**Official** West Indies in England Thread

[tooextracool]

Brian Lara won the toss and decided to field first, what is up with that? Normally people want to bat first especially in the first test of the series. The Lord's track is not as quick as it normally is and with an inexperienced attack, this could be a large score could be set in Englands first innings. However Chris Gayle is an intelligent bowler.

nope i think he did the right thing, we have seen how frail this WI batting lineup has been in seaming conditions in the past.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

nope i think he did the right thing, we have seen how frail this WI batting lineup has been in seaming conditions in the past.

The only thing is that it didn't really seam very much.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

well i have to say I was very very disappointed with the West indian bowling in that first session...Best didnt look too dangerous,Collins got a bit of swing but nothing England couldnt handle and Edwards was just down right poor.

If this continues, England could well get a big total here...and i think someone like Flintoff could tear WI apart

I actually think Edwards looked to be bowling a lot better in his last couple of overs. If he keeps it full and straight he'll be in business.

 

[marc71178]

Well then Mr Vaughan should start consider how many overs he intends to bowl.

Very few I expect. His bowling tends to get more and more highly rated the more he refuses to bowl because he doesn't rate it at all!

Would you have preffered say somebody like Paul Collingwood as a batting replacement and can bowl?

We needed cover at 3, but also need an extra seamer.

It's a tricky one, but Ian Bell might have done the job, I wouldn't be comfortable if Collingwood batted that high.

The only other suggestion that might have worked to get Collingwood in would be Jones at 3 for one game only, then Collingwood 6, Flintoff 7?

Of course, the likes of Rikki Clarke and Anthony McGrath can count themselves unlucky

 

[Swervy]

this is typical of tresco, struggles against fast bowling on any wicket that offers a bit of movement

a bit unfair on Trescothick...he looked pretty comfortable out there,and he wasnt struggling vs the fast bowling,and he wasnt troubled by any movement either.

He looked to be in fairly good nick to be honest (yes I know Best dropped him, but he still looked ok out there)

 

[marc71178]

Speaking of Richard, isn't this another blow to his theories on the game given that he seems to regard short leg as an ineffective position for the quicks.

2 things.

1 - he'd still claim to be right as it wasn't the best of shots (although to be fair the ball did lift a bit more than expected)
2 - Sarwan was nowhere near short leg, standing about 5 yards for the umpire when he caught it.

 

[marc71178]

Even if guys don't get caught there alot, I still think it is a good position to have.

It shows the batsman your attacking, and it puts the batsman under pressure and in two minds when defending a short or full ball, that if he makes an error he will be caught by the short leg fielder.

And besides it prevents him from taking a quick single.

I couldn't agree more.

It is a key position early on IMO - add a few short balls, and the batsman loses one of his best ways of coping with them!

 

[marc71178]

Let's hope this rank inhospitality is rammed back down English throats over the next few days.

If it is, then it will be more gently pushed than rammed at this current over rate!

 

[marc71178]

Lara doesn't seem to be able to read the pitches at Lords very well....still, there's plenty of time to go in this match.

In which case neither does Vaughan, who said he'd have fielded first, and neither do the commentators who agreed that if they were Vaughan, they'd have fielded.

 

[Swervy]

I actually think Edwards looked to be bowling a lot better in his last couple of overs. If he keeps it full and straight he'll be in business.

his last over was all over the place...like Boycott said, he has to just keep plugging away a foot outside off stump...not one ball 3 foot outside off, then the next down leg, which that last over was like....coz if he doesnt, England will murder him, especially Flintoff

 

[marc71178]

It's vaguely reminiscent of the early Harmison...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

his last over was all over the place...like Boycott said, he has to just keep plugging away a foot outside off stump...not one ball 3 foot outside off, then the next down leg, which that last over was like....coz if he doesnt, England will murder him, especially Flintoff

I'm not really referring to the line. I was more heartened by the length. He bowled full and had Strauss is a little bit of trouble - not much, but enough for promise.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Key's highest Test score ever. Although he could have been out now, still a fine knock.

 

[tooextracool]

The only thing is that it didn't really seam very much.

overcast conditions though.....im sure he wouldnt have wanted to take the risk

 

[Swervy]

Best has started to bowl with a bit of venom...but England are rattling along at over 6 an over since lunch...400 in the day anyone????

 

[tooextracool]

a bit unfair on Trescothick...he looked pretty comfortable out there,and he wasnt struggling vs the fast bowling,and he wasnt troubled by any movement either.

thats just customary of trescothick....looks good before the usual glued feet shot. in only 21 balls he had 2 chances and hit 3 boundaries.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

79 off 13 overs without losing a wicket since lunch. Worcs only scored 75 off 15 in last nights one day game and they were rattling along.

 

[garage flower]

2 things.

2 - Sarwan was nowhere near short leg, standing about 5 yards for the umpire when he caught it.

Fair enough. Not watching (mercifully, judging by the score), just going on Craig's description.

 

[tooextracool]

it must be said.....if only we would play like this in ODIs!

 

[_Ed_]

Well deserved century for Strauss.

His test average at Lord's must be quite impressive.