**Official** England in The West Indies

[Swervy]

lara has said he wants to get to 750 before declaring

 

[Adamc]

"Yeah, we are going on. We need some more runs, we need to get to 750" - Lara to David Gower at lunch. 400 on the cards!

I will give Lara the benefit of the doubt, as he did say yesterday that he wanted to get to 750.

 

[marc71178]

Byes! Geraint Jones yells out "NO!", no record for him. Only one record-holder today, Brian Charles Lara 390* at lunch. What will they do after lunch?

Although had he held the chacne on 359, maybe he'd have been the only one?

 

[Neil Pickup]

You have to ask whether self-interest and 400 is coming ahead of any chances of the team's victory.

735/750 - what's the difference when it comes to follow-on targets?

 

[luckyeddie]

Batty has been bowling Negaitve line

So your glass is half empty eh, Chris? Batty has managed to turn about two balls off line in nearly 50 overs, and all you can say is 'He is bowling negatively'.

I think that England's bowlers are to be commended for sticking to the task - especially Batty. Hoggard ill in bed, Harmison warned off, the most runs England have ever conceded on the greatest batting pitch I have seen in my life.

You truly never cease to amaze me.

 

[luckyeddie]

You have to ask whether self-interest and 400 is coming ahead of any chances of the team's victory.

735/750 - what's the difference when it comes to follow-on targets?

When I saw the start of the eighth (I think) over on the first day, the cameras focused on the ball, already scuffed on both sides. I thought 'draw' then, I think 'draw' now.

The top 7 scores at St John's have all been in drawn matches. Despite that, there is still well over half the game to go - what chance England matching the West Indian total like they did 10 years ago?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

You have to ask whether self-interest and 400 is coming ahead of any chances of the team's victory.

735/750 - what's the difference when it comes to follow-on targets?

15 runs.

Having to score 551 to avoid a follow on is mentally more imposing than 536.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Although had he held the chacne on 359, maybe he'd have been the only one?

It was hardly a simple chance though.

 

[Beleg]

LE posted,

the most runs England have ever conceded on the greatest batting pitch I have seen in my life.

Do you think this one's even better then Pk vs. India First ODI, Karachi?

Is there any hustle and bustle amongst the WI supporters or even this feat hasn't been able to bring them out of their despondency?

 

[Swervy]

WI will not want to bat again this test...550 by England is certainly on...I infact wouldnt be surprised to see WI bat another hour and get to 800

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

For those of you 'watching' the game on the radio or Cricinfo, I have posted a report on today's play early....

Cricket Web match report

There may be errors - I haven't proof-read it or finalised bits yet, but enjoy the moment.

"From 374 to 380 took Lara just one Michael Vaughan delivery, then a sweep for four took him to 384."

I believe the bowler was Gareth Batty.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Is there any hustle and bustle amongst the WI supporters or even this feat hasn't been able to bring them out of their despondency?

Since Lara reached his hundred there've been chants of "We too black to be whitewashed" and "No Whitewash". Smiles all round at the moment.

 

[Neil Pickup]

My dad's take on this is that it's an incredibly self-centred display from Lara who is only looking at his own pursuit of records rather than leading the team on towards victory - i.e. the side doesn't really care about winning the Test.

 

[luckyeddie]

LE posted,



Do you think this one's even better then Pk vs. India First ODI, Karachi?

Is there any hustle and bustle amongst the WI supporters or even this feat hasn't been able to bring them out of their despondency?

Well, I only saw 100 overs on that track, and 195 and counting on this one.

The West Indian supporters were quite animated, but there was no pitch invasion this time. I think everyone expected it. We were talking about records before the end of day 1.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

WI will not want to bat again this test...550 by England is certainly on...I infact wouldnt be surprised to see WI bat another hour and get to 800

Doubtful. I think Lara has his mind set on 750. This pitch is better for bowling today than any day in the Test to date (as Andy Roberts predicted) and the West Indian bowlers are shorter and slightly quicker. Anything can happen, but a draw is far and away the most likely.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

My dad's take on this is that it's an incredibly self-centred display from Lara who is only looking at his own pursuit of records rather than leading the team on towards victory - i.e. the side doesn't really care about winning the Test.

Well in that case...

 

[luckyeddie]

"From 374 to 380 took Lara just one Michael Vaughan delivery, then a sweep for four took him to 384."

I believe the bowler was Gareth Batty.

Thanks, Liam. It was all moving a bit quick (blooming spinners at both ends) - and Derby had just scored the winner against Bradford too.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Apparently Hayden said that he was always sure that Lara would break the record again.

 

[Swervy]

i reckon there is one hell of a chance of this record being broken within a couple of years, given the domination of the bat over ball these days

 

[Neil Pickup]

i reckon there is one hell of a chance of this record being broken within a couple of years, given the domination of the bat over ball these days

I think that there's a fairly decent chance of this record being broken within a couple of days... Vaughanie's due.