West Indies [427 & 322/5] beat England [258 & 490/8d] by five wickets at Leeds, equalise series 1-1

[Robert]

An enthralling day in an enthralling match which once again is a brilliant ad for test cricket.

 

[hadi123]

Stumps (Day 4): West Indies 5-0 requiring another 317 runs to win. Should be exciting final day

 

[MMHS]

Poms have got a way to go before that.

Looking forward, Stoneman is probably in for a while. Young Hameed will slot back in at #3. What about Hales at #5?

I would have used a specialist WK & promoted Jhony, he is too good for 7. Bell is probably finish, therefore not sure whom to put at 3; I am not convinced either of the 6 - Ham, Jenkins, Westly, Stoneman, Ballance or Hales.

May be Ham partnering Cook & a new kid at 3 with Root, Jhonny, Stokes, Beard/WK (or WK/Beard) is my choice. At this age Stoneman & Westley's FC stats doesn't convince me that they can survive the quadruple pace barrage of Strac, Josh, Cummins & probably Mitch Marsh or Pattinson down under. In form Bell was my best bet at 3, but his ship has sailed past - england can't take take a 34 years old no. 3 after 2 years gap. He should have been given a go against WI.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Selecting Bishoo cost Windies this test.

 

[Robert]

I would have used a specialist WK & promoted Jhony, he is too good for 7. Bell is probably finish, therefore not sure whom to put at 3; I am not convinced either of the 6 - Ham, Jenkins, Westly, Stoneman, Ballance or Hales.

I agree with this. Moeen is too good to be at #8 too.

 

[troodon]

England will win this by 150 runs.

WI will fold like a cheap lawn chair tomorrow. Their lower order will show some spirit, but will be too much for them to go after 320 on a Day-5 pitch.

 

[troodon]

I agree with this. Moeen is too good to be at #8 too.

He is a No.5. Not a No.8.

England's real batting starts from their lower order.

Stokes/Bairstow/Ali/Woakes are better than top 4 barring Root.

Cook is decent now. He scores runs against mediocre pacers like the ones WI has.

 

[Sadevdesai]

A real barn burner at the Leeds now .... either Team can win .... but more like England, I think. 1st hour most crucial for both the Teams .... can't wait !!!!!!!

 

[shaz619]

I agree with this. Moeen is too good to be at #8 too.

Bairstow should bat at no.3, drop Westley. My line up:

Cook
Stoneman
Bairstow
Root
Malan
Stokes
Moeen
Rory Burns / Ed Pollock (Wildcard)
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

 

[shaz619]

Mo averages 50+ at no.4 while at no.5 not so great, anyhow those were early days; maybe a promotion would do him a world of good right now and solve many of England's problem but the issue with that is why change something that is already working; it has already been established that he's dangerous at no.7

 

[HitWicket]

Debuting a pure batsman at 8 would be a bit harsh. I don't see the need to change the combo from what it is now.

 

[HitWicket]

And I wonder why Pollock would be your wildcard... .

 

[shaz619]

Debuting a pure batsman at 8 would be a bit harsh. I don't see the need to change the combo from what it is now.

He could bat at no.3 but then Bairstow would be at no.7

He could bat at no.7 but then Ali would be at no.8

And on paper it may seem harsh but it may do the batsman a world of good, finding your feet down the order ought to be a little more comforting then being thrown in at the deep end. But I'd still back Rory to come good, he's a better player then Westley

 

[shaz619]

And I wonder why Pollock would be your wildcard... .

Need some proper hookers and pullers in Australia

 

[HitWicket]

He could bat at no.3 but then Bairstow would be at no.7

He could bat at no.7 but then Ali would be at no.8

And on paper it may seem harsh but it may do the batsman a world of good, finding your feet down the order ought to be a little more comforting then being thrown in at the deep end. But I'd still back Rory to come good, he's a better player then Westley

Agree that finding your feat down the order would be easier, but I think 8 is a bit too low for that to hold true. I'd leave Moeen and Woakes at 8 and 9. Our biggest assets right now is the depth of our batting and quality of our lower order. Let's not go messing that asset up to patch up holes elsewhere.

