WI tour of England, July 8-28

[DiligentDefence]

Anderson has been all over Campbell since going round the wicket and has got his man.

[mikesiva]

The umpires have had an appalling day!

Campbell overturned two decisions before finally falling for 28.

[sussexpob]

The umpires have had an appalling day!

Campbell overturned two decisions before finally falling for 28.

See above.... not a good look when every single decision from English umpires is going Englands way. Id be asking some questions about the umpires if I were the Windies

[yuppie]

Allowing 3 reviews seems like a sensible idea as well. A lot less pressure on the players.

WI have used the system well. The right decisions arrived at in the end.

[Arthur Crabtree]

"West Indies will keep their three reviews"

So, we have three reviews now, instead of two?

I read that it's because there are no neutral umpires!

A quote I saw is that with only home umpires the quality might be less. But these are two experienced unternational umpires.

First time I've seen Sibley. Surprisingly unorthodox. Clearly works for him in CC.

[Durhamfootman]

Am I alone in thinking that the BBC highlights are possibly the worst highlights package in the entire history of the world?

I've lost track of the number of times I've jumped out of my skin because I wasn't ready for the very loud player fanfare music inserted for some unknown reason, had to fast forward through ex players standing around at every possible opportunity analysing stuff that they've already talked to death, or mute the sound while players and ex players talk shite in the bottom corner of the screen while the rest of screen is dedicated to watching a profile of a batsman standing around scratching his knackers to facilitate the irrelevant crap in the bottom corner.

come on BBC.... this is dreadful

Hard to believe that highlights programmes crammed full of adverts, competitions and Mark Oleaginous Nicholas are actually better than this

[Arthur Crabtree]

They have to fill time out because of the play being lost I suppose. Most of the analysis is poor. Why have they got an ex England captain whose calling card when playing was tortuous incomprehension in his media interviews?

Looking at the positives, there's plenty of potential for improvement.

[sussexpob]

They have to fill time out because of the play being lost I suppose. Most of the analysis is poor. Why have they got an ex England captain whose calling card when playing was tortuous incomprehension in his media interviews?

Looking at the positives, there's plenty of potential for improvement.

Didnt Sir Captain Steel say when he took the job that he refused to criticise any England player directly, and that he would only comment on the team performance as a whole? Surely that deserves an instant sacking and was a hint at how he might even be as boring to listen to as he was as a player and captain.

[The Professor]

"West Indies will keep their three reviews"

So, we have three reviews now, instead of two?

I read that it's because there are no neutral umpires!

A quote I saw is that with only home umpires the quality might be less. But these are two experienced unternational umpires.

First time I've seen Sibley. Surprisingly unorthodox. Clearly works for him in CC.

Wouldnt say they were howlers though. A lot were marginal decisions

[Red Devil]

"West Indies will keep their three reviews"

So, we have three reviews now, instead of two?

I read that it's because there are no neutral umpires!

A quote I saw is that with only home umpires the quality might be less. But these are two experienced unternational umpires.

First time I've seen Sibley. Surprisingly unorthodox. Clearly works for him in CC.

Wouldnt say they were howlers though. A lot were marginal decisions

The problem is that it's the marginal ones where bias will show up - when they think it's close and just give everything England's way. Hopefully they'll reflect on that and there will be an improvement.

WI did exceptionally well today with both their cricket and their decision making on reviews

[bigfluffylemon]

Nice to see that after all this time, nothing has changed, and England are still just the same. Starting the first test poorly? Check. Scratchy batting and throwing wickets away? Check. Bowling too short after getting bowled out cheaply? Check (apart from the ever-impressive Jimmy, who deserved better than 1 wicket).

Something about playing England seems to bring out the best in Jason Holder. For once I picked him for the FL (but so did most people )

[bigfluffylemon]

And why are we playing Wood over Broad? I understand the desire to develop some fast men for when we go to the subcontinent/Australia, but this was overcast Southampton on a skiddy wicket. Seems tailor made for Broad. I don't know how a guy who has nearly 500 test wickets, average 28 (26 at home) and has bowled some of the greatest spells in recent England history still seems to need to fight for his place in perfect conditions for him.

[alfie]

"West Indies will keep their three reviews"

So, we have three reviews now, instead of two?

I read that it's because there are no neutral umpires!

A quote I saw is that with only home umpires the quality might be less. But these are two experienced unternational umpires.

First time I've seen Sibley. Surprisingly unorthodox. Clearly works for him in CC.

Wouldnt say they were howlers though. A lot were marginal decisions

The problem is that it's the marginal ones where bias will show up - when they think it's close and just give everything England's way. Hopefully they'll reflect on that and there will be an improvement.

WI did exceptionally well today with both their cricket and their decision making on reviews

Yes you could read the decisions as indicating some bias - and I agree it isn't a good look (though fortunately drs has ensured no harm was done ) But on the other hand it may be that after finding they'd missed three fairly clear "outs" earlier in the day the umpires decided they were being a bit too cautious and had better recalibrate their sights , as it were... They are , after all , as rusty as the players.
I don't believe (good) umpires generally have a bias towards the home team. After getting several calls wrong , all one way , deciding to then give any close ones against their instinct just to "prove" they aren't biased might be politically expedient but would hardly be a recipe for good umpiring. A bad habit to get into I think.
As the Prof says , most were marginal. The third lbw for West Indies really should have been given on field I think but all the other calls were reasonable either way on first viewing. As it happens I got all but one right myself (still can't believe that one of Jimmy's that was overruled was really going over the top !) but that is just the luck of the draw - many other days I get everything wrong . Umpires have bad days...which is why we have drs , no ?
I do hope it gets better though , as if umpires lose confidence things tend to get worse...and eventually reviews are used up and someone gets seriously wronged...

[alfie]

And why are we playing Wood over Broad? I understand the desire to develop some fast men for when we go to the subcontinent/Australia, but this was overcast Southampton on a skiddy wicket. Seems tailor made for Broad. I don't know how a guy who has nearly 500 test wickets, average 28 (26 at home) and has bowled some of the greatest spells in recent England history still seems to need to fight for his place in perfect conditions for him.

Well I'd have played Broad (though for Archer rather than Wood) But with all the fuss over having two express merchants available the pressure was on the selectors to try it while they could - ie before one or both break down again
They have suggested there will be a bit of rotation this season. And I suppose Broad looked a bit underdone in the practice match so they had an excuse to leave him out.

And I don't rate this selection panel too highly anyway so nothing they do surprises me ...

[westoelad]

How the bowlers have performed in practise is all important in the current situation given there have been no competitive matches recently but selecting 3 main strike bowlers who are all returning from injury is an unnecessary risk.