England Test tour of WI, March 1-28

[sussexpob]

Root dropped just now, and earlier in the last session he got a massive edge on one that the keeper took and inexplicably the Windies didnt review it (nor the keeper give it).... you heard a massive sound of the edge then pad.

Tough chance maybe, but have to make those stick on pitches like this

[bigfluffylemon]

Root makes his luck count.

[sussexpob]

Pitch is a road. Going to take a major batting failure from one team to get a result, or a drastic deterioration.

Obviously after tough times with Covid I get it, but it's clear these pitches have been designed to ensure a minimum refunds are given on tickets.

[bigfluffylemon]

After all that hard work, Lawrence plays like an idiot in the last over of the day. Hundred was there for the taking tomorrow, but he was trying to get there tonight I guess, and holes out instead

Still, 244/3, advantage England. You'd take that.

[bigfluffylemon]

Pitch is a road. Going to take a major batting failure from one team to get a result, or a drastic deterioration.

Obviously after tough times with Covid I get it, but it's clear these pitches have been designed to ensure a minimum refunds are given on tickets.

That, or West Indies are banking on England to collapse in a heap at some point. It's a fair bet - major batting failures and England are almost inevitable at the moment. Despite this position, I wouldn't be surprised if England fail to register 350.

All the best to Mahmood and Fisher on debut, but with now three bowlers out, and A&B with their feet up at home, it's starting to look personal.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Graeme Hick would have filled his boots on this track.

[sussexpob]

Graeme Hick would have filled his boots on this track.

Not watching after yesterday. Not really a contest. Off course both teams are crap at batting, so Windies could be blown away.....but really, this should be one of those games the captains shake hands early on day 5 with no chance of a result.

Literally nothing in it

[Durhamfootman]

No sign of a collapse thus far. Lunch with Root on 151 and Stokesy on a run a ball 89

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hundred for Gentle Ben. Could take it to 500 and declare.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Or they could get bowled out...

[mikesiva]

Pitch is a road. Going to take a major batting failure from one team to get a result, or a drastic deterioration.

Obviously after tough times with Covid I get it, but it's clear these pitches have been designed to ensure a minimum refunds are given on tickets.

I think so too.

This is grim watching.

However, when the Windies bat, it will probably look like a minefield.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wicket for Fisher with second ball in Tests.

[bigfluffylemon]

Graeme Hick would have filled his boots on this track.

Not watching after yesterday. Not really a contest. Off course both teams are crap at batting, so Windies could be blown away.....but really, this should be one of those games the captains shake hands early on day 5 with no chance of a result.

Literally nothing in it

Quite likely. But it's possible the pitch could break up, so whoever's batting on the last day could have a time of it. If Leach has another good game he might make some inroads.

But it's looking fairly flat so far.

[sussexpob]

One thing about these pitches (In Pakistan too) that is secondarily comforting in a weird way is, when the ball doesnt move it does appear that modern day players have the technique to score runs in big amounts in tests. Considering the frightfully low scores across the board in recent years, is there a case that pitches have become too bowler friendly rather than batters totally losing the plot due to T20 infringements on the game?

It certainly feels in the last decade or so that home teams tend to produce more wickets that suit their bowling strengths... In England for instance, the ball always moves around nowadays and its very rare you get a pitch that setups for batsman well, which no doubt contributes to their dour batting records.

Of course this is the extreme opposite.... some balance in pitches is desperately needed, because the answer seems to be 5 day draws n featherbeds or 2.5 day tests that end in a blaze of low scoring

[sussexpob]

After all that hard work, Lawrence plays like an idiot in the last over of the day

Lawrence actually impressed me, but I said that once and then he didnt bag a run for a few tests. He certainly has a range of attacking strokes that he can unlock when his defensive technique allows him time to utilize them. Especially like that punchy, low back lift on/straight drive he played a lot because its not much more than a dead bat defensive prod that is timed well.

Although there are concerns for me about how his technique stands up to more helpful pitches. I think bowlers see that initial step towards the offside in his trigger movement and get carried away with bowling into his pads, but he looks strong down the wicket and into the leg side. When the ball swings away though, he does lose head position and his offstump, and he will play at ones he shouldnt.