TDK's International Test Cricket Update's

[batmanbegins]

Lead of 272, looks like a 300 lead is what England are going for.

85 overs to bowl them out as i thought. Stokes another quality knock.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Windies hold on for a draw i reckon

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[The Dark Knight]

England declare at 3/129, with a lead of 311. 12 runs came from Holders last over before the declaration.
Stokes 78* (57)

[Jim05]

Appalling batting by the Windies, won’t last to tea at this rate

[The Dark Knight]

West Indies are in all sorts early, 3/25 at lunch, needing 287 to win.
Broad 2/17
Woakes 1/8

[batmanbegins]

West Indies are in all sorts early, 3/25 at lunch, needing 287 to win.
Broad 2/17
Woakes 1/8

Another to Broad, his legs are pumping now.

[locky801]

Disappointing 2nd Innings from the Windies, England bowl them out for 198 and come away with a big win

[RB]

Unfortunately it seemed inevitable the West Indies would disappoint.

Never send the opposition in to bat when you win the toss.

[batmanbegins]

Unfortunately it seemed inevitable the West Indies would disappoint.

Never send the opposition in to bat when you win the toss.

I wouldn't say never in England as you can get some favourable bowling conditions on day one in certain places but it was known
Manchester might be a bit flatter so silly decision.

Good win, unfortunately we keep having to lose the first test of a series so we are always coming from behind. Cant wait for the 3rd test! Once again Stokes is amazing

[Rik E Boy]

Unfortunately it seemed inevitable the West Indies would disappoint.

Never send the opposition in to bat when you win the toss.

Can't agree with this rather sweeping comment. The Windies are the current holders of the Wisden trophy and have some promising batsmen who have yet to make the next step. The first pick bowling attack is pretty good but after months of being in storage England had the advantage of replacing their complete attack in the short turn around between tests. This superior squad management was a vital factor in this test win. If the Windies bat first it would have given their bowlers some respite. I thought Gabriel in particular was starting to struggle in the second innings of the first test. Did they have the luxury of leaving him out? England left out Anderson and brought in Broad...the Windies do not yet have that depth. But the first XI is become a more formidable unit as displayed by their series win at home and their first test victory at Southhampton. In case you haven't noticed..we can't bat in England either and we have Smith and Marnus.

regards,

REB

[The Dark Knight]

The third test between England and West Indies starts today, Jason Holder once again won the toss and elected to bowl first with immediate effect, with Roach trapping Sibley LBW in the first over of the match, England are 1/1.
Some interesting changes by England, Root in at 3 as England drop Crawley and bump Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler and Woakes up a spot with Curran being replaced by Archer.
The Windies have one change, Cornwall comes in for Joseph.

[Grenville]

How on earth was Dowrich expected to stop that ball from Gabriel. No chance, should've been wides.

[batmanbegins]

I like Holder hes a quality cricketer but surely you bat first on this pitch. Pretty soft move as they don't trust there top order, Cornwall having to bowl this early and getting spin shows it was stupid. Also Gabriel is a fine bowler but with his injury history surely you don't play him for this test with short breaks between tests, already gone off with a hammy issue.

[The Dark Knight]

I like Holder hes a quality cricketer but surely you bat first on this pitch. Pretty soft move as they don't trust there top order, Cornwall having to bowl this early and getting spin shows it was stupid. Also Gabriel is a fine bowler but with his injury history surely you don't play him for this test with short breaks between tests, already gone off with a hammy issue.

Yep seems like a strange decision by Holder to bowl first again, time will tell obviously whether it was the right thing to do. Picking a recognised spinner makes you think they'd want to desperately bat first but like the commentators have said the Windies must be worried about their batting being too weak to make a big first innings score and believe that their bowling being their strength and rolling England in the first innings will give them the best chance of winning the match.
The Windies are really lucky Gabriel came back on and bowled after his injury scare.

[The Dark Knight]

England 3/104 from 41 overs. Stokes out a little earlier for 20, he was the 199th test wicket for Kemar Roach.
Burns digging in, 50 from 126.

[The Dark Knight]

Stumps Day One
England 4/258
Pope 91*
Buttler 56*

[Corona Man]

Watched some of the highlights this morning Pope looks a handy type. Nice knock so far.

[batmanbegins]

Watched some of the highlights this morning Pope looks a handy type. Nice knock so far.

By far the most talented batter coming into the England side since root. Only 22 years old, should be a good one for a long time.

[Corona Man]

The big man at slip shells out a catch... we’ve all done it.

[RB]

Unfortunately it seemed inevitable the West Indies would disappoint.

Never send the opposition in to bat when you win the toss.

Can't agree with this rather sweeping comment. The Windies are the current holders of the Wisden trophy and have some promising batsmen who have yet to make the next step. The first pick bowling attack is pretty good but after months of being in storage England had the advantage of replacing their complete attack in the short turn around between tests. This superior squad management was a vital factor in this test win. If the Windies bat first it would have given their bowlers some respite. I thought Gabriel in particular was starting to struggle in the second innings of the first test. Did they have the luxury of leaving him out? England left out Anderson and brought in Broad...the Windies do not yet have that depth. But the first XI is become a more formidable unit as displayed by their series win at home and their first test victory at Southhampton. In case you haven't noticed..we can't bat in England either and we have Smith and Marnus.

regards,

REB

The comment was just a feeling that I had - perhaps I should have said 'unfortunately it seemed inevitable to me that the West Indies would crumble on the final day'.

My feeling was justified, for precisely the reasons you've mentioned above. Absolutely the Windies have a bit more talent and a bit more grit than several years ago, but it's very hard to chase, or even force a draw, on the 5th day when you're the touring side. As you say, Australia - a side few would dispute is better than the West Indies - struggled to make runs in England last year, Sir Donald Smith aside. As indeed have most touring teams really over the last 10-15 years.

I'm not saying the first test was a 'flash in the pan', but England winning the second test, particularly after the Windies went into the final day seemingly with some chance at least to gain a draw, did make me feel that, notwithstanding the above, 'normal service' had been somewhat resumed.