England [194 & 107/1] defeat West Indies [123 & 177] by 9 wickets to seal a 2-1 series win

[MenInG]

West Indies with a chance to win a Test series or at least draw it!

Squads:

Windies (From): Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Devendra Bishoo, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Miguel Cummins

England (From): Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley, Joe Root(c), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mason Crane, Toby Roland-Jones

 

[Markhor]

Brathwaite gone. Anderson moves onto 498 wickets.

 

[shaz619]

So it's raining, great; I hope this entire day is washed out so I can watch the Test properly tomorrow after me exam

 

[shaz619]

So Jimmy is on 498, everyone has an opinion on the man but getting to 500 is still an incredible accomplishment

 

[shaz619]

It will be tough to replace Broad and Anderson when they retire or get seriously injured when you look at how much they are over-bowled, Woakes is ready to become the spearhead just need to put him on a pedestal; Jimmy is an old yeller now anyway, they give him too many overs. Broad needs to take a back seat as well

 

[shaz619]

Anderson and Broad have bowled 74 of the last 128 overs

 

[shaz619]

West Indies need to take it easy when they come out again and just see off the new ball, it gets easier to bat beyond the first session

 

[MMHS]

Still no Hetmayer & this "not Sahi" Hope guy playing at 3!!!

 

[Markhor]

499.

Kyle Hope has had a poor tour.

 

[Slog]

Switched on just for Jimmy's 500th!

 

[MMHS]

64 to go, Jimmy has 5 Tests in AUS (may be 13 wickets in that series) & 7 at home (may be 35 max); which means he'll have to play one more summer to cross Mac.

 

[Robert]

What's the weather doing in London? Ideal swing conditions?

 

[mak36]

What on earth has happened to Cook's fielding abilities? He has dropped quite a few in the slips this series.

 

[Markhor]

Fairly slow pitch. England's line has been too wide, too many easy leaves for the batsmen.

 

[Markhor]

Big wicket, Shai Hope is gone.

 

[wrongun]

What on earth has happened to Cook's fielding abilities? He has dropped quite a few in the slips this series.

getting older- he was never a "natural" mover. More a robot type.

 

[Markhor]

Powell gone now, Windies may be regretting deciding to bat first.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

What a spectacle at Lords right now, Windies reeling on 87-5.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

In hindsight, Windies made the wrong choice to bat first with the overhead conditions. Lords with even a little cloud cover mostly does it for England's bowlers.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Knowing Stuart Law, he'll be kicking himself right now as far as the decision goes and on the way Brathwaite, Kyle Hope and Blackwood got out.

 

[Markhor]

In hindsight, Windies made the wrong choice to bat first with the overhead conditions. Lords with even a little cloud cover mostly does it for England's bowlers.

As we learned the hard way in 1999 WC final and 2001 Natwest Series final

 

[troodon]

Watching Chase bat tests your patience.

 

[Titan24]

What a delivery by Stokes!

One of the best deliveries I have seen in recent times.

 

[mak36]

getting older- he was never a "natural" mover. More a robot type.

True, but he used to be pretty reliable in the slips.

Having said that he has just taken a sharp catch in the slips.

 

[troodon]

This Test is over for WI before it even began.

 

[sachin100]

Windies had their time in the sun last match but now back to where they r before

 

[Markhor]

Another catch goes down.

The catching in this series has been appalling.

 

[Robert]

It's a far cry for England from the days of Strauss, Flintoff and Swann who caught everything.

In thirty years time some kid will look at Statsguru and say the bowlers were poor, not realising how many chances they created which went down.

 

[Markhor]

How many more played and misses ? Even the umpire can't believe it !

Anderson's wait for No. 500 goes on.

 

[Robert]

Yikes. Get on Stokesey!

 

[shaz619]

I will neved forget this epic from Bishoo

 

[Markhor]

Edged and gone, Stoneman out cheaply.

Not easy conditions to bat in.

 

[troodon]

WI bowlers are getting no swing or movement. Jimmy and Stokes were extracting a lot from the surface.

As I type this Stoneman is gone.

 

[troodon]

Edged and gone, Stoneman out cheaply.

Not easy conditions to bat in.

WI bowlers are not bowling well. Someone like Bhuvi could get a ton of swing in these conditions.

 

[Markhor]

92.5mph from Gabriel, no nick just flicks the back leg, good delivery that.

 

[troodon]

WI bowlers are not hitting the right spots. Hence not getting the same purchase as jimmy and Stokes.

 

[SM1989]

Snap back to reality for West Indies.

Normalcy has resumed with Australia thrashing bangladesh and west indies getting battered by England

 

[MMHS]

To be honest, may be apart from BD (for obvious reasons), slip catching quality has gone down drastically. It's not only slip, but any sharp reflex catching has gone down because of LO cricket. Modern players are more athletic, faster on grass &they are brilliant in catching skyers or running catches, but classic dismissals like slip, gully, silly point, FSL, Leg slip .... has gone down.