If we're looking at young batsmen then Dan Lawrence and Joe Clarke have to be names that are up there.

 

[shaz619]

Agree that finding your feat down the order would be easier, but I think 8 is a bit too low for that to hold true. I'd leave Moeen and Woakes at 8 and 9. Our biggest assets right now is the depth of our batting and quality of our lower order. Let's not go messing that asset up to patch up holes elsewhere.

If we're looking at young batsmen then Dan Lawrence and Joe Clarke have to be names that are up there.

Would be suicide going with Westley though, with Bairstow being the senior man I'd have him at no.3 and pick another batsman to have a go at no.7 and if they're not going to give Rory, Clarke or Dan a go then play Westley at no.7

 

[Robert]

Bairstow should bat at no.3, drop Westley. My line up:

Cook
Stoneman
Bairstow
Root
Malan
Stokes
Moeen
Rory Burns / Ed Pollock (Wildcard)
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

I reckon...


Cook
Stoneman
Hameed
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Moeen
Foakes? / Davis? / Clarke?
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

I reckon...

 

[Hasan123]

England should win this game. West Indies have allowe England to get too much runs. Moen will be dangerous and England seamers are always a threat in home conditions.

England will win win IMO.

 

[Aman]

He is a No.5. Not a No.8.

England's real batting starts from their lower order.

Stokes/Bairstow/Ali/Woakes are better than top 4 barring Root.

Cook is decent now. He scores runs against mediocre pacers like the ones WI has.

Ali and Stokes are bigger match winners than Root. Their runs are usually a lot more valuable than Root's.

 

[SL_Fan]

Ali and Stokes are quickly becoming quality allrounders. Add Woakes into the mix as well and that's a hella handy trio. Eng just needs to sort out their top order.

 

[MMHS]

JB can bat at 3, though not suggested, because of his tendency to play at everything - no. 3 should be by nature someone selective in shot making. But, if he is to keep & bat at 3; England'll lose one seasoned scorer.

1. Cook
2. Opener (not sure - Jenkins, Westly, Stoneman are not my choice). Hameed can be, but I find him predominantly front foot player - Aussies do know that, or will know after 2 overs; he won't get anything to play with top hand. May be one of the ODI openers isn't a bad idea - Aussie wickets are road these days.
3. Root (not sure why he was dropped to 4. Probably traditional demands - historically England played their best players at opening or No. 4; Aussies & West Indians at 3).
4. Johny
5. Open spot - Stokes or Moeen are not bad option, but probably they'll keep Malan. I don't mind even Morgan, if he is in good touch. In an ideal world, I'll still pick KP, but that's redundant now
6. Stokes
7. WK (someone capable of averaging 25+ with bat should do if he can keep like Nevin or Jack Russell)
One problem in my lineup is that 4-6 are lefti & that brings Lyon in the game, who is exceptionally good in AUS for a finger spinner. That makes even better sense to pick KP. May be, to break that sequence Johny can bat at 5 & Malan/Morgan at 4 (but not Ali)

8-11. Combination of bowlers. Apart from WACA, I actually'll play Adil in every other 4 Tests (or this kid Carne. Wrist spinners has a role in AUS, if he can turn big). Not sure Woakes makes it or not - I won't pick him; rather I'll play 3 specialist pacers - Jimmy, Berbi, Wood. Woakes can play at WACA instead of Adil.

Not sure how good is Finn now, but I would have definitely take a chance with him in squad at least. Less than a year ago, he ran through a decent PAK batting line up, therefore at 27/28, I don't think his days are counted. Ideally, Jimmy shouldn't play, or at most plays at Gabba only, where it swings - I believe, in his best years, he averages like 40 in AUS. At this age, with red Kookaburra, I am not sure if he makes sense or not in the squad; hope he proves me wrong, but I would have kept him fresh at home once for the last time against Asian powers in 2018 summer.

I wish, this doesn't end such an one sided Ashes like the last one down under.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Their freaking lower order again.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Ali and Stokes are bigger match winners than Root. Their runs are usually a lot more valuable than Root's.

Bairstow as well. He's played some gun innings under pressure when England have collapsed.

