***Official*** West Indies in England

[oitoitoi]

Nah, best selection of the decade is Trescothick. He's been battering county attacks for fun over the last two seasons since he retired from international cricket and he still averages over 5 more in tests than in first-class cricket.

agreed, onions will be forgotten by the end of the summer. tresco and vaughan were plucked almost from obscurity and did well.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Collingwood keeping wicket in Prior's absence. Interesting to see what kind of job he makes. Future trivia question I suspect: first Durham player to keep in tests for England.

Might mean Fozzie gets a gig in the ODI side if Matty has broken his ring (fnarr, fnarr) finger.

 

[roseboy64]

Was Sarwan's wicket the third bounce rin the over?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Was Sarwan's wicket the third bounce rin the over?

Wasn't over shoulder height, so no.

 

[tooextracool]

Nah, best selection of the decade is Trescothick. He's been battering county attacks for fun over the last two seasons since he retired from international cricket and he still averages over 5 more in tests than in first-class cricket.

Trescothick was initially selected for a different format, for which he had had a decent run of scores before making his debut. The only reason he got selected for tests was because he had taken like a duck to water that he was given a shot in tests. He was hardly a rip roaring success in tests during his early years, merely a mediocre flat track bully scoring runs on featherbeds until around 2004-05 when he really stepped up and became a test player to take note off. I would not be surprised if his FC career picked up from then going forward as well.

 

[tooextracool]

agreed, onions will be forgotten by the end of the summer. tresco and vaughan were plucked almost from obscurity and did well.

Vaughan made his debut last decade.
Onions may be forgotten at the end of the summer, but he is a class above Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Amjad Khan and virtually anyone else who had been suggested with a shot of playing for England.

 

[Prince EWS]

Well that'd certainly be a fitting way to end Smith's Test career.

I can't help but feel he'll be back, though.

 

[Burgey]

Collingwood keeping wicket in Prior's absence. Interesting to see what kind of job he makes. Future trivia question I suspect: first Durham player to keep in tests for England.

Might mean Fozzie gets a gig in the ODI side if Matty has broken his ring (fnarr, fnarr) finger.

Let us know if he does a better job than Prior.

They might swap jobs in the long term.

 

[grecian]

Well Onions gets Sarwan, and I don't care what the naysayers say I like the look of him.


Ohh and now a snorter gets gayle

 

[superkingdave]

Let us know if he does a better job than Prior.

They might swap jobs in the long term.

Collingwood has looked pretty tidy so far.

Nice double burst from Onions.

 

[King Pietersen]

Onions is a leg-end. The thinking to get Sarwan out was top class. Everyone was expecting the short ball, so the full straight one was perfect. All his LBW's seem to end with the batsman falling over somewhat. Looks a handy bowler, miles better than Bresnan, who lets be honest, no-one expected a great deal from anyway, very average cricketer.

 

[roseboy64]

Well that'd certainly be a fitting way to end Smith's Test career.

I can't help but feel he'll be back, though.

Hopefully not.

 

[GIMH]

Should win this tomorrow, not great all day long, some poor spells, but in general we've had too much for them.

 

[roseboy64]

Wasn't over shoulder height, so no.

Seemed it was.

 

[oitoitoi]

Dire application from the windies, they should just give England the test and get on the plane. Even shiv's concentration's looked iffy.

 

[GIMH]

They'll still beat us in the ODIs though surely

 

[GIMH]

LOL @ Broad, diplomatic. Asked about Prior, he said he was okay etc, and that it was good, because "he's been in great form for us with the bat," pause, long pause, "er, and the gloves, honest, I really mean that, I promise."

 

[Woodster]

England once again looking in full control of this Test, save for a gritty Chanderpaul special tomorrow.

Been relatively impressed by Onions so far, he came back well from a bit of a towsing early in his spell, and the wickets of Gayle and Sarwan were invaluable, two good deliveries. Seems a skiddier type of bowler who pitches it up there and gives the ball a chance. Wholehearted, and deserving of his place judged solely on recent efforts.

Tim Bresnan does not seem to have the same confidence instilled in him from Strauss as yet. A few overs here and there and not had a real opportunity to prove his worth. Should have had his first Test wicket today, but for the flat footed Prior who waved it bye as it sailed between him and Straussy at first slip.

The plans are currently being executed well, Broad's effort against Sarwan in the first innings demonstrated that the plans put in place are only as good as the guys executing them, and Broad did it very well in this instance. Anderson v Edwards part 2 tomorrow, Jimmy may be focusing more on removing his stumps rather than his head in the next duel.

 

[Uppercut]

Where are all the posts about how England's batting is actually useless and the pitch was just ridiculously flat? Did it turn into a minefield when Strauss declared?

 

[grecian]

Where are all the posts about how England's batting is actually useless and the pitch was just ridiculously flat? Did it turn into a minefield when Strauss declared?

Yep, apparently it did. I reckon it was those sneaky Durhamers did it, can't trust these northern types