No only Poms, in my memory, if I take other teams; may be apart from Steve Smith & Ross Taylor - not sure how many of contemporary (excluding YK, he is retired) slip fielders would have stood at any of the 5 (3 slips, 1 gully & FSL) catching positions of their respective teams, in 80s or 90s.

 

[MMHS]

Yikes. Get on Stokesey!

If England is to take these 2 at 2 & 3 in AUS, by 3rd Test,things might get desperate

 

[troodon]

Both WI bowlers bowling into Cook's pads. Terrible bowling this is. Wasting the conditions and new ball.

Cook will get another century here. He is very difficult to dislodge if he overcomes his initial jitters.

 

[Robert]

Stokes was bowling like a young Botham there. Uncle Boykz reckons he doesn't know how good he is, like Imran didn't back in the days when he thought he was a medium pacer.

 

[ads101]

Well this is exciting

 

[Deewana Mastana]

As we learned the hard way in 1999 WC final and 2001 Natwest Series final

The other mistake they made was to play Bishoo whereas Cummins who bowled well against Leicestershire should have played here.

 

[Protea Fan]

Both WI bowlers bowling into Cook's pads. Terrible bowling this is. Wasting the conditions and new ball.

Cook will get another century here. He is very difficult to dislodge if he overcomes his initial jitters.

Every now and then cook is vulnerable in this conditions

You have to do is just bowl middle and off stump line everything else is inevitable

 

[sachin100]

Haha. Eng top order batting is nothing to be proud of except root and cook

 

[Markhor]

Root's gone too ! What a day for the seamers !

 

[MMHS]

I think, WI made a big mistake by batting first here. What I can see is this wicket remaining such for couple of days, when WI probably'll bat 1.5 innings, and then gets a bit easier. Not sure why the decided to test their batting skills on such condition, after that epic chase last week!!!!

 

[Plumb]

Wow!!! Surprised to hear WI elected to Bat first in these conditions

 

[shaz619]

I think, WI made a big mistake by batting first here. What I can see is this wicket remaining such for couple of days, when WI probably'll bat 1.5 innings, and then gets a bit easier. Not sure why the decided to test their batting skills on such condition, after that epic chase last week!!!!

When they elected to bat first it was sunny

 

[shaz619]

Eng mid to lower order is so good

 

[MMHS]

When they elected to bat first it was sunny

But, BBC weather report is probably most reliable, if there is anything like that in British weather. This can't go so wrong, also I can see the satellite forecast by hours, which did show showers or cloudy weather. In any case - this team chase 320 in a day at Headilngley last week!!!

 

[MMHS]

Tmrow's morning session is key here - it's bright sunny weekend. If WI can get ENG all-out by afternoon with a max. double digit lead, it'll be a close match.

 

[Bilal7]

Cook fails against the moving ball for the umpteenth time. He should definitely move down the order.

Looks like Moeen Ali has to save the day again.

 

[shaz619]

But, BBC weather report is probably most reliable, if there is anything like that in British weather. This can't go so wrong, also I can see the satellite forecast by hours, which did show showers or cloudy weather. In any case - this team chase 320 in a day at Headilngley last week!!!

I often check bbc to but they don't always get it right, am not sure if WI's bothered to check it anyhow or if they did and were decieved by the report

 

[MMHS]

I often check bbc to but they don't always get it right, am not sure if WI's bothered to check it anyhow or if they did and were decieved by the report

It might not be that bad, because they have knocked top 4. If they can get Poms back by tomorrow (it'll be wet tmrow) noon for say 220; this game is almost open again, as long as WI can bat well 2nd time.

 

[JaDed]

To be honest, may be apart from BD (for obvious reasons), slip catching quality has gone down drastically. It's not only slip, but any sharp reflex catching has gone down because of LO cricket. Modern players are more athletic, faster on grass &they are brilliant in catching skyers or running catches, but classic dismissals like slip, gully, silly point, FSL, Leg slip .... has gone down.

No only Poms, in my memory, if I take other teams; may be apart from Steve Smith & Ross Taylor - not sure how many of contemporary (excluding YK, he is retired) slip fielders would have stood at any of the 5 (3 slips, 1 gully & FSL) catching positions of their respective teams, in 80s or 90s.

Rahane , probably the reason we close so many matches in SC without frustrating the bowlers.

 

[MMHS]

Rahane , probably the reason we close so many matches in SC without frustrating the bowlers.

Yes, he should have been the 3rd name. I was banging my head to find the name, I believe could have stood at 3rd slip by the side of Azhar & Dravid, but Rahne is like Richard Hadlee - never floats in mind

 

[James]

Looks like a great game in prospect. England probably in the slightly better position with their strong middle-to-lower order looking to get a lead of 70ish, which would be a very useful cushion. However England could easily fold in the morning and be behind in the game as well.