 

[Robert]

Ali and Stokes are bigger match winners than Root. Their runs are usually a lot more valuable than Root's.

I disagree. You are not considering context. Time and again, Root does a repair job after two quick wickets fall. He rebuilds the platform, the bowlers get tired then Stokes and Moeen can whack it about.

 

[Aman]

Bairstow as well. He's played some gun innings under pressure when England have collapsed.

I haven't seen much of Bairstow to say he's ahead of Root, but whenever I've seen England, it's been Ali or Stokes scoring valuable runs and saving England when the game is in the balance or when England is on the ropes.

 

[Aman]

I disagree. You are not considering context. Time and again, Root does a repair job after two quick wickets fall. He rebuilds the platform, the bowlers get tired then Stokes and Moeen can whack it about.

He rebuilds by scoring a pretty 50 after he's been put down 2-3 times?

 

[UN talkz]

Windies should look for win rather than trying to save themselves from defeat......

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Poor fielding will cost Windies this test just like I said on Day 1.

They had an opportunity to dismiss England for around 150 but they let them make over 250.

Then second time round, same mistakes and let them declare at nearly 500.

 

[Markhor]

Solid start by openers but first wicket down. Powell gone.

 

[Markhor]

Unlucky dismissal but you shouldn't be wandering so far out of your crease.

 

[Robert]

He rebuilds by scoring a pretty 50 after he's been put down 2-3 times?

Yep. Not his fault that WI can't catch. It may be part of his aura. They think they have to get him because he is the best, then they choke.

 

[shaz619]

In these conditions was expecting 5 down by now hopefully they can make a fist of this

 

[Aman]

Yep. Not his fault that WI can't catch. It may be part of his aura. They think they have to get him because he is the best, then they choke.

The best batsmen in the world turn those chances into match winning 100s.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] I know they'v not held onto their catches which is a damn shame but overall this has been one hell of an effort from the West Indies after the shocking performance in the 1st Test, England may be favourites as it stands but we have 2 more sessions to go with all four results possible! Regardless of the outcome, well played @ The West Indies and it has been an entertaining / competitive Test when most never gave the WI's a remote chance to bloody England's nose in this series.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

I agree with this. Moeen is too good to be at #8 too.

There's no such thing as 'too good to be at No. X'. Ideally everyone in your squad bats as well as Tendulkar, because all professional cricketers are required to bat.

When 1 to 8 are now expected to be good at batting, it's absurd to say any of them are too good to be at 8 or 7.

The actual issue is that some of these aren't good enough to be in the side at all. Or perhaps are good enough to be at 7 and not face the toughest situations but are being played at 3 or 4 because it will look bad otherwise/

 

[Markhor]

Fifty up from Kraigg Brathwaite, well played young man.

 

[shaz619]

210 to win for WI's

8 wickets to get for Ingurland

 

[TestMatch]

Brathwaite is the first visiting opener since Mark Taylor in 1989 to score a century and fifty at Headingley. Last time any visiting batsman achieved this at the venue was Gary Kirsten in 2003.

 

[shaz619]

56 overs remaining, WI's need to keep ticking at 3.4 Runs per over to challenge the total, they are currently going at 3.2 with 8 wickets in hand.

 

[Big Mac]

 

[TestMatch]

Moeen looks like a billy-goat in that gif.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Lol, that's a good one.

 

[shaz619]

What's your caption Big Mac

 

[KingKhanWC]

Nice fight by Windies but I feel if Mo can get one here, he will be a on roll.

 

[TestMatch]

Knife-edge cricket. Game could go either of three ways. Broad's millimeters away from getting edges on some of these deliveries.

 

[Amjid Javed]

I hope W.I can take this run chase into final session and make this a test match to remember for a very long time.

 

[Big Mac]

What's your caption Big Mac

"Soon"

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Come on WI!

 

[Markhor]

Another hundred partnership between these two.

Time for WI to channel the spirit of the fifth day run chases of Bridgetown 1999 and Antigua 2003.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

171 in 50 overs is not impossible.
Hope and Braithwaite needs to play next 20 overs.

 

[thehub]

What's your caption Big Mac

Looking at his expression, ....

