England vs West Indies 3rd Test (Manchester)

[tiger76]

So the decider starts tomorrow England have named a 14 man squad, Jofra's back but Stokes may only play as a batsman.

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Dominic Bess (Somerset), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

The weather forecast looks dicey for Saturday, Monday & Tuesday, so it might be a damp squib unfortunately.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I genuinely believe we have the start of a very good test team building now.

My eleven would be:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Bess
Broad
Archer
Anderson

[tiger76]

I genuinely believe we have the start of a very good test team building now.

My eleven would be:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Bess
Broad
Archer
Anderson

That's a decent XI in English conditions, and there's a good variety in that attack, and Sam Curran, Woakes and Wood are decent reserves or replacements to call upon. For the first time in many years England have genuine depth in the fast bowling department, Bess could have done better in the first couple of tests. but you'd be loathe to leave your main spinner out, when it looks like the pitches will provide assistance.

And that XI Anderson & Broad apart are all at a good age to stay together for the next 4-5 years, so hopefully England can get a settled side for once, and finally challenge Australia in their own backyard.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Yes I think your right.

I imagine this will be one of Anderson’s last test series. Wood or Curran will most likely replace him for the next ashes series.

[Quickenthetempo]

Wood and Archer will be the first names on the sheet in Australia with Broad or Anderson playing tight bowler role.
Vital we keep Stokes fit and find a very good spinner.

Two 90mph bowlers over there will be a god send.

[Quickenthetempo]

Yes I think your right.

I imagine this will be one of Anderson’s last test series. Wood or Curran will most likely replace him for the next ashes series.

Anderson has 3 years of home series left in him fitness wise. Other bowlers might take over him and not much point him going to the sub continent but home series he's defo no.1 at the minute.

[tiger76]

Anderson has 3 years of home series left in him fitness wise. Other bowlers might take over him and not much point him going to the sub continent but home series he's defo no.1 at the minute.

I'd agree he has to play at home, he and Broad are still our best bowlers in English conditions, i also agree i wouldn't be taking them to India in the Winter, even if that tour goes ahead, and there must be a mark over Anderson and Broad touring down under, if fit Archer and Wood will be England's spearheads in 18 months time.

[Bordeauxclaret]

With Stokes fitness looking dodgy for bowling I’d be brave and bring in a bowler for Pope.

[claretonthecoast1882]

The draw looks a good bet at 13/8 with the current weather forecast

[Foulthrow]

I genuinely believe we have the start of a very good test team building now.

My eleven would be:

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Bess
Broad
Archer
Anderson

Unfortunately, I think we are still much too fragile when it comes to the batting. Root has never fulfilled the promise he showed to be in the same league as Kohli, Smith and Williamson. I’m not convinced that Crawley is the solution at 3. Pope has struggled since SA. Buttler’s position looks in doubt especially if it starts affecting his form in limited overs cricket. If England were off to India or Australia next week I think they’d get soundly beaten.

[buzzclarets79]

Unfortunately, I think we are still much too fragile when it comes to the batting. Root has never fulfilled the promise he showed to be in the same league as Kohli, Smith and Williamson. I’m not convinced that Crawley is the solution at 3. Pope has struggled since SA. Buttler’s position looks in doubt especially if it starts affecting his form in limited overs cricket. If England were off to India or Australia next week I think they’d get soundly beaten.

Fully agree Re the batting, still all to often find ourselves 40 or 50 odd for 2 or 3, and still seem to collapse far to easy. Buttler at 6 or 7 is a treat to watch if he gets in, he and Stokes can take a game away from a team in little under a session but we've not seen it often enough and his place must be under question.
My problem is having watched that 2005 test team, is seeing what we can produce, but that 05 team was prob the exception not the rule.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Very true but the point is 3 out of the top six are under 24.

This is the batting line up England want to develop over the next 5 years

[Quickenthetempo]

W Indies win toss and insert England.

Crawley and Curran left out.

Very strong bowling unit for England.

[matttheclaret]

Sibley gone first over

[CleggHall]

Root runs himself out taking a quick/slow single!

