**Official** England in The West Indies

[luckyeddie]

Lara wasn't out on 0 and I wouldn't call the 359 a chance per se.

We know - and so does marc I suspect.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Would the West Indians forget the 3 Test Loss, and cheer upon this World Record, and currently England are 104-5...so will this win (if it's a win) cover the 3 test loss in mind?

I can only speak for myself, but I imagine others would feel similar.

I don't think this match could make up for the 3-0 margin by any means, but that's all in the past. The fact is that we (WI) can't do anything to change that now, so the players can only go forward and play what they face from now on. It certainly is surreal - 47/10 to 751/5.

 

[Lions81]

I can only speak for myself, but I imagine others would feel similar.

I don't think this match could make up for the 3-0 margin by any means, but that's all in the past. The fact is that we (WI) can't do anything to change that now, so the players can only go forward and play what they face from now on. It certainly is surreal - 47/10 to 751/5.

But doesn't this speak to exactly what you wrote in your most recent article on Cricketweb? (Which was superb and heartfelt). Now fans will ignore the three massive defeats prior, and unfortunately so too will the selectors, and people will say, "Hey we can't be that bad, we put up 751/5, let's stay the course." And then this will happen again in the next series, and in fourth test, Lara will score another big one, and the cycle will continue. Let's hope not though!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

But doesn't this speak to exactly what you wrote in your most recent article on Cricketweb? (Which was superb and heartfelt). Now fans will ignore the three massive defeats prior, and unfortunately so too will the selectors, and people will say, "Hey we can't be that bad, we put up 751/5, let's stay the course." And then this will happen again in the next series, and in fourth test, Lara will score another big one, and the cycle will continue. Let's hope not though!

Depends on how you look at it. The sensible fans will take it as it is - a flat wicket and a great batsman. I don't expect the West Indies to be a juggernaut from this point onward, but I do take some comfort from this game after the tears of the last few months.

 

[Adamc]

I imagined someone in Indian Team to make 400 in a Test Match, was only possible while closing my eyes. I also tried to make that score in the Cricket 2004 PC games, couldn't do it. Brian Lara did it in reality, atleast an Indian did it, (West Indian).

Hehe funny that. I played Cricket 2004 (PS2) a few days ago (before Lara's innings started) and I got 439* with him in a team total of 4/779dec. against Australia. Don't think it was at Antigua though

Back to the real game... I hope the fact that England have lost five wickets already will to some extent silence the detractors who claim that Lara gave his team no chance of winning by delaying the declaration. In fact, had the English batsmen (and Aleem Dar) come out straight after lunch they might have been refreshed and conceivably could hve done quite a lot better - as it happened, the extra half hour in the field may have been the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. I am certainly not claiming Lara's decision to have been a brilliant one tactically, but at least allow the game to pan out before making judgments of it.

 

[Craig]

If Richard were here he'd be saying which innings - the 0, the 359 or the 41*?

He'd also be telling us how he told us so about Harmison...

So would of Rik

Congratulations Lara for being the first person to brake a world record twice. Now if my eyes fool me, was it Sobers who gave Lara a hug after getting it? I saw it on the news reel this morning.

They had Hayden on the 'Today' Show this morning (Breakfeast TV program on Ch 9 - the Aussies know about this) and he said he was going to contract Lara and congratulate him.

If we hadnt of lost 38 overs of rain (day 1) chances are he would of had (400) by the end of day 2.

 

[tooextracool]

If Trescothick scores runs here and others fail, then why should his be the name to be under fire?

which is precisely what he did today....and what hes been for the last few series. look if trescothick scores runs when the others fail in any test match outside the oval then i would never again call for his name to be dropped. i admit that this is only a temporary loss of form...but the fact is he hasnt been doing much when he was apparently in form.
vaughan on the other hand is in precisely the same situation that hussain was in in 2000-01 when he was struggling to get runs for his team even though the success for the team as a whole was at an all time high. captaincy might just be ruining his best yrs as a batsman.
go jones meanwhile has done a pretty good job already not only with the gloves but also with the bat and has already ensured that england were better off with him than read. certainly looks like he'll be 1st choice keeper against NZ.

 

[Craig]

Well already G.Jones has scored more runs then Read in one Test then what Read did in three. Well I think their run aggregriate must be similar!