 

[Robert]

England are going to get killed in the Ashes. They can't keep expecting Stokes / Bairstow / Moeen to bail the top three out again and again.

 

[Chrish]

English collapse would be delicious but unlikely considering the strength of their lower-middle order. Amazing how many times they are saved by Bairstow-Stoke-Ali trio.

 

[Chrish]

England wouldn't win a single game in next Ashes.. I am willing to bet on that.

 

[James]

England are going to get killed in the Ashes. They can't keep expecting Stokes / Bairstow / Moeen to bail the top three out again and again.

England wouldn't win a single game in next Ashes.. I am willing to bet on that.

Agree mostly.

I think it will be like "the bad old days" when England would get lamped for most of the series but then everything would be okay in the end when they get their dry-your-eyes-mate consolation win in Sydney. I'm going for 4-1 to the Aussies.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Cook, a true FTB.

 

[aloo paratha]

I think it's time Bairstow, Stokes and Moeen Ali move up the order.

Cook
Haseeb (heard he's out of form but still better to invest in a talented player)
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Ball/Second Spinner if you need him
Finn
Anderson

Honestly this is what I think England should play in the Ashes series.

 

[Abdullah719]

I think it's time Bairstow, Stokes and Moeen Ali move up the order.

Cook
Haseeb (heard he's out of form but still better to invest in a talented player)
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Ball/Second Spinner if you need him
Finn
Anderson

Honestly this is what I think England should play in the Ashes series.

Seven bowlers?

 

[aloo paratha]

Seven bowlers?

Fit someone in to bat if you can, sacrifice Anderson. i don't know much about English domestic players.

But one thing is, it's better to have a poor lower order than to have a poor top order. England cant be 30-2 every innings. At least if their batting won't be great, their bowling will have more firepower.

 

[Sin Nombre]

The conditions are going to ease up tomorrow and England will take their fortune and run riot.

 

[Aman]

England are going to get killed in the Ashes. They can't keep expecting Stokes / Bairstow / Moeen to bail the top four out again and again.

You're forgetting someone buddy

 

[Aman]

English collapse would be delicious but unlikely considering the strength of their lower-middle order. Amazing how many times they are saved by Bairstow-Stoke-Ali trio.

I'm glad people are realizing this. I've been saying this for a while, their top 4 is grossly overrated. Their batting line up starts from Stokes, I swear 60% of England's runs comes from the lower order and tail.

 

[Aman]

Looks like a great game in prospect. England probably in the slightly better position with their strong middle-to-lower order looking to get a lead of 70ish, which would be a very useful cushion. However England could easily fold in the morning and be behind in the game as well.

Admit it.

 

[Titan24]

I think it's time Bairstow, Stokes and Moeen Ali move up the order.

Cook
Haseeb (heard he's out of form but still better to invest in a talented player)
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Ball/Second Spinner if you need him
Finn
Anderson

Honestly this is what I think England should play in the Ashes series.

You cant expect Bairstow to keep wickets for a day or two and than go there to bat at no 4 and make a double hundred there. While as a batsman he deserves the spot but than they should bring in another keeper.

I would rather have one more batsman or a keeper if Bairstow is to bat at 4, may be in place of Finn and another spin bowling all rounder like Dawson or Rashid instead of Ball.

 

[Robert]

Stokes looked better with the bat than the England top five.

I wonder if we are to see something special from him today, something Bothamesque.

 

[Aman]

Stokes looked better with the bat than the England top five.

I wonder if we are to see something special from him today, something Bothamesque.

Your 6, 7 and 8 are better than your top 5.

 

[Robert]

You're forgetting someone buddy

Oh aye, some bloke who knocked Williamson into third place on the ICC rankings.

 

[Markhor]

Not sure why there's potshots at Cook, that was an excellent ball he got out to. Are batsmen not allowed to get out to good deliveries ?

Play to resume shortly.

 

[Markhor]

Malan gone. Roach gets his line right.

 

[HitWicket]

I think it's time Bairstow, Stokes and Moeen Ali move up the order.

Cook
Haseeb (heard he's out of form but still better to invest in a talented player)
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Ball/Second Spinner if you need him
Finn
Anderson

Honestly this is what I think England should play in the Ashes series.

I've said before, we shouldn't be sacrificing our biggest strength in a very strong middle-lower order and tail to cover up an issue caused by 2 positions in 2 and 3 that we've struggled to fill so far. We don't need to go from probably the best lower order batting in world cricket to having undisputably the longest tail in world cricket. We've just got to find the right guys at 2 and the 3 in particular and we'll be in a much better position. Hameed will hopefully get some form back at some point and maybe we can take a look at guys like Livingstone, Lawrence and Clarke.

 

[Aman]

Oh aye, some bloke who knocked Williamson into third place on the ICC rankings.

Are we really going to boast about being second best in the world?

 

[UN talkz]

Rain rain go away
little jonny (Bairstow) wants to play

 

[Robert]

Are we really going to boast about being second best in the world?

Certainly.