[tiger76]

66-2 at lunch, even stevens i'd say, but a lot depends on this pair, because after them we're into the middle order, and Pope, Buttler & Woakes aren't exactly blessed with form. England have dig in well, but losing the skipper to a run out isn't ideal when you've omitted one of your premier batters.

Hopefully Burns can push on and get the big score that's so far eluded him this series, he's battled hard in the 1st session, now he needs to make it count over the course of the day.

I wouldn't worry too much about the weather just yet, what England need to do is put runs on the board first and foremost, and then take it from there, with that bowling attack you'd suggest there's easily 20 wickets in them.

[ClaretTony]

Stokes gone - 92/3

[tiger76]

Burns out to a poor shot he played well for his 57, but England really needed him to notch a century today, Pope & Buttler at the crease, England's last recognised pair. need a stand here, you'd say 250 is the minimum England need to stay in this game.

131-4 at tea, England have to win this last session, or they'll face an uphill battle in this match.

[Vino blanco]

Pope looks a very good batsman to me. I would be tempted to play him at number 5 in front of Stokes, with a longer term view of him playing at our problem position at number 3. He's just got his 50 in 77 deliveries.

[tiger76]

He's played really well today, he's actually looked in good touch throughout the series, but he's managed to get himself out, or he's had some good balls.

Encouraging for England that all the young guns have stepped up in this tight series.

Burns has made some useful contributions, and seen off the new ball, without quite going on to the big scores.

Sibley has a 100 and a 50 to his name.

Crawley played well at Southampton in the 2nd innings.

And now Pope is playing a vital knock under severe pressure.

Now obviously they'll all have failures along the way, that's the nature of test cricket, but if a couple of them can post big scores, then it provides England with the solidity which has been solely lacking since the halcyon days of Cook, Strauss, Trott and Bell, your top 4 are the key to winning test matches, if they can put runs on the board, you'll always have a chance.

Root & Stokes will more often than not make runs, so the future's looking bright for English cricket.

[Bertiebeehead]

The size of Cornwall!

[Quickenthetempo]

Pope is nice on the eye as well with his batting.

Burns and Sibley are a hard watch.

[tiger76]

Pope is nice on the eye as well with his batting.

Burns and Sibley are a hard watch.

True but without Burns and Sibley laying the foundations, England would find themselves in trouble more often than not, test cricket demands a couple of guys who can stay at the crease for several hours, if you just go out with a bunch of stroke makers, as England did for a couple of years, you'll find yourself 3/4 down in the 1st session, and chasing the match from there on, hence why the Jason Roy experiment didn't work, red ball cricket is vastly different to the white ball game, and if you don't have a good defence you won't make runs at this level.

[tiger76]

50 for Buttler now, well played sir, he came in at a tricky moment, and he's played superbly alongside Pope.

New ball taken.

258-4 at the close, England would have taken that this morning, and don't forget Holder inserted again.

[Tribesmen]

The size of Cornwall!

Bigger than Devon

[Quickenthetempo]

True but without Burns and Sibley laying the foundations, England would find themselves in trouble more often than not, test cricket demands a couple of guys who can stay at the crease for several hours, if you just go out with a bunch of stroke makers, as England did for a couple of years, you'll find yourself 3/4 down in the 1st session, and chasing the match from there on, hence why the Jason Roy experiment didn't work, red ball cricket is vastly different to the white ball game, and if you don't have a good defence you won't make runs at this level.

You need one of each for me opening. We're too easy to bowl at early on.
It's not so much a problem if Root bats 3 as he's a busy player.

[MACCA]

The draw looks a good bet at 13/8 with the current weather forecast

Took 8/5, best odds for draw now are 4/6

Was hoping for 210/5 @ close, but the 2 currently there have put on a good partnership and upped the rr.

A full wash out tomorrow will help.

[Quickenthetempo]

Took 8/5, best odds for draw now are 4/6

Was hoping for 210/5 @ close, but the 2 currently there have put on a good partnership and upped the rr.

A full wash out tomorrow will help.

I think England will win comfortably.

West Indies haven't got the mentality to play for a draw and it wouldn't shock me for England to bowl them out in 30 to 40 overs.

It's a strong bowling line up.

[MACCA]

I think England will win comfortably.

