Second Test: West Indies v England, April 21-25

[KipperJohn]

Knight adds to the nonsense, praising Cook for his extra cover when Bravo was caught off an edge from a forward defense.

Are they on commision for the number of times they can try and convince us Cook is a half decent skipper?

One cannot ignore the obvious hook up between the ECB and Sky.

[shankycricket]

This pitch is an absolute disgrace.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like a good effort by the West Indies.

I think negative tactics (as exemplified by the way England play) have made for rather boring games. This series hasn't been exciting. But there is some good Test cricket being played. I've enjoyed watching the Kiwis for instance.

[shankycricket]

This has been a very boring series. Still prefer watching it to Chris Gayle slogging trundlers on flat tracks and commentators going gaga over it and Danny Morrison flirting with cheergirls in the IPHell though.

[Alviro Patterson]

England just don't have the bowling attack to take 20 wickets, it's as simple as that.

Plunkett has got to come in for Jordan for the 3rd test, along with Rashid for Moeen.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It has been a series without much intensity and few thrilling contests. It was good to see Holder's innings in Antigua and Root has played well generally. Otherwise it's hard to lose the feeling that this is two ordinary teams in combat. It would be characteristic of the best of Test cricket to watch Ballance play his innings against, say, the ferocity of Allan Donald. But on these pitches, against this attack, not so much. It'll be interesting to see how the Aussies get on against the West Indies. England should do ok v NZ on their own pitches, but will be anxious.

Nice to see WI defy the script, even so.

[rich1uk]

Is it just me or is Test cricket generally dull nowadays? I think South Africa v Australia is the only series I've enjoyed in the last year.

No it's not just you, I'm sure that the number of test loving fans across the world are extremely, extremely, most extremely a minority. Doesn't help though when captains don't know when to declare.

England should have set themselves up to take the second new ball for maybe 5 overs before stumps today. There lies your problem. I don't recall seeing any commentators even rumour at the thought.

To finish the day with 75 overs bowled and to my knowledge no one has even considered that targeting 85 overs might have been a good idea is just flabbergasting, and has been more than enough to dig my way out of my hibernation. Geez it's still cold though.

teams wont want a new ball for 5 overs at the tail end of the day after spending 80 overs in the field and the bowlers too tired to make good use of it

[yuppie]

WI have done a great job and are all but safe unless the second new ball does some quick damage.

NZ must be liking what they see

[captaincolly]

Once again the pitch is not conducive to good test cricket but that'll only be a partial excuse if England don't win. They're playing against a poor side who they should be able to beat in any conditions.

[Aidan11]

I have to admit I gave up watching this shortly after the tea session.

WIs are well in control and the only thing that will bring a result is if WIs collapse from here or England are put in late and have a spectacular collapse. On this pitch neither are gonna happen.

[captaincolly]

I have to admit I gave up watching this shortly after the tea session.

WIs are well in control and the only thing that will bring a result is if WIs collapse from here or England are put in late and have a spectacular collapse. On this pitch neither are gonna happen.

I agree, it woukd take some inept batting from either side to prevent a bore draw. The last test should be interesting-especially to C Graves! Cook is probably safe for the time being but is Moores?

[yuppie]

Is there any semi decent left arm quicks in England who could come in and bring some variety to this England attack?

Obviously England don't like wrist spinners, so the next option would be to find a left arm quick so there is something different.

As it is England have 4 right arms medium quick's who just plugg away and get shown up on pitches like this.

England are just so predictable. So far in this second innings 45 overs have come from right arm medium quicks and 30 from right arm of break. Oh to have a wrist spinner and a left arm quick.

[yuppie]

I have to admit I gave up watching this shortly after the tea session.

WIs are well in control and the only thing that will bring a result is if WIs collapse from here or England are put in late and have a spectacular collapse. On this pitch neither are gonna happen.

I agree, it woukd take some inept batting from either side to prevent a bore draw. The last test should be interesting-especially to C Graves! Cook is probably safe for the time being but is Moores?

Never know WI might declare at tea and then get Cook out cheaply. Put a bit more pressure on him for the last test.

[captaincolly]

I have to admit I gave up watching this shortly after the tea session.

WIs are well in control and the only thing that will bring a result is if WIs collapse from here or England are put in late and have a spectacular collapse. On this pitch neither are gonna happen.

I agree, it woukd take some inept batting from either side to prevent a bore draw. The last test should be interesting-especially to C Graves! Cook is probably safe for the time being but is Moores?

Never know WI might declare at tea and then get Cook out cheaply. Put a bit more pressure on him for the last test.

That would put him under pressure, the last test is an absolute must win and even if it's won with relative ease it won't make up for the poor performances in the first 2 tests.

[hopeforthebest]

One has to admire the grit shown by the WI batsmen. I thought Atherton somewhat amusing yesterday when he said WI should score faster when they are scoring faster than we did early on. England 159/2 in 64.1 overs, WI 202/2 in 75 overs.