***Official*** West Indies Tour of the UK 2017

[TestMatch]

Apparently 642 teams have been set over 300 runs in a final innings chase, 29 have been successful. That is a 4.52% success rate.

 

[Slifer]

Well played Windies.

England's catching was beyond diabolical.

Actually both team's catching was woeful.

 

[straw man]

Wow, that's a top chase. Shai Hope looks a really good player.

 

[Burgey]

Look how the likes of GIMH went missing as the Windies approached this target. Fer shame.

 

[Spikey]

he's blaming it on the socialists

 

[quincywagstaff]

If there wasn’t an Ashes tour coming up, I wonder how safe Broad’s spot would be as he’s had a pretty average 12 months. Has been unlucky at times but from what I’ve seen of him this summer, only occasionally bowled the intense spells one expects from him and has gifted a lot of easy runs down the leg-side.

 

[Gnske]

He'd still be safe, privileges of being a lock in and what not.

 

[Spark]

If there wasn’t an Ashes tour coming up, I wonder how safe Broad’s spot would be as he’s had a pretty average 12 months. Has been unlucky at times but from what I’ve seen of him this summer, only occasionally bowled the intense spells one expects from him and has gifted a lot of easy runs down the leg-side.

Dropping a bowler with 380-odd Test wickets on the back of one summer let alone a few Tests is suicidal

 

[S.Kennedy]

I'd rather have an attacking declarer/enforcer (of the follow-on) who loses occasionally, than a 900 run on the board and coming out to bat again Strauss/Cook upper order stodge. As Sobers always said about that declaration against Cowdrey's men, he played attacking entertaining cricket and that is what he believed in, and that is what he set up with the declaration even if it backfired.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I'm not really a fan of the whole inexperience excuse. Particularly as he was on his home ground this Test and still made a complete mess of it. His use of Stokes was utterly bizarre. If the ball's doing nothing then he's as good an option as any of the seamers if you're actually trying to take wickets. One spell from Stokes and nothing else in 90odd overs makes no sense given what was happening, how Woakes bowled etc. none of the part-timers bowled either. It was 55 overs before he swapped Moeen to the other bowling end.

I haven't seen the highlights of this day (yet) but Stokes's economies are just getting too high now

 

[mr_mister]

Imagine if they didn't declare and lost two wickets for 10 runs slogging in the final few overs

Everyone would have said it was a mistake to not declare and give more overs at them before stumps

 

[Starfighter]

And they would have been wrong.

 

[cnerd123]

Imagine if they didn't declare and lost two wickets for 10 runs slogging in the final few overs

Everyone would have said it was a mistake to not declare and give more overs at them before stumps

or imagine if England had actually held those 3-4 catches they spilled...

 

[91Jmay]

Full credit to Windies. Magnificent effort and fully deserved win, they dominated most of game. We were a joke, arrogant and overrated

 

[Starfighter]

Actually gotten around to watching the highlights lol. Cook's dropping of Brathwaite was absolutely diabolical. Also surely 79 mph up and down isn't what is really wanted out of Woakes.

 

[DanJamson]

Actually gotten around to watching the highlights lol. Cook's dropping of Brathwaite was absolutely diabolical. Also surely 79 mph up and down isn't what is really wanted out of Woakes.

Can't help think that a county stint would have been better until he got his pace back up. Especially considering how TRJ had bowled in the previous matches.

 

[Tom Flint]

Windies should just do whatever is needed to get bravo over in time for the tour match. He wont do any worse than k hope and has the potential to score big runs. A series win in england is onbthe cards

 

[Beamer]

Windies should just do whatever is needed to get bravo over in time for the tour match. He wont do any worse than k hope and has the potential to score big runs. A series win in england is onbthe cards

As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this last test and the miraculous improvement, I can't see a series win happening. We only just won this test playing absolutely superbly and England were not at their best. That lower order is insanely powerful and we still have a number of flaws in our side that make it difficult to perform like this every test. Darren Bravo is contracted to the CPL and won't be available until the Zimbabwe tour. He'll definitely make a huge difference at number 3 when he gets back though.

I have followed Shai Hope and Kraigg Braithwaite from their Under 15 days so it was a proud moment to see them bat like that under tremendous pressure in very difficult conditions. I knew Shai was test class, he just desperately needed a run in the middle order and to get a big score to get his confidence up. He has played match winning innings in 2 of his last 4 tests against 2 top class teams in Pakistan and England. It's seriously impressive.

The team is developing nicely, we just need to fill some gaps to start winning against top sides more consistently. We need an opener to accompany Kraigg (Powell looks to be struggling), a better number 3 than Kyle Hope (Darren Bravo will soon be back) and a spinning all-rounder who is either better than Bishoo or at least has the captains trust. I like Bishoo but there is no point in selecting him and bowling Chase in front of him. Cornwall would be ideal but that won't happen until he loses more weight.

Can't wait to see what they produce at Lords. I would love to see Shimron Hetmeyer given a go but I very much doubt they will. Has Lords been spinning this year? If not I'd bring in Al Jo for Bishoo.

 

[Starfighter]

tbf, England also have a number of flaws that make it difficult for them to perform every test.

I think you might want to ask Moeen's 10/112 about whether Lord's has been spinning this year.

 

[Beamer]

I think you might want to ask Moeen's 10/112 about whether Lord's has been spinning this year.

Fair point. Bishoo it is then. My team for Lords:

Kraigg Braithwaite
Kyle Hope
Shimron Hetmeyer
Shai Hope
Roston Chase
Jermaine Blackwood
Shane Dowrich
Jason Holder
Devendra Bishoo
Kemar Roach
Shannon Gabriel

I think they'll keep the same side though unless Shimron hits big runs in the warm up match.