*Official* England in West Indies

[ozone]

Shame they've gone off as it ends an interesting days cricket but at least not much time has gone out of the game. On balance, WI probably edge the day, but England recovered well towards the end. However, it will be impossible to know who has the upper hand until both sides have bowled.

 

[zaremba]

Nicely poised after Day 1. I love Test cricket.

 

[Scaly piscine]

England well in front, WI have to bat last and they'll inevitably donate a hatful of wickets to Panesar.

WI were completely aimless in that final session.

 

[grecian]

Good partnership to end the day, certainly showing that these two are perfectly adequate 6&7 against this oppo anyway.

Could of put us in a very good position if the pitch stays this way. I just have a worry that this pitch (like so many others nowadays) will lose all it's pace and become an absolute featherbed, and we could have an attritional draw.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[tooextracool]

Yeah England are either even or slightly ahead at the moment. One has to expect Panesar to draw bubbles around the WI batsmen and then pop them before making himself a certainity for the side for another few games (unfortunately)

 

[Burgey]

There were stories over here that Fred and KP don't get on, and disagreed big time re. the coach's sacking. Was thinking about that as they batted together today. Anyone know if it's so.

I have to say I think the Windies are slowly making some gains here. They had some good moments v Australia last year (albeit Australia not what they once were) and it seems they've been pretty competitive today. Would like to see it develop into a trend.

 

[Woodster]

Yes WI have been competitive today and I expect them to remain so throughout the series personally. They are a gradually improving side, and the way Benn bowled today will have been a huge bonus for them. Still missing Bravo which is a shame for them.

A lot was made of the KP and Freddie situation, think it was totally blown out of proportion and both strongly deny any rift between them. They may not be bosom buddies, but then again you don't have to be to play together successfully. The respect they have for each other is clearly there.

 

[Woodster]

On the whole pretty even today. After Strauss won the toss, Chris Gayle I'm sure would take the close of play score, and after England were reduced to 94-4, I'm sure they'll take this position.

Credit to KP for an excellent innings, not one of his fluent best, but he persevered, grew more positive, and played some wonderful shots down the ground. Freddie and Prior batted very well to take us to the close and fingers crossed, these two can put us in a strong position tomorrow.

 

[GIMH]

There were stories over here that Fred and KP don't get on, and disagreed big time re. the coach's sacking. Was thinking about that as they batted together today. Anyone know if it's so.

I have to say I think the Windies are slowly making some gains here. They had some good moments v Australia last year (albeit Australia not what they once were) and it seems they've been pretty competitive today. Would like to see it develop into a trend.

I reckon that the stories of them hating each other are overhyped, but I don't think they are ever gonna be the best of friends. There is an immense professional respect between them though.

Freddie isn't a bad batsman for a tailender, hey

 

[Pothas]

Am finding the vitirolic hatred of Panesar by some people on this forum a little hard to take. Yes he has been poor in the subcontinent and I understand people's frustration at his lack of progress. However if we take his career as a whole he is a pretty decent test match bowler (especially at home) and in my opinion he is clearly the most efective slow bowler England have had for many years. I really cannot envisage Graham Swann having as a good record as Monty if he had played the same amount of tests, ok you may argue that his overall contribution would have been bettter, but let's not pretend that he is a superior bowler.

 

[Uppercut]

On the whole pretty even today. After Strauss won the toss, Chris Gayle I'm sure would take the close of play score, and after England were reduced to 94-4, I'm sure they'll take this position.

Credit to KP for an excellent innings, not one of his fluent best, but he persevered, grew more positive, and played some wonderful shots down the ground. Freddie and Prior batted very well to take us to the close and fingers crossed, these two can put us in a strong position tomorrow.

Would he though, if he saw how the pitch was going to play?

 

[Evermind]

That song Tubthumping (with the I get knocked down, but I get up again chorus) is theirs.

The most bloody annoying song in the world, too.

