England in West Indies

[brod]

First Test Starts Feb 4 in Jamacia

Team News (from cricinfo)

Strauss will wait until the toss to name his first team as full-time captain, but the side was taking shape over the two matches in St Kitts. As always, all eyes are on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff who has been worked hard in recent days to get over his side strain. The vibes from the England camp have been positive and the signs are he will take his place, but there hasn't been enough time to erase all doubts. Elsewhere, Ian Bell will cling onto his No. 3 spot, while Monty Panesar will probably edge out Graeme Swann, if only because he didn't played against West Indies A on a featherbed. Ryan Sidebottom has been talked up by captain and coach and Harmison found his rhythm in the final warm-up game, so James Anderson is shaping as the unlucky quick.

England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Ryan Sidebottom, 10, Steve Harmison, 11 Monty Panesar

The West Indies selectors may have been wondering about their decision to announce the Test squad early when Lendl Simmons batted for two days, especially now that Dale Richards, the 32-year-old opener, is a doubt with a foot injury. If he doesn't make it, Devon Smith will slot in alongside Chris Gayle while Xavier Marshall, who is on borrowed time after a poor tour of New Zealand, will retain his place at No.4. Four quicks or a spinner? It never used to be a question, but the changing nature of the pitches opens the door for Amit Jaggernauth to win a second cap.

West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Devon Smith, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Xavier Marshall, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Brendan Nash, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Jerome Taylor, 9 Daren Powell, 10 Amit Jaggernauth, 11 Fidel Edwards

[Keefy]

England 5/202 after 75 overs

Piertersen dismissed for 97
Bell gone for 28.
Flintoff 28*

[Keefy]

Stumps on Day 1 - England 5/236

Flintoff 43*
Prior 27 *

The umpires have a chat and, two overs shy of 90, that'll be stumps. It's getting a little dark out there now. Chanderpaul's not convinced, but there you go. It's been an intriguing opening to this series, and by stumps England have fought back resiliantly. A magnificent 97 from Kevin Pietersen, after the early loss of the openers, put them in a strong position before he holed out attempting glory - but the real stabilising force has been Andrew Flintoff, who twice starred in fifty partnerships.

[Rik E Boy]

That's a very slow scoring rate against one of the worst attacks in world cricket. A well selected side brings the Ashes home for mine.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

Benn had bowled 26 of 66 overs at one stage on day 1.

[Rik E Boy]

Benn had bowled 26 of 66 overs at one stage on day 1.

Jeez Boon, even I would have made 50 by then!

regards,

REB

[panther]

3 Tests and 3 of the most embarassing results in history

First Test
England out for 51
Can happen its a poor effort, but I guess all batsman try and just a rare occurence
Disgraceful

Second Test
They play for about 10 minutes
Test abandoned
Can you believe they prepared such poor playing conditions
Pitiful

Third Test
A courageous decision by Andrew Strauss to declare with a meagre 502 lead !!!
West Indies 9/370 draw the game
Bewildering


I consider the 502 target worse than the 51 dismissal
Down 1-0 in a series and you want to defend 502 [be ok if you are 1-0 up in the last test]

Question must be raised, was this the worst or near worst declaration in Test history ?

[RoosterMarty]

I had forgotten about the final days play of the 3rd Test.... how did the Windies manage to draw that? Incredible performance but a very stupid declaration.

[Rik E Boy]

LMAO. Go the Poms!

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

I had forgotten about the final days play of the 3rd Test.... how did the Windies manage to draw that? Incredible performance but a very stupid declaration.

Give them a break, they're Poms. They really struggle to understand the game.

[rod_rooster]

LMAO. Good old England

[wycbloods]

Hopefully Strauss keeps the captaincy until the ashes because our bowling attack may give up a lead of 502 but lets hope he doesn't leave himself enough time to bowl us out . Although they did have 128 overs and should have been able to do it in that time.

[Pup]

No excuse.

They had a full hour to dismiss the 10 and 11 and couldnt get it done.

Bad Declaration or not they still should have won.

[Pup]

Day 1 just completed.

England 3/301 at stumps.

Strauss made 142 and Cook 92.

Ian Bell's replacement has failed first up making just 7 (O.Shah for people who were not aware.)

Pieterson and Collingwood at the creas at the moment 32 and 11 respectively. Good days play for England.

[Rik E Boy]

I watched a bit of this last night and it was chalk and cheese compared to the level of cricket on show at Johburg. The Poms must have jumped for joy when Strauss called correctly. The wicket is flat as day old lemonade and the outfield is as fast as Usain Bolt. The Windies don't have a Ntini, let alone a Steyn and it will be a feast for the Poms tonight as well.

Meanwhile in Johburg, the Aussies made a mere 47 runs less in bowler friendly conditions in 65 overs only after being 3/38. England's fragility remains. A good first up performance in England this year and the Ashes will return to it's rightful place. Players like Hughes, North, McDonald, Hilfy, Bollinger and Siddle are being schooled in test cricket against the number one team in world cricket while the Poms are embarrassing themselves against a side that has made over 400 about twice in the last five years. The Poms should still go on an win this series but so far it's red faces allround for Strauss' men.

regards,

REB

[Pup]

Yep.

Absolute road wasn't it.

6 months ago i honestly had England pencilled in to reclaim the Ashes in June but at the moment i can not see us losing and i know that is a big call given our inexperienced squad but i really think think England are there for taking. Look at their test match side at the moment, does anyone actually believe that a bowling attack that consists of Sidebottom, Anderson, Broad, Collingwood and Swan are going to be able to run through the likes of Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and co? I dont think so.

Flintoff, Harmison and Panesar will all obviously be in the frame. Their batting line up is weak with the exception of Pieterson and probably Strauss. With the possibility of Lee and Clark returning we will have a bowling attack that is worth talking about and one that will cause England real trouble especially given the experience that the young blokes are getting in South Africa.

I know it is early for Ashes analysis especially given the series in SA have just started and that is all we should be worried about but it is hard not to have your mind wander forward while both sides are playing at the same time. But lets get back to the current South Africa tour.

[Rik E Boy]

It's only important for the team not to think ahead. It doesn't matter what talk about now one iota.

regards,

REB

[NFC]

Windies probably have the worst bolwing line-up I've seen. I mean Chris Gayle came on, as usual, in the first session. Can't believe Cook didn't make a century, he was cruising.

[Pup]

Day 2 completed.

England continued to dominate a terrible attack on a flat flat wicket.

England 6/600

Collingwood 96
Bopara 104
Ambrose 76*

The Windies are now 1/85 in reply with Gayle out.

[centrewing]

It must be so frustrating for west indian supporters to see them knock england over for 50 and then concede over 500 in the first innings of each of the next 2 games

I was looking forward to seeing gayle bat for a long time on that deck