right, they could have got a small lead here. Tomorrow is 98 overs day - if WI can set around 225 & get ENG 70/2 by Day end, we'll see a close finish.
Largley agree with you on the target. Problem with 225 is that one good innings of 75+ can guide Eng chase. Also, WI catching is terrible as it is and might not hold on to too many catches under pressure. WI need to have around 275 lead to feel comfortable and attack. I am not sure if they have the ability to bat for two plus sessions..