England vs West Indies 1st Test (Southampton)

[Quickenthetempo]

They have bowled well. Very accurate.

But our attack is stronger.

It could go either way though with the W Indies brand of cricket. Lots of shots and 50 all out or 120 in a session?

[tiger76]

They have bowled well. Very accurate.

But our attack is stronger.

It could go either way though with the W Indies brand of cricket. Lots of shots and 50 all out or 120 in a session?

With England's meagre total though, it'll only take an hour of carnage, and the Windies will be making hay.

Useful runs from Bess here, every run is golddust.

[Vino blanco]

The Burnley Lara and Bess take us past 200, then all out for 204.

[tiger76]

The last 2 wickets put on nearly 50, that could yet be important, 200 on this pitch isn't bad, now England have to bowl well in the evening session, and take 4/5 wickets, batting conditions are likely to improve tomorrow, so England need wickets with the new ball.

[tiger76]

Another successful review by the West Indies, Jimmy thought he had a wicket but no cigar.

Gone off for bad light, the WI will be happy 21-0, it's been an almost perfect day for them.

Questions will be asked why Stokes batted 1st up, it's not going well so far.

[Burnley1989]

finally Jimmy gets his man

[tiger76]

Jimmy finally strikes, he's had to work hard for that 43-1, England could do with a few more tonight, but Jimmy's in his 7th over, i don't know if he''ll bowl much longer in this spell.

[tiger76]

Off for bad light AGAIN, is it any wonder test cricket is a hard sell when they go off for trivial things, obviously if it's hosing down, then they can't play, but the weather in the first 2 days hasn't been that bad, and with some effort they could have got a lot more play in.

57-1 when they went off, another good period for the West Indies, despite Jimmy trying his damnedest, and Mark Wood's not bowled badly either, but England need quick wickets tomorrow.

[matttheclaret]

This is where cricket really lets itself down. We've lost 92 overs in two days.

It didn't actually rain much yesterday and yet most of the day was gone. There were plenty of intervals where it wasn't raining at all and they weren't playing. Today going off for bad light is hard to stomach when there is floodlights in the ground.

It's a game of entertainment. I'm a massive cricket fan, but it really does shoot itself in the foot sometimes.

[tiger76]

This is where cricket really lets itself down. We've lost 92 overs in two days.

It didn't actually rain much yesterday and yet most of the day was gone. There were plenty of intervals where it wasn't raining at all and they weren't playing. Today going off for bad light is hard to stomach when there is floodlights in the ground.

It's a game of entertainment. I'm a massive cricket fan, but it really does shoot itself in the foot sometimes.

I know it's a different format, but if this had been a white ball game, they'd have carried on playing through the mizzle, it seems to be in a test match there's no hunger to keep the game moving, and if test cricket isn't careful it'll cause it's own demise, you do wonder what the point of the floodlights is, when they go off anyway, effectively we've lost a whole days play, and this match was a great chance for cricket to market itself to a wide audience, is it any wonder it's not attracting youngsters when this is the attitude.

A genuine question for grass roots cricket fans, would a local league match have been suspended in that weather? i strongly suspect not, when all the effort has been expended to get the game on, and all the protocols put in place, it's bizarre that a drop or two of rain keeps them off the field.

[tybfc]

Would Frank Heyes had come off in 1971 at 8.45pm?

[Foulthrow]

I know it's a different format, but if this had been a white ball game, they'd have carried on playing through the mizzle, it seems to be in a test match there's no hunger to keep the game moving, and if test cricket isn't careful it'll cause it's own demise, you do wonder what the point of the floodlights is, when they go off anyway, effectively we've lost a whole days play, and this match was a great chance for cricket to market itself to a wide audience, is it any wonder it's not attracting youngsters when this is the attitude.

A genuine question for grass roots cricket fans, would a local league match have been suspended in that weather? i strongly suspect not, when all the effort has been expended to get the game on, and all the protocols put in place, it's bizarre that a drop or two of rain keeps them off the field.

