WI tour of Eng, July 3-30

[sussexpob]

Windies have put together a promising bowling attack in recent times with some quality about it, so they have a chance if they can get into some of England's out of touch batters early in this series. The batting line up however looks pretty poor, so they will need someone to stand up and turn the form book upside down if they want to win the series or a test.

[andy]

Always tempting to bat first at Lord's but do england look up see cloudy skies and let Jimmy go and try and run through them?!

[sussexpob]

Obviously would like to see Seales have a good series. Watching him for Sussex this year he looked a bit up and down... struggled for rhythm on occasions, but when it clicked he sent down a few unplayable spells. Nice nip, moves the ball throughout the innings, just needs to find his length and he will pose questions.

Looking forward to also seeing if Shamar Joseph can build on his performance in Australia. Not many young quicks come away from an away tour of OZ with figures like that, so hopefully he's the real deal rather than a flash in the pan.

It would be lovely for cricket if Windies could get something this series with a few emerging talents.

[sussexpob]

Always tempting to bat first at Lord's but do england look up see cloudy skies and let Jimmy go and try and run through them?!

It was said during the Sussex v Middlesex coverage a while back that they were using the wicket that would be prepared for the test. You would have to be suicidal to bowl first on that wicket, it was an absolute pancake that did nothing despite favourable over head conditions and having live grass on it at the start.

Lord's wickets that have a green tinge tend to work the opposite way to what you expect... rather than being good for bowlers, that layer of grass dies out quickly and leaves a layer of sponge on the wicket that takes all the pace and bounce out of it.

[andy]

Seales is a very good talent remeber watching him when england toured the carribean and thought he looked good, bowls a good atatcking line and length and keeps the slips in play.....Shamar Joseph is a really exciting talent, Sky sports just showed an interview with him and Michael Atherton, and he is a remarkable young man...talks really well clearly loves test cricket, Is truly committed to test cricket,and says he will be on honours boards and will take test wickets! really refreshing to see and hear that i hope he goes well!

Regarding the toss, yes i woyld fully expect to bat first i always would at Lord's bat first bat once huge total and throw the ball to Jimmy and Bashir

[andy]

And Stokesy's decided to bowl first.....

[sussexpob]

Seales is a very good talent remeber watching him when england toured the carribean and thought he looked good, bowls a good atatcking line and length and keeps the slips in play.....Shamar Joseph is a really exciting talent, Sky sports just showed an interview with him and Michael Atherton, and he is a remarkable young man...talks really well clearly loves test cricket, Is truly committed to test cricket,and says he will be on honours boards and will take test wickets! really refreshing to see and hear that i hope he goes well!

The team that toured Australia were all test specialists with all the T20 mercenaries refusing to go out there to prepare for the WT20I. I am surprised in a way to see some of those faces like Holder come back for this tour, as I was very disappointed about him pulling out for T20s. The result in Australia felt like it was positive mostly because it involved a committed team of players who wanted to play in the format.

Hopefully the arrival of the T20 lads again doesnt upset that. But of course, I do love seeing Holder bowl.... such a talented player when he gets it right.

[andy]

Looks a painfully slow wicket,no pace minimal carry and two opening bowlers bowling early 80's attritional cricket today seems to be on the menu, however having said that windies are 16-0 after 2 overs and both look good.....Mikhayl Louis f/c average is good...48 from 6 matches with 3 100's and brathwaite will happily bat all day long

[Arthur Crabtree]

WI openers still intact. Just noticed Chanderpaul isn't there. I think bowling first at Lord's can work if there's cloud. But if you don't get early wickets, the decision can quickly backfire.

[sussexpob]

Brathwaite welcomes Gus Atkinson to test cricket by gifting him his wicket. Chases a wide one and its 34/1. Poor shot...

[andy]

Atkinson struck in his first over to get Brathwaite! Intresting to see new slip cordon...intresting to see Brook in at 3rd now, suprised Ollie Pope didn't get in there..has a good set of hands on him

[sussexpob]

Woakes follows it up with an lbw, but the third umpire overturns it

[sussexpob]

Make that 2 for Gus.. in fact all the 2's

2 wickets in 2.2 overs and 2 maidens.

Not a bad start... hints of a young Jimmy so far. Full, bit of movement, some pace... West Indies can help themselves.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Potts or Pennington for the next game. Be interesting to see the latter.

However, Potts has a much better fc record, some Test experience, and is the better bat.

[sussexpob]

Stokes already on bowling a few overs. Why do I get the horrible feeling by the end of the summer he wont be able to walk anymore?