***Official** West Indies in England***

[Richard]

I have been looking at the World Cup bowling and it is usually 4 bowlers taking nearly all the wickets roughly the same amount of wickets for each bowler. For instance Oram who comes in the middle overs takes almost the same as Bond. Hogg, almost the same as Tait. Hall and Langeveldt are not opening bowlers and they take just as many as the openers.
Aus McGrath 26, Tait 23, Bracken 16, Hogg 21
SL Murali 23, Malinga 18, Vaas 13 Fernando/Maharoof 14
NZ Vettori 16, Bond 13, Franklin 11, Oram 10
SA Hall 14, Langeveldt 14, Nel 12 Pollock/Ntini 14
(Ntini and Fernando didn't play in all the games)

It's not as simple as that, though - it's not about taking wickets, it's about bowling wicket-taking deliveries, that's the only point in picking bowlers with the specific goal of taking wickets. Thing is, though, as I say - not many can do that, because the ball isn't in a suitable state. So...

Well it seems that with our economical bowlers we can't get wickets but other teams can.

It's simply a case of that England haven't had bowlers who've bowled economically enough. There have been a few who can keep it to 4-an-over or just above, but that's not really good enough in the middle: to put the pressure on you need to be keeping it to 3.5-an-over or so.

 

[Richard]

Not that odd that they recalled Panesar, and as that weakened the batting, Sidebottom gave way to resident No. 8 Plunkett.

Nick Knight said he thought Broad might be able to do a job there.

Yeah, heard, and nah, wasn't surprised Panesar returns, it was always on the cards.

Not convinced of the batting ability of either Plunkett or Broad, personally, and that's before we even start worrying about the fact that neither can bowl.

And guess what? Plunkett starts off with the rubbish again (cue him getting gifted a wicket in a second...)

 

[stumpski]

From what I''ve seen of them this year I don't think there's much between Sidebottom and Plunkett with the bat anyway. Siders has made a couple of breezy 20s. And what's Plunkett done? A 40-odd at Lord's when he went in with over 500 on the board.

Looking forward to seeing Anderson bowl to Morton.

And there goes Smith, flashing outside the off stump.

 

[pasag]

Meh, don't get coverage for another two and a half hours.

 

[stumpski]

That's alright, Chanders will still be batting then.

 

[alternative]

Dire, no cricket for few hours on FOX.

Edit: Just saw Pasag's post.

 

[Richard]

There's MSP's first bit of fielding for the day.

 

[Richard]

And guess what? Plunkett starts off with the rubbish again (cue him getting gifted a wicket in a second...)

Well he almost did, but being Cook there was fat chance of that being caught.

 

[stumpski]

There's MSP's first bit of fielding for the day.

These idiots who cheer every time he fields one - are they still going to be doing that in, say, 15 years? It might be meant to be affectionate, but it just comes across as sarcastic and patronising.

I don't think even Tuffers had to put up with it all the time.

 

[Richard]

There's Gayle's 2nd drop... Bell certainly didn't appear to see that. Absolute sitter.

 

[alternative]

There's Gayle's 2nd drop... Bell certainly didn't appear to see that. Absolute sitter.

Where does Collingwood field these days?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Mandatory drop off Plunkett and the usual edges just past/short of slip for runs, as for there not being much difference between Sidebottom and Plunkett's batting... err what? One is a competent number 8/9 with a lot of potential and the other is a regular tailender.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Plunkett gets Chanders this time.

 

[GIMH]

Plunkett could see his average go below 35 if he takes another

 

[GIMH]

well, there you go

 

[Poker Boy]

Day of shocks so far. Shiv out for LESS THAN 50 (to Plunkett too!)and Gayle gets an 85 ball 50. G Boycott would say that is quick but not by Gayle's standards. Maybe a real shock will happen and Mascarenas will take a wicket but as this is not the Rose Bowl I don't think so,,,,

 

[stumpski]

He went pretty close last over ...

 

[Richard]

Indeed, it's only because of Prior that he hasn't.

Incidentally, it'll take a monumental ****-up from Collingwood to see me lose that challenge with Hakon now.

 

[GIMH]

Us FTW

 

[Richard]

I imagine Hakon's already resigned himself to defeat. Only Collingwood being a total pratt and bowling Mascarenhas at the death can save him now.