If you came off for that weather in the LL you’d never finish the season.

[tiger76]

If you came off for that weather in the LL you’d never finish the season.

That's exactly my point, if they can do it, then surely the international cricketers, with all the mod con's they have the advantages of can do it.

Test cricket is already on it's knees, and episodes such as this won't help it's reputation one iota.

[nil_desperandum]

Would Frank Heyes had come off in 1971 at 8.45pm?

Am I missing something?
A reference to Lancs / Glouc Gillete Cup I assume, but why mention Frank Heyes (Hayes?)?

[tybfc]

I was having a blonde moment - sorry.

[nil_desperandum]

I was having a blonde moment - sorry.

No problem. I was hoping that you were going to come up with some story or incident that I wasn't aware of.
(Best be careful nowadays using the term "blonde" moment - unless you're blonde!!

[Silkyskills1]

I was at school with Frank Hayes.

[nil_desperandum]

I was at school with Frank Hayes.

A very, very good cricketer who I think didn't quite fulfil early expectations.
I think I'm right in saying he made a ton on his test debut against a very strong WI attack

[tiger76]

Steady start for the Windies this morning, it looks a perfect batting day, remind me England did win the toss didn't they.

Welcome to TM captaincy Ben Stokes.

I see Stuart Broad isn't happy at being omitted, good he's right to be annoyed, and so is Woakes, they'd have been a tough proposition in the first couple of days here.

[matttheclaret]

Now a wicket off a no ball.

Bit of a horror show in this Test by England so far

[Silkyskills1]

A very, very good cricketer who I think didn't quite fulfil early expectations.
I think I'm right in saying he made a ton on his test debut against a very strong WI attack

Always in the 'nets' at lunchtime in the summer months. Bit older than me but seemed a decent person. Unlike one of his contemporaries who also played for England, rugby union international, Tony Neary.
I do recall Hayes batting for England and it was the last over of the day where batsmen usually ' batten down the hatches' in preparation for the next day. Frank hit a 'six' which is something, I think, I'd never seen before.

[Claret1205]

All nine tests Frank Hayes played were against the West Indies pace attack of the 70s unluckily for him.

Playing for Lancashire he once hit 34 in an over off Malcolm Nash, the same bowler Sobers hit for 6 sixes. Think it was at the same ground as well.

[tiger76]

Windies session again, 159-3 at lunch, only 45 adrift, they look so comfortable, even against the express pace, and all their top 5 have contributed, either by posting a score in Brathwaite's case, or just by occupying the crease, and wearing the bowlers down for the rest, perfect test match batting, and any loose deliveries have generally been punished, it could be a long day in the field for England, given that Holder doesn't bat till number 8, the tourists have plenty of runs still to come you'd imagine, and they'll be hoping to build a big 1st innings lead, and put England's out of form batsman under pressure.

[tiger76]

Another for Jimmy, he's doing his best to keep England in this game, but the Windies are rapidly closing in on a 1st innings lead 173-4, Blackwood just arriving at the crease, an hour or so of him, and England will be toiling, he doesn't hang about if he can score.

[tiger76]

186-5 Blackwood gone, 2nd wicket for the spinner, England creeping back into this contest.

[Quickenthetempo]

The big difference so far is their positive approach, even in defence.

[CleggHall]

England's pace bowlers looking innocuous when the ball doesn't swing. Saliva ban unhelpful but Broad a better bet than both Wood and Archer.

[Vino blanco]

I think we're missing Broad with the new ball.

[Quickenthetempo]

I think we're missing Broad with the new ball.

We're missing a top 5 batting order far more.

If we had scored runs it wouldn't be a bad bowling performance.

[tiger76]

This partnership is taking the game away from England, but what do you expect when you gift the opposition the best of the conditions after winning the toss, it's all fine and dandy banking on turn in the 4th innings, but if you don't set the opponent anything to chase, it becomes irrelevant how much assistance the drying pitch offers.