West Indies haven't got the mentality to play for a draw and it wouldn't shock me for England to bowl them out in 30 to 40 overs.

It's a strong bowling line up.

The Draw was 4/6 last night, this morning 11/10, the thunderstorms and 2 days of very poor weather has miraculously disappeared.

Eng were available at 10/11, so cashed out and put all on Eng, but only managed to get 5/6 by the time id sorted through everything. I've essentially now backed Eng at even money when they were 8/13 at the start of play.

A bit faster on the uptake and would have had a very good bet on England at very good odds all things considered.

Least I can watch some cricket now.

[Quickenthetempo]

The Draw was 4/6 last night, this morning 11/10, the thunderstorms and 2 days of very poor weather has miraculously disappeared.

Eng were available at 10/11, so cashed out and put all on Eng, but only managed to get 5/6 by the time id sorted through everything. I've essentially now backed Eng at even money when they were 8/13 at the start of play.

A bit faster on the uptake and would have had a very good bet on England at very good odds all things considered.

Least I can watch some cricket now.

The boy done well.

[Stevie2112]

I think you may have spoken a bit soon, it’s hammering it down now

[Quickenthetempo]

I think you may have spoken a bit soon, it’s hammering it down now

You have to feel sorry for the club cricketers today.

Limited space in changing rooms and clubhouses mean they will be sheltering in their cars with a Tesco meal deal watching it bounce down.

[Quickenthetempo]

West Indies bowlers have been right on the spot this morning bowling Pope without scoring after he had been dropped in the slips.

[tiger76]

Domino time for England again 272-7, Woakes and then Buttler back in the hutch, England might struggle to break 300 now, after looking set fair for 350-400 1st thing this morning.

[tiger76]

Archer gone quickly 286-8, England could do with some useful runs from these last 2 wickets. 4th wicket for Roach now.

[Quickenthetempo]

Getting over 300 and out might not be a bad thing. Not taking much time out of the game.

Get them in and shoot them out.

[tiger76]

Well we've got to 300 anyway, you could well have a point, it's better for England if the game moves along, and there's enough in this pitch to interest Anderson and co.

[tiger76]

Exactly what England needed this Bess/Broad partnership, good runs and they're coming quickly.

[LordBob]

I think 300+ is a defendable total we have a potentially wicked attack and on this wicket I fancy us.

[Quickenthetempo]

England in a very good position.

Broad with a superb knock adding fast runs and then ending the innings on the stroke of Lunch is perfect timing.

The W Indies might favour the Stuart Broad approach.

[Stevie2112]

Excellent end for England

[tiger76]

England in a very good position.

Broad with a superb knock adding fast runs and then ending the innings on the stroke of Lunch is perfect timing.

The W Indies might favour the Stuart Broad approach.

After that knock Broad's in a good place to take the new ball surely, he's obviously determined that'll he'll not be dropped again.

The West Indies are better when they play positively, so if the balls there to hit, then they should play shots, of course if England bowl in the right areas, that's easier said than done.

[Quickenthetempo]

After that knock Broad's in a good place to take the new ball surely, he's obviously determined that'll he'll not be dropped again.

The West Indies are better when they play positively, so if the balls there to hit, then they should play shots, of course if England bowl in the right areas, that's easier said than done.

Anderson, Broad and Woakes are generally very tight bowlers.
They might have to attack Archer and Bess if he gets any overs.

[tiger76]

Broad strikes in his 1st over, good luck to the selectors in dropping him for the next test.

Key wicket of Brathwaite as well, if he carries on like this a knighthood will be in the offing.

[Quickenthetempo]

I stuck a ten spot on Stokes to get a catch in this innings at 10/11. Typical it goes next door to Root to catch.

[tiger76]

I stuck a ten spot on Stokes to get a catch in this innings at 10/11. Typical it goes next door to Root to catch.

Plenty of chances yet, the slips have come into the game today big time, so you should still have a shout.

[Quickenthetempo]

He's just dropped a dolley

[tiger76]

Yep very rare for him to spill one bad luck. Jimmy won't be impressed either.

[tiger76]

Jofra's back 47-2 both openers gone, England well on top.

[Quickenthetempo]

Jimmy gets Hope caught behind.

See Archer off and Anderson comes on.