 

[tooextracool]

Well already G.Jones has scored more runs then Read in one Test then what Read did in three. Well I think their run aggregriate must be similar!

then again lara has scored 4 times as many runs in this test than he had in the 1st 3

 

[SpaceMonkey]

So would of Rik

Congratulations Lara for being the first person to brake a world record twice. Now if my eyes fool me, was it Sobers who gave Lara a hug after getting it? I saw it on the news reel this morning.

They had Hayden on the 'Today' Show this morning (Breakfeast TV program on Ch 9 - the Aussies know about this) and he said he was going to contract Lara and congratulate him.

If we hadnt of lost 38 overs of rain (day 1) chances are he would of had (400) by the end of day 2.

I'm sure lara might have got to 500 if it wasnt for the 4 hours of play lost on Day 1 as well

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

was it Sobers who gave Lara a hug after getting it? I saw it on the news reel this morning.

I don't think so, unless he's put on some weight lately.

 

[luckyeddie]

I don't think so, unless he's put on some weight lately.

Wasn't it the PM?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Wasn't it the PM?

Indeed.

 

[marc71178]

Lara wasn't out on 0 and I wouldn't call the 359 a chance per se.

I know, I was in a wind-up mood last night

 

[marc71178]

Well already G.Jones has scored more runs then Read in one Test then what Read did in three. Well I think their run aggregriate must be similar!

Yes, and Read played on 3 up and downer's whereas Jones has faced in the main part time spinners on a very flat wicket.

 

[marc71178]

look if trescothick scores runs when the others fail in any test match outside the oval

What is your obsession about the Oval?

If he scores runs there when others fail, that's surely a reason to drop the others (seeing as the Oval is clearly so easy to play at)

People have favourite grounds - I imagine Lara might like Antigua a little bit.

 

[Rich2001]

Yes, and Read played on 3 up and downer's whereas Jones has faced in the main part time spinners on a very flat wicket.

Intresting, that didn't stop you laying into Ed Smith after he had a couple poorish Tests at the likes of the death trap Trent Bridge last summer.

At the end of the day you might not want Jonesy there, but at least give him the credit of a good performance when he has had it rather than finding the smallest of excuses everytime... he went well over 700 runs before conceding a Bye and then hit the 3rd highest score of the inngs (so far), but yet can still do nothing right

 

[Langeveldt]

Intresting, that didn't stop you laying into Ed Smith after he had a couple poorish Tests at the likes of the death trap Trent Bridge last summer.

At the end of the day you might not want Jonesy there, but at least give him the credit of a good performance when he has had it rather than finding the smallest of excuses everytime... he went well over 700 runs before conceding a Bye and then hit the 3rd highest score of the inngs (so far), but yet can still do nothing right

Well if the purists want their immaculate little keeper who cant bat, then let them have it

Jones has impressed me, and I hope he starts against New Zealand.. Read is going to have to make some big headway with the bat in the future..
Just keeping is not enough these days....

 

[garage flower]

Windies have announced a 14-man one day squad as follows:

Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Smith, Ryan Hinds, Sylvester Joseph, Ridley Jacobs, Dwayne Bravo, Ian Bradshaw, Mervyn Dillon, Ravi Rampaul, Corey Collymore.

Good to see most of the quicks rested, but it would have been nice to see a few young batsmen and/or Reifer looked at.

Also disappointed to see that Wavell Hinds is either unfit or out of favour - he's a very handy 1-day player - and no reserve 'keeper named. I don't see any point in playing Ridley for the full 39-game series or whatever it is.

To hark back to yesterday, great to see the Prince back on top but I agree with Neil (?), who suggested that the slow pace after regaining the record was a bit baffling. I think that BCL was playing for his 400* rather than the stated 750 total at that stage, though the way things are panning out there appears to be plenty of time left.

 

[tooextracool]

What is your obsession about the Oval?

If he scores runs there when others fail, that's surely a reason to drop the others (seeing as the Oval is clearly so easy to play at)

People have favourite grounds - I imagine Lara might like Antigua a little bit.

what?? so u want someone who plays well once a yr and fails in every other test match in the squad?
yes and lara continually fails everywhere else doesnt he?its not a question about favourite grounds its about proving that u can hold the bat outside of the oval.