England Test tour of WI, March 1-28

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC says Saq or Leach will be the last pick.

[Durhamfootman]

Groundsman was asked by WI to prepare something lively, but went off piste seemingly and produced something different. The report I read suggested a lot of work for the spinners. England might be very happy with that given that both Root and Livingstone can both turn their arm over to support Leach. Hopefully they won't be stupid enough to think that a bit of part time spin will do. Stokes isn't expected to do much in the way of bowling, so Root will surely want Leach to try and tie one end down while the seamers rotate around the other

[sussexpob]

Some questions about Wood's fitness after he caught a mystery illness that required a trip for diagnostic blood tests. He only managed a couple of overs in the warm up and missed three days of the match, can England risk picking him? Ben Stokes has been reported to not be fit enough to bowl, so England really need its core attack to share the work.

[sussexpob]

Despite England's dire recent play, the Windies provide the new England era with a very winnable series to start. While both teams have sides that look poor on paper, England can at least draw on the fact they have played much better teams (and more often) than Windies for their poor records; and England have beaten sides below them in the table in recent series (WI home, Pakistan home, SL away, SA away).....

It looks like a lot of dross laced with some quality. The Windies batting lacks a Root... but England minus Broad/Anderson gives up ground to Holder and Roach....

The untested and unworthy elements of both teams are going to decide this series. Which of the players in both line ups can make key scores.... which of the fringe bowlers can step up and do a job.

I think if England lose here, then the rot is nightmarish..... but I just dont see Windies having the batting depth to set scores that pressure England. I have this a 3-0 whitewash in England's favour. I think the likes of Bairstow/Stokes and Foakes in that middle order, even if they can average around 30, are doing better than Windies have recently against very poor teams.

I expect this to be an epically low scoring series though, so Windies should fancy themselves too.

[sussexpob]

Windies drop Mayers, who averages way above most of the team and also averages 25 with the ball.... that makes no sense to me.

Mahmood misses out for England...

England elect to bat after winning the toss....

70/6 at lunch, anyone?

[sussexpob]

Windies Board are streaming this live for free in the EU on YT...

If Yuppie wants to watch it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR-Ig4K8QxA

Or of course for anyone who wants to change their VPN to somewhere else..... maybe it even works in the UK, but doubt it

[Arthur Crabtree]

Lawrence at four looks odd. But then Root should be at four.

Overton for Robinson.

I'm looking at short games that could go either way. Definitely three results.

[sussexpob]

Poor start from Roach, giving Lees a few wide ones to comfortably leave before a half volley gives him his first test runs

[Arthur Crabtree]

Out/In.

Burns/Lees
Malan/Lawrence
Pope/Bairstow
Billings/Foakes
Robinson/Overton
Broad/Leach

Also gone from the previous game: Haseeb, Buttler, Anderson.

[sussexpob]

Lees given out... looked plumb

[Arthur Crabtree]

Review...

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC obo updates are as slick as Alan McGilvray tapping the mic with his pencil... but I guess Lees has gone as Root is on the boad.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A lot of swing, they say.

[sussexpob]

A lot of swing, they say.

The ball is swinging and seaming, but nothing really notable. Pitch looks slow and the ball is sitting up.... I think England would want 350 plus.

[sussexpob]

Crawley goes... horrendous shot.