England tour of the West Indies

[Yorkshire Blue]

The Antigua Recreation Ground has been given the go-ahead for tomorrow's Third Test by the match referee, Alan Hurst, so it's all systems go (again!).

Chris Gayle has a few reservations about the outfield, but at least it isn't based on sand. As The General says, the pitch, which had been used as nets for the abandoned Second Test, is predicted to be a bit 'spicy'. The net (no pun intended) result is that Steven Harmison is expected to return in place of Jimmy Anderson, who must be one of the unluckiest cricketers around if he is dropped on the basis of a Test appearance that lasted ten balls, none of which he had any influence over whatsoever!

Simon Wilde says Harmison will return in place of Sidearse in the Times. Hope he's right.

Were caps awarded to players named for the Second Test?

Yes, I'm pretty sure they they still count.

This is now the 3rd test, not the 2nd test. I think the runs Strauss and Cook scored will also count to their test averages.

I don't think so. I am sure that caps weren't awarded after the Jamaica fiasco in 98.

I'm pretty certain they were awarded.

Look at Adam Hollioake's test career: 4 tests, and it includes Sabina Park.

 

[SUFC Forever]

I don't think so. I am sure that caps weren't awarded after the Jamaica fiasco in 98.

A match is deemed to have started when a delivery has been bowled. The abandoned Jamaica Test is included in players and match records and so will the Antigua one be also.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

A match is deemed to have started when a delivery has been bowled. The abandoned Jamaica Test is included in players and match records and so will the Antigua one be also.

Is it when a delivery has been bowled, or when the toss has taken place?

(Not that it matters much).

Apparently we're looking at a delayed start.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Just announced that Harmison is in for Sidebottom & Swann for Panesar. Toss to be made in a few minutes ans start time at 245pm.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Harmison in for Sideshow Bob, Swann in for Panesar.

The first change is obvious enough. Harmison is expected to get more out of the wicket. I can't understand why they put Swann in for Panesar now if Panesar was given the nod for the second test.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Gayle wins what is expected to be a crucial toss.

I suspect England will be batting once more.

 

[Grayson]

We've lost the toss and will bat. If the pitch is as spicy as reported, another double-figure score looms.

 

[Moridin]

Can't understand the Swann decision either, unless they want the extra batting. Odd, maybe Montys confidence has gone?

We have lost the toss and been put in......

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Can't understand the Swann decision either, unless they want the extra batting. Odd, maybe Montys confidence has gone?

We have lost the toss and been put in......

Swann actually has a test average with the bat worse than Monty.

Rashid is the pick of the spinners with the bat.

Would love to know the thinking behind the Swann decision.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Swann actually has a test average with the bat worse than Monty.

Rashid is the pick of the spinners with the bat.

Would love to know the thinking behind the Swann decision.

Indeed I can understand Harmison for Sidey, but the Swann selection has got me beat. I doubt very much if Rashid would have been considered.

 

[Moridin]

Swann actually has a test average with the bat worse than Monty.

Rashid is the pick of the spinners with the bat.

Would love to know the thinking behind the Swann decision.

Reallly?! That is a Sunday morning suprise :stunned:

He's scored a couple of First Class hundreds I think...

I can only think the decision could be made on Swanns batting and fielding, and that we aren't feeling that the spinners are going to have much of an influence on the match.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Reallly?! That is a Sunday morning suprise :stunned:

He's scored a couple of First Class hundreds I think...

I can only think the decision could be made on Swanns batting and fielding, and that we aren't feeling that the spinners are going to have much of an influence on the match.

Swann's a better bat but has done little to suggest that at test level with a top score of just 7 in the limited opportunities he's had.

If they are picking him for his batting over Monty, I suspect they think a quick 20 or 30 could be a matchwinning innings, which is worrying.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Under way at last, the outfield looks a bit bumpy, but at least it isn't one of Antigua's 365 beaches.

 

[Moridin]

Swann's a better bat but has done little to suggest that at test level with a top score of just 7 in the limited opportunities he's had.