 

[Markhor]

If these two are still batting at tea then you'd make the visitors favourites.

Pitch is playing well for a fifth day track.

 

[Sin Nombre]

What's this about Broad deliberately trying to destroy the pitch?

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I admire Holder for his passion and commitment for the team but unfortunately he is not a good bowler. He is taking place of a 3rd seamer. If he has to play than play him as an allrounder. Chase or Hope can captain too.

 

[Yatoo]

I admire Holder for his passion and commitment for the team but unfortunately he is not a good bowler. He is taking place of a 3rd seamer. If he has to play than play him as an allrounder. Chase or Hope can captain too.

He is vital with bat

needs to bat a bit higher

 

[KingKhanWC]

If these two are still batting at tea then you'd make the visitors favourites.

Pitch is playing well for a fifth day track.

Although the run rate isn't high, if these two can get below 100, the others coming in will feel confident.

England need to think out of the box and seems to be doing so now.

 

[HitWicket]

What's this about Broad deliberately trying to destroy the pitch?

If it was deliberate he did a pretty poor job at it unless Moeens plan is to bowl short and wide half trackers.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Brathwaite is one fine talent for the West Indies. Brilliant player. Into the 80's now. If he can ensure twin tons in this game, West Indies will have won.

 

[ExpressPacer]

The best thing about West Indies is that while they will understand and realise that they need to save the game against a fiery bowling lineup on a 5th day pitch, it is also evident that they know that it ain't over till its over. You can see that they're clearly looking for runs - SAFE runs - and not only does that keep pressure off but also leads to a possible victory in most occasions.

If this was Pakistan here, I am absolutely sure that the batsmen would have snailed along to a draw without even trying. And sometimes that even ends in defeats.

 

[Dios]

How is the weather looking? Will we get the full 90 overs for the day?

 

[ExpressPacer]

Root should bring himself on. I remember him being a very good bowler and I actually thought he could become a great all rounder when he first came on. Dont understand why he's stopped bowling.

 

[troodon]

WI, you better not choke this away. Will be huge for Caribbean cricket if this young team can pull this off.

 

[ExpressPacer]

The English commies are trying to jinx the lads. Where's good ol' Holding?

 

[troodon]

Moeen Ali is going bald.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Brathwaite into the 90's..

 

[HitWicket]

Root should bring himself on. I remember him being a very good bowler and I actually thought he could become a great all rounder when he first came on. Dont understand why he's stopped bowling.

His backs always been a bit dodgy, probably not worth risking him by using him too often. Could be worth a go here though.

 

[shaz619]

WI, you better not choke this away. Will be huge for Caribbean cricket if this young team can pull this off.

Young and highly inexperienced team, majority of team are also touring England for the first time. They've done the Islands proud as it stands for me, great effort after the horrific showing in the 1st Test

 

[ExpressPacer]

His backs always been a bit dodgy, probably not worth risking him by using him too often. Could be worth a go here though.

What is with all these blokes in teams like Australia, England and South Africa having career threatening injuries.. You never hear of this stuff in Asia.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Shai Hope looking to get runs. Flashy shots against Mo. I think it's a good idea, going defensive against Ali will only lead to the batsman getting out.

 

[troodon]

WI are even more unpredictable than Pakistan

 

[Boi]

Oh no Brathwaite

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

WI wont lose now. Only possible results are a draw and a WI win.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Well played son!

 

[ExpressPacer]

What have you done Brathwaite...

 

[troodon]

Flood gates opened.

 

[Markhor]

Oh no, Brathwaite misses out on a ton.

 

[troodon]

WI wont lose now. Only possible results are a draw and a WI win.

WI can very well be 220/6. They cannot close out games.

To me, Chase and Holder are the key. If those 2 can contribute 30-40 runs each, then WI will win this.

 

[MMHS]

Chappells were probably last pair to hit a pair of hundreds in same match.

This'll be a bigger loss (after declaring) than Lord's '84 or Chennai (if so, I still has every bit of confidence in this WI side to snatch defeat for the jaws of victory).

 

[ExpressPacer]

Chase is the wrong man to walk out at this stage.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

yarrr!!!

Though Chase is WI's best player against spin.