England tour of the West Indies

[number11]

declare at lunch and you save 2 overs for the changeover, so reckon we'll wait until then

Seems a bit negative to me, those two overs have been swallowed up by us batting W.Indies out the game surely? Id have thought something a little more tempting to chase would be our best bet of winning the game.

Bloody slow over rate by the Windies, 23 overs bowled in 2 hours!

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

We should have declared a while ago and given us a few overs before lunch. Think the only reason we didn't was because of KPs approaching century.

 

[Pubey]

We should have declared a while ago and given us a few overs before lunch. Think the only reason we didn't was because of KPs approaching century.

would have been a big call if Strauss declared with KP on 95!

 

[number11]

would have been a big call if Strauss declared with KP on 95!

But for the sake of the team if that was the best course of action it should ahve been done. I dont know if anyone can shed light on what Harmy was doing backwards and forwards, but cricinfo seemed to suggest he sent a message out to the batters (no doubt advising of impending declaration) but Harmy then came back and gave Strauss a message from the batters, and Strauss had to send Harmy out again.

If the declaration was delayed to allow KP to get his century then this shows weakness by Strauss and selfishness by KP in wanting to get to his 100 rather than follow captains orders.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Remember all the controvesy when Atherton declared with Hick 98 not out in Australia? If Strauss had declared with Pietersen in the late 90's there would have been all manner of sh*t going down in the media, especially if England had lost.

Whatever way he did it, he simply would not have pleased everybody.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I would have declared when Prior was out. KP was on 86*, England were 207/5 (209 ahead) and would have had 3 overs at the Windies before lunch.

 

[number11]

Remember all the controvesy when Atherton declared with Hick 98 not out in Australia? If Strauss had declared with Pietersen in the late 90's there would have been all manner of sh*t going down in the media, especially if England had lost.

Whatever way he did it, he simply would not have pleased everybody.

But Hick shold have been able to put England first like KP should have done. In that match when Athers declared on Hick, he had apparently given plenty of warning as to when he would declare so as to maximise his teams chances (didnt we end up 3 or 4 wickets short of winning.....).

I think there will be a lot more sh!t in the media if England end up in a position like Antigua where a few more overs could have been enough to square the series.

If anyone was watching on tv what was the consensus?

 

[BrettieAngell]

They should have declared when Prior was out was the general consensus.

We got the first wicket, 25-1.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

The thing is, with more runs on the board Strauss can set more attacking fields. Personally I think he's got it about right. 240 in 66 overs with attacking fields is enough of a carrot to dangle without it being a gimmee for the Windies.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Game on!

59-3, Sarwan gone and we were so close to getting Chanderpaul first ball!

 

[canveyshrimper]

90/6 Monty strikes, 23 overs to go.

 

[Grayson]

Russell Tiffin is shocking.

 

[Pubey]

Russell Tiffin is shocking.

Gayle has gone. 107-7 with about 9 overs left

 

[canveyshrimper]

Russell Tiffin is shocking.

He is, but Harper is worse. It's not often that I agree with the buffoon Bob Willis, but he is spot on about these two, they aren't fit to umpire an under 8's match.

 

[canveyshrimper]

109/8 - 20 balls left. Looks like WIndies will hold on.

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

Tremendously exciting to have Radio 4 longwave on whilst sitting at the Withdean. I did get some odd looks from the stewards, during a lull in play, when the 8th wicket went down.

Consensus on Test Match Special was that the declaration was about right, 66 overs being plenty to bowl them out and 240 enough to tempt the Windies to go for it early on, to give us a chance of getting their top line batsmen back in the pavillion with the new ball.

I value their opinions much more than Sky - Ian Botham was an inspirational cricketer but is an absolute buffoon as an analyst. No tactical awareness so has to come out with a controversial comment and repeat it loudly, like a 10 year old, until someone pays attention to him.

For the first time in a long while England played 'winning' cricket today from what could easily have been seen as a losing position, and which the vast majority felt would fizzle out a la Barbados. The team had no thought other than to go out and win, every ball faced by the batsmen, every over bowled by our pace or spin attack, every fielding change, was done with a winning mentality. We haven't been like that since the 2005 Ashes.

If we continue with that mentality and attitude, but this time from the first session of the first day of the First Test of the Ashes, it won't be quite the walkover either we or Australia may think.