Broad should have played on this, Stokes should have inserted, and once again England have been a shambles in the opening test of a series, i honestly can't remember the last time we turned up in the 1st game of a series, we always seem to make things hard for ourselves.

Yes these are unique circumstances, but it's the same for both teams, and the West Indies have been better in every department over the 3 days.

Archer & Wood have bowled 36 overs between them without a wicket, and they've both gone for 3 an over or so, in test cricket if you're not taking wickets, you have to stem the scoring and build pressure that way, neither have been able to tie an end down, and curb the flow of runs.

An angry Stuart Broad at OT please, and Denly's place needs to be considered also, he's 34 and i thought England were building for the Ashes tour in 18 months, Burns apart who grafted away in the 1st innings, that top 4 is so weak, Root will return next week so that should stiffen up the batting department, but who plays at number 3 is the big question.

And in the bowling department Broad & Woakes have to come in for Archer & Wood, Bess has done OK, and it would be tough on him to miss out.

We also don't want to over bowl Jimmy, he's now in his 24th over, and he's bowled the most in the innings, we need to remember there's plenty more test matches in the next few weeks.

A 3rd wicket for Jimmy, but i fear his efforts will be for nought, the lead is already past 60, and on this track the Windies attack will be confident of rolling England again.

[tiger76]

50 for Dowrich, he's played a crucial hand for his team, but that dropped catch by Bess could be costly for England.

Lead nearing 80, England need to mop up the lower order quickly, otherwise they could be looking at a deficit of 150, and with this England batting line-up that'll be too many for them to set the Windies a testing target last up.

[tiger76]

Stokes strikes getting his opposite number, that's going to be a battle to watch throughout the rest of the series.

281-7 clean up the tail, and England are still in this game.

Someone in the top 5 has to step up and score big 2nd dig, a century from one of that top order, and England could set a challenging total on the 5th day.

The West Indies have shown that you can score decent runs on this pitch, they're going to post at least 300. now if England could get around 300 2nd time around, then a final innings wanting 200 or so to win, could prove tricky for the WI.

[tiger76]

3rd wicket for Stokes, but the lead is past 100 now, and if these last 2 wickets fall soon, then England face a tricky 30-40 minutes of batting tonight, not ideal after you've been in the field all day.

150th Test wicket for Ben Stokes, but he's not a happy chappy is he.

[tiger76]

4 for Stokes Dowrich gone for a fine 61, and he walked, i didn't think anyone still did that, 317-9 lead still 113, it's handy on this track.

And as suspected England were about a 100 below par in their innings.

[nil_desperandum]

4 for Stokes Dowrich gone for a fine 61, and he walked, i didn't think anyone still did that,

A lot of batters walk now if they know they've clearly hit it because there's no escaping the technology that shows the "spike". By walking it suggests that you're a good sportsman, by hanging around you leave yourself open to criticism. Obviously sometimes you're genuinely not sure, or think you might have got a inside edge or whatever, that's fair enough. But when that's not in play, a lot walk off now.

[tiger76]

15-0 at the close, at least England survived that spell, but that's about the only crumb of comfort they can take from the day, 99 behind so it's a case of batting all day tomorrow, the West Indies achieved it, so there's no reason why England can't follow suit, anything around 180-200 will be awkward to chase on day 5.

A stat from the Beeb, Stokes is in some company there.

Ben Stokes took his 150th Test wicket earlier and has scored over 4,000 runs as well.

Only five other players have achieved that double: Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Jacques Kallis and Daniel Vettori.

[SGr]

BBC asking if Bess is the successor to Swann. Not convinced personally.

[tiger76]

BBC asking if Bess is the successor to Swann. Not convinced personally.

He did OK, but it's the 2nd innings he'll hope to be in the game, however for him to be a factor, England need to set a reasonable score, and the evidence thus far would suggest that's unlikely to happen.

I do agree since Swann retired we've lacked a top-class spinner, and it's especially noticeable on overseas tours when the wickets are flat.

