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

[yuppie]

WI have performed well in this series, and a returning Taylor might just give them the feeling that they could win the last test.

Will England change anything for the last test. A very underwhelming tour so far that must have them worried for the summer ahead.

[hopeforthebest]

WI have performed well in this series, and a returning Taylor might just give them the feeling that they could win the last test.

Will England change anything for the last test. A very underwhelming tour so far that must have them worried for the summer ahead.

I would replace Roach with Taylor if he's fit as Roach couldn't bowl above 80 mph yesterday morning even after a nights rest.

[captaincolly]

I'd pick either Rashid or Wood for the last test to both provide some variation in the attack and to give them international experience ahead of the busy summer. I don't expect it will happen though.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Hardly surprising that this series is likely to end up in a draw fest, when 4 of the 5 games in the last England tour of the WI ended up the same way.

Definitely have to give credit to the WI batsman who were predicted to fall over like skittles, but our bowling attack does need serious attention. Will probably get away with it to some extent at home which is why I expect the tinkering will be minimal.

[sussexpob]

Its ironic really that a team so obsessed with data is struggling after picking a team that seems to purposefully ignore all the data you could want on how to pick a team for these conditions.

England picked a similar team at the start of the last series and lost. Their pace bowlers were all completely numbed on these pitches, Sidebottom SR was 360!! Harmison over 150... Anderson took one wicket per innings. Broad took a 5-for in the first test played on an uneven surface but did nothing after. Both teams relied heavily on their main spin option, who was the top wicket taker (Swann missed the first two tests and still took 7 wickets more than anyone else).

Looking at the data, Windies domestic cricket is dominated by spin, the pitches are now Asian in character, and we rocked up to this test with 4 fast medium bowlers and a spin option who averages 40 per wicket in FC cricket.

Its catastrophic really. You go on a tour where the consideration should be two or possibly three spin options and end up picking one part time option and asking a batsman with 18 FC wickets to bowl as much as the seamers and struggle to take wickets.

The fact Rashid didnt play in this test is unforgivable. If England think their long term plan of picking a part timer as a frontline spinner will work they are deluded.

[rich1uk]

had to laugh at Jonathon agnew describing chris Jordan as an all-rounder

I do agree that we need something different in the bowling attack than 4 fairly similar seamers and a spinner who may have been a bit over-rated with the ball and is looking here more like the guy with a first class bowling average of 40 than what he did last summer

boycott did make a good point that England do seem more concerned with economy rates than wicket taking and shouldn't be scared to play rashid who might go for a few more runs but also might get you more wickets

[Dilbert]

They should drop Jordon, Stokes and pick up Rashid and Tredwell. I would drop Broad, but he is undroppable I guess.
Stop thinking of picking bowlers who can bat. Pick bowlers who can pick wickets.

[rich1uk]

They should drop Jordon, Stokes and pick up Rashid and Tredwell. I would drop Broad, but he is undroppable I guess.
Stop thinking of picking bowlers who can bat. Pick bowlers who can pick wickets.

why would you pick tredwell if you want a wicket taking threat ?

the first innings of the first test was the exception rather than the norm , he cant even get a game for his county in FC cricket and averages 36 with the ball in FC cricket

[Gingerfinch]

Not sure Broad is picked cos he can bat. I think at this time when we look to be lacking in class fast bowlers, Broad should definitely be in the team.

[Dilbert]

They should drop Jordon, Stokes and pick up Rashid and Tredwell. I would drop Broad, but he is undroppable I guess.
Stop thinking of picking bowlers who can bat. Pick bowlers who can pick wickets.

why would you pick tredwell if you want a wicket taking threat ?

the first innings of the first test was the exception rather than the norm , he cant even get a game for his county in FC cricket and averages 36 with the ball in FC cricket

He is the best of what is available. Don't think he is worse than Jordon or Stokes, and if paired with Rashid/Ali he can be a threat, or even hold one end up for Rashid to attack.

[rich1uk]

They should drop Jordon, Stokes and pick up Rashid and Tredwell. I would drop Broad, but he is undroppable I guess.
Stop thinking of picking bowlers who can bat. Pick bowlers who can pick wickets.

why would you pick tredwell if you want a wicket taking threat ?

the first innings of the first test was the exception rather than the norm , he cant even get a game for his county in FC cricket and averages 36 with the ball in FC cricket

He is the best of what is available. Don't think he is worse than Jordon or Stokes, and if paired with Rashid/Ali he can be a threat, or even hold one end up for Rashid to attack.

he shouldn't even be in the squad tho and yes he is a worse option than Jordan or stokes , I would rather have joe root used as a spin option than tredwell

[Dilbert]

Not sure Broad is picked cos he can bat. I think at this time when we look to be lacking in class fast bowlers, Broad should definitely be in the team.

He is not bowling fast though, is he? Was averaging 78-80 mph yesterday

[Making_Splinters]

Angnew calls for Jordan to be dropped in his write up on the BBC. He also decides to join in the Cook love in that's currently going on yet again lauding the imaginative field placings, these must be like the Emperor's new clothes because I've not seen a drop of imagination from England. Guess I'm just not knowledgable enough about the game to see it.

[Gingerfinch]

Not sure Broad is picked cos he can bat. I think at this time when we look to be lacking in class fast bowlers, Broad should definitely be in the team.

He is not bowling fast though, is he? Was averaging 78-80 mph yesterday

Got up to late 80's, although his pace has been down at times.

[Dilbert]

They should drop Jordon, Stokes and pick up Rashid and Tredwell. I would drop Broad, but he is undroppable I guess.
Stop thinking of picking bowlers who can bat. Pick bowlers who can pick wickets.

why would you pick tredwell if you want a wicket taking threat ?

the first innings of the first test was the exception rather than the norm , he cant even get a game for his county in FC cricket and averages 36 with the ball in FC cricket

He is the best of what is available. Don't think he is worse than Jordon or Stokes, and if paired with Rashid/Ali he can be a threat, or even hold one end up for Rashid to attack.

he shouldn't even be in the squad tho and yes he is a worse option than Jordan or stokes , I would rather have joe root used as a spin option than tredwell

Jordon and Stokes are not getting you wickets. The wickets are not conducive to their type of bowling. Tredwell did ok in the 1st test, has better numbers to show than those 2. Paired with Rashid and Ali there is a chance he can do better. We know stokes/Jordon aren't doing anything so why not give it a go? These are spinning tracks anyway and Andersen and Broad should be enough.