 

[The Masterplan]

Am finding the vitirolic hatred of Panesar by some people on this forum a little hard to take. Yes he has been poor in the subcontinent and I understand people's frustration at his lack of progress. However if we take his career as a whole he is a pretty decent test match bowler (especially at home) and in my opinion he is clearly the most efective slow bowler England have had for many years. I really cannot envisage Graham Swann having as a good record as Monty if he had played the same amount of tests, ok you may argue that his overall contribution would have been bettter, but let's not pretend that he is a superior bowler.

Don't know what 'vitirolic' means but your probably right. If theres one england player I'd like to see perform this series It's Monty.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Am finding the vitirolic hatred of Panesar by some people on this forum a little hard to take. Yes he has been poor in the subcontinent and I understand people's frustration at his lack of progress. However if we take his career as a whole he is a pretty decent test match bowler (especially at home) and in my opinion he is clearly the most efective slow bowler England have had for many years. I really cannot envisage Graham Swann having as a good record as Monty if he had played the same amount of tests, ok you may argue that his overall contribution would have been bettter, but let's not pretend that he is a superior bowler.

No he has been AWFUL in the subcontinent and against ANYONE who plays spin competently, his record is boosted by tailenders and declaration charges. His bowling is a factor only occasionally, yet the team carry his useless fielding and batting around with them ALL of the time. Anyone who looks at his contribution as a whole can't fail to notice he should not be playing. Not only is his bowling toothless we then get Broad playing to make up for the lack of lower order batting, so then we have TWO toothless bowlers playing every game. For a side like England that isn't good enough.

I could say Mascarenhas is the most effective medium pacer England have had for many years, does that mean he should be an automatic pick in the Test side like that waste of space Panesar?

Oh and I didn't realise you were Australian Masterplan.

 

[Uppercut]

That said Scaly, you've gotta fancy his chances on this pitch against this team. Monty shouldn't play every game because he's only rarely effective, but this is one situation where he should really be getting ten.

 

[Steulen]

That said Scaly, you've gotta fancy his chances on this pitch against this team. Monty shouldn't play every game because he's only rarely effective, but this is one situation where he should really be getting ten.

That's more to do with the fact that the seamers are either injured (Flintoff), undercooked (Sidebottom), not interested (Harmison) or not good enough (Broad). If MSP doesn't take 10, it will be a long stay in the field.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Yes Panesar will secure his place for the next 12 months off of this match as it's against WI. Good chance Bell will do something similar if he keeps being picked.

If it was against India, SL or the like he'd struggle to dismiss them same as Benn and then their spin would smash us to bits and we'd lose.

The trouble with England and it's been this way except for when Fletcher was in charge is their selections are heavily influenced by the media, whether consciously or not. The media doesn't have a clue - people on this forum are gradually cottoning onto the true value of Panesar but in a few days Panesar will be the best thing since sliced bread in the papers.

 

[Penguinissimo]

Am finding the vitirolic hatred of Panesar by some people on this forum a little hard to take. Yes he has been poor in the subcontinent and I understand people's frustration at his lack of progress. However if we take his career as a whole he is a pretty decent test match bowler (especially at home) and in my opinion he is clearly the most efective slow bowler England have had for many years. I really cannot envisage Graham Swann having as a good record as Monty if he had played the same amount of tests, ok you may argue that his overall contribution would have been bettter, but let's not pretend that he is a superior bowler.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Would he though, if he saw how the pitch was going to play?

No one knew that the pitch was going to take so much spin. So yes, at the toss he would have taken 5 wickets for 230odd easily.

When you choose to bat first on what appears to be a flat wicket, you can't be happy with such a score at stumps.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

That's more to do with the fact that the seamers are either injured (Flintoff), undercooked (Sidebottom), not interested (Harmison) or not good enough (Broad). If MSP doesn't take 10, it will be a long stay in the field.

Except this is West Indies we're talking about.