Is Bess the answer i'm not sure, he did contribute well in SA, but the jury's still out for me.

TBH until England start piling on the runs, it won't matter who's in the attack, all to often it's down to the bowlers to rescue the batsmen, and they can't keep performing miracles, sooner or later the batters have to turn these 30's and 40's into hundreds, that's how you win test matches, by exerting scoreboard pressure. England are usually left chasing the game after the 1st innings, and at this level it's tough to win matches from that position.

[tiger76]

England have finally arrived at the party, 63-0 Burns & Sibley going along nicely, why can't we perform like this in the 1st innings of Test Matches, it's infuriating that we give the opposition a hundred run start, before deciding to play.

[tiger76]

Burns gone 42, just before lunch, a poor shot after doing the hard graft, yet again an England player gets in, and then gets out.

76-1 still trail by 38.

[CBT]

Not too concerned about Burns he'll be around for a long time probably future captain
Sibley's the interesting one he starts slow but gets some big scores when settled in 1st class games
Hopefully he starts to do same in test matches

[tiger76]

Not too concerned about Burns he'll be around for a long time probably future captain
Sibley's the interesting one he starts slow but gets some big scores when settled in 1st class games
Hopefully he starts to do same in test matches

The openers played well this morning, they've at least given England a chance of turning this match around, great opportunity for Sibley to post a big one this afternoon.

79-1 at lunch, England's session that one, but still plenty of work to do, 35 adrift and a couple of quick wickets, and the Windies are back in control, just bat and the runs will come, time isn't an issue, there's 5 sessions remaining yet, so if England are still batting at stumps tonight, they'll have amassed a good lead, and the pitch is starting to keep low with the odd delivery, and it should take spin last up, so Bess will become a big factor, but first England have to put the runs on the board, if they can do that, then it'll be an intriguing last day.

[CBT]

You could argue there's 6 sessions left if the weather stays bright til 7 each night
Bat rest of today and an hour or so in morning then should be good viewing for rest of tomorrow

[tiger76]

Solid start this afternoon, England nearing a lead, and still 9 wickets in the hutch, the scoring rates slow, but i don't mind that, it's all about building a platform for the likes of Stokes/Buttler/Pope/Bess to play their shots later on and clock the runs up, proper test match batting is this.

Sibley bowled off a no ball, and then out immediately after, a 50 for Sibley in his 1st test in England, didn't realise it was his 1st home test.

He played well, but England really needed him to go on, scores are basically level, and England have 8 wickets in hand, crucial hour of play, a couple more wickets for the Windies, and they'll fancy polishing the innings off just after tea, another partnership here, and England will be compiling a useful lead, this period up to tea is the test match.

[tiger76]

England into the lead 125-2 lead is 11, this is shaping up to be a last day thriller.

[tiger76]

151-3 Denly throwing his wicket away for 29, that's got to be the end of his test career i'm afraid, perfect chance today to make a score, and he hits a nothing delivery straight to mid-wicket, lead is still only 38, as the skip comes to the crease.

[tiger76]

168-3 at tea, lead of 54, even stevens i'd say, this last session will be pivotal, if England bat till the close, and keep wickets in hand they'll be handily placed, however a few breakthroughs for the West Indies, and they'll be in the driving seat.

[tiger76]

England recovering well 249-4, Crawley & Stokes batting well adding 98, lead is 135, shaping up to be a great last day, just a shame there won't be any spectators in the ground to witness it.I can't call this one, England have runs on the board, but a few quick wickets tonight, and the balance swings to the West Indies.

[tiger76]

Crawley gone now 253-5, he played well for his 76, but it might not be enough, leads only 143, need the tail to wag here, and somehow add another 80-100, anything over 200 batting 4th should be challenging at least, if England bowl well.

[tiger76]

Summer's here, cue an England batting collapse, 249-3 becomes 265-6, lead of only 151, need at least another 50 from the lower order, Buttler failing again when the pressure was on. Not much to come after this pair, so the onus is on them.