West Indies in England

[An Tarbh]

West Indies take on England instead of Sri Lanka after they were unable to guarantee the participation of their players due to the IPL, that said Gayle has just arrived in England so he's certainly cutting it fine despite the West Indies arrival in April in the UK.

England will be looking to get back on track ahead of the Ashes having lost the series in the Caribbean, one they could so easily have won and probably would have done had it not been for the flat wickets, that shouldn't be the case this time round and unless the weather intervenes we should get results at both Lords and Durham.

West Indies have won the toss and decided to have a owl at Lords.

 

[An Tarbh]

Could have been a hell of a lot better for the West Indies today had they held onto their catches but not to be and Broad and Bopara certainly capitalised on it with Bopara making back to back centuries in test matches. Shocking lbw decision on Bresnan at the end of the day but if England could push on towards 350 tomorrow that should be a competitive total as long as they take the chances that come their way in the field.

 

[An Tarbh]

Very much England's day so far with Onions picking up 5 wickets and Swann taking 3 as well as making 63 not out with the bat. West Indies all out for 152 in reply to England's 377 and wonders will never cease Strauss has decided to enforce the follow on but a no brainer really as they've only bowled 33 overs.

 

[An Tarbh]

Following on West Indies are 39-2 with both Gayle and Sarwan back in the dressing room and Anderson the man to take both wickets.

England really should wrap it up tomorrow although the game is well set up for a Chanderpaul rearguard defensive innings. Still though you'd imagine all that may do is delay the inevitable.

 

[An Tarbh]

West Indies seemed to have started well after the rain delay but 3 quick wickets falling just before lunch have really buried their chances but more importantly the danger man Chanderpaul out cheaply again. Smith again not being able to get through the 40s but that was a peach of a delivery from Onions.

WI 80-5 at lunch still 145 runs behind.

 

[An Tarbh]

West Indies showing some fight in the middle session with a strong partnership from Nash and Ramdin, Broad picking up the only wicket for England in that session clean bowling Ramdin.

West Indies 225-6 and the scores are tied.

 

[An Tarbh]

much better evening session for England with Broad and Swann picking up the remaining wickets between them, only Nash and Ramdin have offered any resistance for the Windies who have been woefully short in this test match.

England now only have to chase 32 to win this test.

 

[An Tarbh]

10 wicket win for England but no need in getting ahead of themselves this same team couldn't get past this side twice during the winter. Will be a totally different kettle of fish come Cardiff in July.

 

[An Tarbh]

Ryan Sidebottom and Ian Bell have been called into the England squad for the second test against the West Indies which starts at Durham on Thursday.

Can understand bringing in Sidebottom for Panesar given the form of Swann and the fact that he's all but guaranteed his place in the Ashes test side but Bell has been given countless oportunities at test level and regularly failed to convert scores into centuries, the fact that he's able to do so at county level shouldn't be a factor given his previous international form.

It would be even more baffling if he were to start ahead of Bopara given his form at Lords and the extra bowling option he gives the side.

 

[An Tarbh]

England have won the toss at Durham and decided to have a bat.

It's an unchanged side for both teams.

 

[Cymro]

Chris Gayle looks like he's loving this test match already.

 

[An Tarbh]

might not be feeling so bad having picked up the wicket of Strauss but test cricket is always going to be the pinacle of cricket and no Twenty20 tournament is ever going to eclipse that, the quality of the last 2 test series between SA and Australia was awesome and I'd expect more of the same with the upcoming Ashes and England's tour of South Africa.

85-1 at lunch England after a pedestrian start this morning.

 

[An Tarbh]

Bopara looks to have cemented his Ashes place after his 3rd successive century. Will be a massive step up though facing the Australian attack.

Cook also getting a century, following their slow start this morning they've really made it their day currently on 258-1.

 

[An Tarbh]

Complete washout at the Riverside today with no play possible, still should be enough time though to get a result in this game, especially if the Windies bat like they did at Lords.

 

[An Tarbh]

England look to have at least guaranteed themselves the draw they need to take the series, passing 400 just before lunch, Cook making a career best 160 before getting out just before lunch as well. Pietersen looks well set to go on and make another century and take England well past 500 before having a bowl this evening I'd imagine.

 

[An Tarbh]

Sarwan and Chanderpaul may have put on a decent partnership but with them both back in the Pavillion England will be looking to get through the rest of the batting lineup reasonably cheaply, they'll just be hoping that Nash doesn't show the same resistance as he did at Lords, get him shortly after lunch and they'll be in business.

Still a fair way from making the follow on. 188-5 at lunch.

 

[An Tarbh]

England have enforced the follow on having bowled the West Indies out for 310, a lead of 259, plenty of time for England to make some headway before the close of play this evening.

Anderson the pick of the bowlers with a 5 wicket haul.

Will be interesting to see how serious the injury is to Prior and how well Collingwood can keep wicket in his absence.

 

[An Tarbh]

bad light stopping play, could be done for the day now. Still a chance for England to get the win but with Chanderpaul still there the Windies have a chance of holding out or at least getting to a point where England don't have time to chase down a total, they may need to rely on the weather and the light to aid their chances of saving this test match.

 

[An Tarbh]

England have wrapped up a 2-0 series win with an innings and 89 runs defeat of the West Indies today. Anderson again the pick of the bowlers picking up 4 wickets.

Onto the ODIs starting on Thursday at Headingley.

 

[An Tarbh]

With the first match at Headingley rained off the second ODI gets underway today at Bristol.

Eoin Morgan will make his debut for England today so yet another Irish player lost for the world cup but understandable as well.