If they are picking him for his batting over Monty, I suspect they think a quick 20 or 30 could be a matchwinning innings, which is worrying.

Worrying indeed. Would indicate a lack of confidence in the top order.

I don't like seeing sides with a massive tail, equally you can't weaken the bowling too much, and I for one would much rather see Monty wheeling away than Swann.

Without being too harsh on Swann, he can't be the answer long term, and he won't contribute much more runs than Monty, so why not give Rashid a chance if extending the order is a priority?

Would other International sides leave someone out citing inexperience when they have played 40+ First Class games, with two hundreds and 140 wickets? I wonder.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Worrying indeed. Would indicate a lack of confidence in the top order.

I don't like seeing sides with a massive tail, equally you can't weaken the bowling too much, and I for one would much rather see Monty wheeling away than Swann.

Without being too harsh on Swann, he can't be the answer long term, and he won't contribute much more runs than Monty, so why not give Rashid a chance if extending the order is a priority?

Would other International sides leave someone out citing inexperience when they have played 40+ First Class games, with two hundreds and 140 wickets? I wonder.

I was thinking more a lack of confidence in the pitch.

The first couple of overs looked quite lively with good carry, but it seems to have settled down since and England have set up a good platform. I think it might be a bit two-paced and it'll be interesting to see if and when it deteriorates. It might have been a good toss to lose.

As for the spinner, I'd have gone with Rashid ahead of Swann if you wanted to extend your batting. I'd probably have gone for Rashid ahead of Swann on the basis of bowling as well, although Rashid would be a huge gamble I think his upside is a lot higher than Swann's. I see Swann as a safe, boring choice. He won't go for lots of runs but he won't pick up lots of wickets either. Maybe they felt with both Harmison and Anderson they needed a more reliable stock bowler and Swann would react better to a batsman having a go at him than Monty.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

Nice to see us move serenely past our entire second innings score from Sabina Park before lunch for the loss of no wickets, and indeed very little threat of one from the Windies quicks (Strauss was a little fortunate to be given not out to a leg before appeal from Gayle).

I'm very surprised that they've picked Swann ahead of Panesar having already selected Monty for the abandoned Second Test. Everything suggested that the pitch would be spicy (and I sort of expect it to liven up if the sun comes out - it could be trickier to bat on the second day if it dries out - because it seems that the amount of water they've put on it to stick it together has deadened it a little) and Panesar has been at his best on that kind of surface.

The other factor is that Gayle and Chanderpaul, two of West Indies three best batsmen, are left-handers, and it could be easier for Swann to cause them trouble. Funny also to see Nasser Hussain suggest that he may bowl on a length into the centre-circle markings to the right-handers - this morning must've been the first time that the pre-match football warm-up took place with genuine markings!

 

[canveyshrimper]

Well done Andrew Strauss on getting to another test century. A shame that Cook seems to have a block in going on to three figures as he gets to 50 again and then gets out, to be fair it was a good catch, but...

After all the talk about the pitch, and it looks as flat as a witches tit.

 

[Bluesmanager]

206-1 at tea. Just need to push on, but I don't see where TMS are getting 600 from. I'd settle for 450, maybe 500.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

The pitch looks more like the St John's pitches of old than expected.

I don't think the WIndies have helped themselves. I think there is a bit more in it when the quicks put their back into it. There was certainly good carry. I think it was a fair enough decision to introduce spin, but I'd have kept the quicks on at the other end. It was a bit too easy against the spinners. I think Harmison may still get something out of this pitch if he believes there is something in it for him.

How Cook must be wishing he had Strauss' luck. Strauss should have been run out on 9 but the key moment was when he was dropped at slip by Gayle off Benn on 47. In contrast Cook was caught by Devon Smith off Gayle in the slips for 52 and more questions will be asked about him getting out in the 50s and 60s and not converting.

What has been pleasing is how aggressive Strauss has been playing.

 

[canveyshrimper]

...and Shah since tea, at this rate England should have in the region of 325 by close of play. At this stage it may come down to a question as to whether England can bowl the WIndies out twice.