England tour of the West Indies

[canveyshrimper]

Great stuff from Ravi 100 off 140 balls.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Nice one Ravi, maiden test ton!

 

[Bluesmanager]

Eng 600-6dec, WI 43-1 at the moment.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Knew the Bop would show his class when he got in. RIP Freddie, England has a new hero!

 

[SUFC Forever]

Delighted for Bopara. Should have been selected for the tour in the very beginning, not just as a replacement.

Let's hope he can kick on now and cement his place in the team for a long time to come.

 

[canveyshrimper]

The fifth day could be a nervy one for England given what happened at Sabina Park. The WIndies amass 749 and England 5/0 at close of play. Fair play to the WIndies in this series they've shown an awful lot of resilience which their sides over the past 8 years or so have failed to show. Should be a draw, but....

 

[Reg Martin]

england 235-2. cook 117 not out. a good double for the essex boys in this game

 

[canveyshrimper]

I'm pleased Cook has got the monkey off his back by scoring a test ton after a series of 50's.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I'm pleased Cook has got the monkey off his back by scoring a test ton after a series of 50's.

Agreed - I think now that it will free him up to bat more confidently as well. The wicket may have been comparable to the A12, but he still needed to go out there and bat in a composed fashion, and he went on to get his highest score is Test cricket as well.

Incidentally, at 24 years and 67 days, he is the youngest Englishman ever to reach 3000 Test runs. Admittedly he was given a chance early, but it's still no mean feat, especially for an opening batsman - he's just below 50th place in terms of innings used to get there across batsmen of all nationalities (73).

 

[canveyshrimper]

Agreed - I think now that it will free him up to bat more confidently as well. The wicket may have been comparable to the A12, but he still needed to go out there and bat in a composed fashion, and he went on to get his highest score is Test cricket as well.

Incidentally, at 24 years and 67 days, he is the youngest Englishman ever to reach 3000 Test runs. Admittedly he was given a chance early, but it's still no mean feat, especially for an opening batsman - he's just below 50th place in terms of innings used to get there across batsmen of all nationalities (73).

Interesting stat about Cook, which may just go to show that England are never inclined to blood younger players unlike other nations.

 

[Moridin]

Bopara has been left out, five bowlers included...

Interesting that we have two spinners in the attack in Monty and Swann.

Amjad Khan has been given his first cap.

1 Andrew Strauss
2 Alastair Cook
3 Owais Shah
4 Kevin Pietersen
5 Paul Collingwood
6 Matt Prior (wk)
7 Stuart Broad
8 Graeme Swann
9 James Anderson
10 Amjad Khan
11 Monty Panesar

Is calling up a 28 year old seamer with a strike rate of nearly 50, and a spinner who looks bereft of confidence, whilst dropping a centurion, the best formula for a must we test? We shall see.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Ravi is very unlucky to be dropped IMO. England bereft of Flintoff have to go the 5 bowler strategy. I would have also included Harmison instead of Anderson.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Bopara has been left out, five bowlers included...

Interesting that we have two spinners in the attack in Monty and Swann.

Amjad Khan has been given his first cap.

1 Andrew Strauss
2 Alastair Cook
3 Owais Shah
4 Kevin Pietersen
5 Paul Collingwood
6 Matt Prior (wk)
7 Stuart Broad
8 Graeme Swann
9 James Anderson
10 Amjad Khan
11 Monty Panesar

Is calling up a 28 year old seamer with a strike rate of nearly 50, and a spinner who looks bereft of confidence, whilst dropping a centurion, the best formula for a must we test? We shall see.

Strike-rate of 48.3 - yes please!

Both Panesar and Swann's strike-rates are in the mid 60s.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Ravi is very unlucky to be dropped IMO. England bereft of Flintoff have to go the 5 bowler strategy. I would have also included Harmison instead of Anderson.

Ravi Bopara is the victim of gross incompetence on the behalf of the selectors.

Bopara out-performed Shah last season, he outperformed him last test, he'll have the confidence, his bowling would add a little something as England are a seamer short, he is a better fielder. He is the better option for this test and the better option for the future. I find this decision nonsensical.

There is no point in going for five bowlers if you are going to play two finger spinners. The West Indies have left out their two spinners!

The only reason I'd have left out Anderson would be if he was still knackered. He was the pick of England's bowlers in Barbados.

 

[Pubey]

absolutely ****ing rediculous... Ravi must be absolutely fuming

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

The only consolation is that the West Indies bowling attack, Fidel Edwards aside, is dire and possibly the weakest test attack ever fielded.

 

[Moridin]

Strike-rate of 48.3 - yes please!

Both Panesar and Swann's strike-rates are in the mid 60s.

Interestingly, Amjads First Class strike rate is a bit less than both Broad at 53.1, and Anderson at 51.6 doing some research!

I still cant see Amjad, or Swann for that matter, being the answer to any of Englands problems though.

I cannot grasp the thought behind this selection.

 

[The General]

So another draw is coming up then !!

Cant believe Ravi has been left out. Nasser just showed us the pitch next to the one they are using and it looks very cracked as its very dry on the outfield. Batting first could be crucial as the 4th innings on day 5 (against 2 spinners) could be tricky for the Windies!

Kev

 

[Moridin]

Ravi is very unlucky to be dropped IMO. England bereft of Flintoff have to go the 5 bowler strategy. I would have also included Harmison instead of Anderson.

I thought Anderson was our best bowler in the last game!

As for the Bopara situation, I am lost for words. i cannot think of a single reason for Shah to be picked over Ravi.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Gutted for Bopara he should been in the side instead of Shah.