WI tour of England, July 8-28

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hope has at least seen the opening spells off.

[alfie]

Lack of a fourth pace option has cost them in this game.

That's often likely after one innings. It might be different after four.

Do you really think Cornwall is likely to run through England , Arthur ? He didn't look exactly menacing in 27 overs here...and I somehow doubt this pitch is going to turn into a Bunsen.
Might have made more sense if the pace men weren't all coming off two closely spaced matches. Actually Holder looked more fatigued than his opening pair...

Guess we will see as the match progresses. But I think England will be glad they have four of them to hand.

[alfie]

Hope has been very patient.

He needs a score , fair to say. Probably not going to make the scoreboard race along ; but if he can blunt the attack for Blackwood...

Edit :

Ha . Hexed him...got a beauty from Anderson , to be fair. But he'll be disappointed after battling so hard.

West Indies in a bit of trouble at 58/3

[alfie]

Strong position for England after two days. West Indies need another 34 to avoid a follow on...looks like that will be mainly up to the skipper as Dowritch was in all sorts against Archer just then , and might not be looking forward to facing fresh pace in the morning...

Entertaining day of cricket again

[Durhamfootman]

Dowrich has had an odd game, really. Had a poor day behind the stumps, so probably needs to hang around for a while tomorrow

[Arthur Crabtree]

WI will be wanting some of that rain that was promised.

[Durhamfootman]

was there any today?

there wasn't any here

[Arthur Crabtree]

They are 20 overs short in the match so I guess so.

Poured down all day here.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A lot of rain forecast on Monday in Manchester.

[bigfluffylemon]

Dwayne Leverlock was a big guy

Leverock only played ODIs though, being Bermudan.

Cutley Ambrose must have been heavy. Not fat, but just an enormous guy packed with muscle.

[bigfluffylemon]

Some interesting records today. Broad hit a faster 50 than Ben Stokes' effort last week, and the 3rd fastest 50 (equal) by an England player. Only Botham has a faster half-century. And the highest score by an England number 10 since the 60s. The only reasonable conclusion is that the West Indies bowling is completely knackered.

Also Jimmy became top England wicket taker against the West Indies. Frankly, given he's nearly 100 wickets ahead of the nearest competitor, I would have thought he'd have the record for England vs all teams, but far from it. He's got the most v India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and now West Indies, but he's second v Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (largely because England have barely played them during his career, and I think he was rested for the last Bangladesh tour), third v New Zealand (Broad and Botham have more), and a long way down the list v Australia (Botham's miles in front, then Willis, then Broad, and Anderson down in 7th). That surprises me, but he's actually been injured for several Ashes series, so hasn't played as many matches as you might have thought.
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... opposition

Well played England, though. Have at least guaranteed themselves a drawn series, now we ask whether the weather can save West Indies.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like WI will surpass the follow on.

[bigfluffylemon]

Holder caught off a no-ball from Woakes.

Unacceptable to be overstepping. Why does this keep happening?

[mikesiva]

Follow on avoided!

[Arthur Crabtree]

First fifty partnership of the innings. And Holder finally making some runs.