England in the West Indies

[An Tarbh]

This tour should serve as a chance for England to build some confidence ahead of the Ashes this Summer, although given how they're performing in the warm up you'd wonder whether that'll prove to be the case.

First test gets under way on Wednesday in Jamaica, England will be hoping their bowlers can take more wickets than they have this weekend.

 

[An Tarbh]

Flintoff has been passed fit for Wednesday's test. He came through a fitness test today and didn't suffer any ill effects.

So that's one headache avoided for England but they've apparently got another in terms of deciding who bats at no. 3. For me it's a no brainer, Bell has been given chance after chance and just doesn't have the temperament for international cricket whereas Shah looks a class act. What odds though that Bell is given another go?

 

[dawner]

After the KP debacle this will be an interesting tour...

 

[St Helens RLFC]

This has got all sorts of disaster written all over it...

 

[An Tarbh]

given what some of the reports have been saying about the various degrees of time scales that side strain victims are out for you'd wonder if they're rushing Flintoff back too quickly and could that come back to haunt them in the Ashes and scupper his IPL chances if he aggravates the injury.

 

[An Tarbh]

England have won the toss and have decided to bat.

Yet again Bell gets another chance, don't know what he has to do to get dropped.

 

[An Tarbh]

let off for Strauss with Marshall dropping in, can he capitalise now and go on and make a big score. England need Strauss to stay in and make a big score as bar Pietersen their batting lineup isn't the strongest

 

[An Tarbh]

and the answer is no, big wicket for the Windies that one, let's see what Bell can do with this umpteenth chance.

 

[An Tarbh]

Cook gifts away his wicket, mistiming the pull shot.

England 31-2.

 

[An Tarbh]

Time and time and time again, Bell gets set only to be dismissed having done so.

England would have been doing well to get to lunch only 2 down as this spell of spin bowling has caused some problems for them.

71-3.

England needing another big partnership between Collingwood and Pietersen.

 

[An Tarbh]

England 73-3 at lunch, really poor over rate from the Windies considering the amount of spin they bowled.

Definitely the West Indies morning.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

This has disaster written all over it, it really does.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Feb 4 2009, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This has disaster written all over it, it really does.[/b]

I just feel sorry for Shah, I mean the signs were there in the warm ups with Bell only making a 30 and 2 50s before getting out while Shah makes a century and is still left out.

Thing is though, how good are the West Indies batsmen, bar Gayle and Chanderpaul, likely to be?

 

[An Tarbh]

Collingwood out now, Benn deservedly picking up a wicket, had him plum as well, would have been a waste of a challenge.

 

[An Tarbh]

I remember Gilchrist made the point during the last ODI that when he went into his shell he inevitably got out, used the example of blocking everything in one innings against Flintoff only to then get out cheaply.

Pietersen should really be heeding that advice and playing his natural game, I know the pitch looks tricky but someone of Pietersen's class should be more than able to cope

 

[An Tarbh]

England 132-4 at tea on day 1. Pretty even session with only 1 wicket falling.

At least the Windies picked up the over rate, bowling 30 in the session despite a rain break as well.

Pietersen also went to 50, he needs Flintoff to hang around. At least he had a 50 in his last test match but other than that not much to write home about in terms of his batting.

 

[An Tarbh]

you're always likely to get that with Pietersen. 4 4 6 and then he gifts his wicket away.

You may see him get the praise but what you need is Pietersen to occupy the crease and not take these stupid risks, yeah some of them were there to be hit but there is a bigger picture.

 

[An Tarbh]

strange end to the day, the light doesn't seem to have changed much from an hour ago and they're only 5 minutes away from the close anyway but there you go.

England have done well not to lose another wicket, good concentration from Flintoff and Prior.

Close of play England 236-5, not quite the disaster it could have been, should be able to make at least 300 tomorrow.

 

[An Tarbh]

Not the start to the day England were looking for, poor shot from Flintoff to get out. England need Broad to deliver yet again with the bat, he's been so good for England previously but he's gonna get out cheaply sooner or later.

Suddenly a target of 300 looks more difficult now.

 

[An Tarbh]

and today's the day. Broad gone cheaply and now the Windies well and truly into the tail now, shouldn't take much to know over Sidebottom, Harmison and Panesar.