England's Summer test matches, 2012

[spikeyhead]

only a few days until the sun will be shining at Lords and we'll be listening to the sound of leather on Brian Close.

Or, more likely, Jimmy clattering the stumps as the WIndies batsmen, with the exception of Chanderpaul, continue in IPL thrash band wallop mode and forget about building an innings.

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Gargamel said:

is gayle playing ?

I believe so, physically at least. He was due to spend the summer at Somerset and that's now off as he's sorted his rift with the WIndies cricket board. What his mental state will be is another matter.

I'd dearly love to get to Lords for a day, however I'm stupidly busy with too much work and other life, so it may be another summer without a day in the sun quaffing champagne, eating good food, enjoying excellent company etc.

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Cheib said:

So who gets the spot at third quick. I'd really like to see Finn playing a home test and see how much pace and control he can produce....for me he's got massive potential. I think they will go with Bresnan though....he's a very useful competitor and I think his batting in what could be very tricky conditions will be seen as useful especially with a new batsman in Bairstow.

I'd love to see the Windies put up a fight...test cricket would be much the better for a decent Windies side.

I think that Bairstow is a better batsman than Bopara and will grow into an excellent test match batsman, something that I don't think Bopara will ever achieve.

I'm not too fussed whether Finn, Bresnan or Onions gets the last bowling slot. One of Englands great strengths over the last few years has been surfeit of quality bowlers. I don't think that's ever been the case in my lifetime and I suspect that this period will be the only time it is. I'll guess that Bresnan gets the nod for his extra batting skills. Unless a couple of the WIndies find good form early on, then I can see our bottom five scoring more runs than the WIndies top five in the first innings or the final test.

I'm sad in a way, I grew up playing cricket on a patch of grass near the middle of Luton and was usually the only white kid there. So much enthusiasm, passion and talent from both the West Indians I played with as well as Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenwich, Logie, Dujon, Marshall, Holding and Joel "Bleddy hell, the stumps don't even come up to his knees" Garner. I don't want to see them clattering us into next week as they used to, however I also don't want anything other than a competitive opposition. Here's hoping that at least their attitude is right, even if I don't think they've got all the skills to threaten us.

[spikeyhead]

I'm reasonably happy, however if you put a team into bat then you need to bowl them out in a day and although we've come close that hasn't happened. Congrats to Broad for picking up another Michelle.

We've played well enough and I'm glad that the WIndies have put up some fight. The proof will come when we see what England's first innings lead is. I'll rashly predict 200 after we pick up the last wicket in the first couple of overs of tomorrow and bat until halfway through Saturday.

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hornetrider said:

Trott gone - come on KP, time to liven things up a bit.

The fact that the foundations have been built, and built well enough that we're less than 50 behind, and that the WIndies bowlers will be most of the way to worn out works hugely in KP and the subsequent batsmen's favour.

It'll be good to get the scoreboard accelerating a little faster but there's no rush.

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Boycs is in classic form on R4

"Bell!! he can't pick his nose, let alone pick Ajmal"

"Do I understand the shipping forecast? Listen, Fish don't bat and I don't go near the sea and that's the way it'll stay"

[spikeyhead]

We're in the lead but KPs gone.

Ideal opportunity for Bell to reassert his right to a place in the team

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DJRC said:

Happy as hell that Skip has proven me wrong

I suspect he'll carry on doing well through the summer and the whole teams confidence will grow against the WIndies. Let's hope that carries on against the Saffers and into the winter.

Well done to Straiss. I'm looking forwards to seeing what Baistow does tomorrow and through the rest of the series.

I said yesterday that we'd have a first innings lead of 200. I'd now like to extend that to 280 and an innings win unless the rain gods are against us.

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Podie said:

Morning all...

I'll guess at Compton lower. The lower being useful if it rains, and it's much nicer oop top if the sun's shining.

[spikeyhead]

We just need to unprise Chanderpaul [/bleeding obvious]

I'm a little disappointed that we didn't put a few more runs on the board, not that it'll make any difference to the result unless monsoons strike.

[spikeyhead]

Hopefully we can polish the rest of them off. Glad to see some character being shown by the WIndies.

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volks al said:

ok so who is up for a PH meet there tomorrow, and a drink?

I'm very tempted, but really do need to do some work, however I do need to correct my work life balance. I'll probably decide after a supplier visit tomorrow morning.

[spikeyhead]

I'm still annoyed that we put them in. It wasn't a putting in pitch. We'll also have to bat with a little more application against the Saffers if we're to carry on winning.

It'll be interesting to see if the WIndies will keep up their good work, especially if the don't get a result at Trent Bridge.

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mantis84 said:

Cheib said:

spikeyhead said:

I'm still annoyed that we put them in.

Really ? It was definitely the right decision. Living about two miles from Lord's I can tell you the overhead conditions were right for bowling.

Which is why we bowled them out in less than a day for less than 200. Oh, wait....

I'm far happier that the WIndies have turned up to play test cricket. I suspect that not having a couple of their prima donnas stars has made them knuckle down

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DJRC said:

A day + 1 ball = 1 day.

And it was less than 200 minus Shiv.

What more exactly do you want?

For us to have batted first, put 400+ on the board then there's scoreboard pressure on them in their first innings. A lot of them are young and we really should have put them under more pressure than we did.

I don't believe it's a major issue, I'm reasonably happy with how the match went, after all, I remember the WIndies when Joel Garner was their fourth best bowler. I jsut think we missed a couple of very minor opportunities to put our boot on their neck

[spikeyhead]

Good fightback by the WIndies in the final session, however we can take heart that batting conditions are close to perfect and it'll be our turn soon enough.

[spikeyhead]

Still three days to go. If we bat all through tomorrow we'll still have no more than a 300 run lead, and probably only 250, so the draw is very much favourite unless the pitch starts to take a lot of spin.

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Gargamel said:

oh dear this isn't quite going to plan is it.

I've been pootling round the Peak District in the Atom all day, so only seen the current scorecard.

Looks like Anderson has been doing his part, however I'll guess that not all our batsmen have displayed as much application as they should have,

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hornetrider said:

Yes!! Chanderpaul gone and Broad is the man!

31/3

Tis a funny old game, an hour ago I suspect most England fans were either a little disgruntled or drunk, or possibly even both.

Yet with that third wicket falling. we're now dreaming of a couple more wickets tonight and winning the game with a day to spare.

Who knows what'll which way it'll swing.

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Black can man said:

Gargamel said:

completely baffling, all the chat has been saying the pitch is a road, and yet 14 wickets went down.

WI top order look poor although obviously I. jimmy and broad we have the best opening pair in cricket right now.

I was expecting a full day of Pietersen and Strauss breaking records... but there you go.

I think everybody shared that opinion , The game can be so unpredictable at times & just goes to show what a fantastic game Cricket is

Keep pinching myself that we are still no1 in the world after endless hours of watching our boys get stuffed every series ,

bring on the Saffers

We need to polish off the WIndies first.