Another inept afternoon fielding performance from England yesterday as at Lords on the fourth day. I thought the object of playing a test match is to try to win it, not keep letting the opposition off the hook! You simply cannot hope to bowl a side out cheaply with less than 5 bowlers, it's not rocket science, is it? When the Windies were 136-6, England should have gone in for the kill; the old Aussie side would certainly have nailed them from that position. We should have won the first test inside 4 days, not the performance that should be expected from supposedly the world's number 1 team. The malaise from India and Sri Lanka is still showing at times; I know that many test fans probably want to see an even contest, but as an England fan, I just want us to win whether in 3 ,4 or 5 days. Number 1 in the world, you're still having a laugh and I don't suppose that either our football team or Englebert will bring us any further joy tonight! Bring on the Olympics, at least most of them will be trying to win first and entertain later. In the famous words of Brian Clough; England want bloody shooting!
What an asset Jimmy Anderson is to a team, Pretty decent night watchman {holds world record for most test innings without a duck} World class opening bowler and a superb fielder in lots of positions. First player on my team sheet every time.
So dizzy and carl bringing gayle and dwayne bravo in will help will it first of all it may stregthen the team but win test matches ? No bowlers win test matches and neither of there bowling will bowl a team out once never mind twice all the winning teams have great bowlers the windies had more than neede d years ago the aussies had warne and mcgrath the proteas steyn and morkel the indians khan and harbajan the pakistanis waquar and wasim the english broad and anderson+swann on a good pitch they all had at least one great batsman richards,ponting,tendulkar,kallis,younis,pieterson but the bowlers are always the key
dizzy FYI dwayne bravo narine an gayle wernt picked by the wicb to play test cricket if you looked at the last series at home bravo an narine only played in the odi and t20 games so dont blame them blame the wicb
I've never seen Tim Bresnan's bowling look so innocuous. Last year against India, he was a good couple of yards quicker and as hostile as anyone. Now he's looking like a common or garden trundler. I hope he sees this comment and gets riled up, taking it out on the Windies batsmen.
Once again England have let a very strong position slip through thier fingers . The balance of the side is wrong , they need five bowlers as was obvious this afternoon . I like Bresnan , but he is not a 1st change at test level , that needs to be Fynn or Onions . Well done to Windies though as that was 9is ) a great partnership , really stuck at it .
What a load of rubbish this so called no 1 side being taken about by two average batsmen it's so hard to believe they have no idea it's time to stay out of the pub lads an analise the previous game because you haven't changed a thing but the west indies have done thier home work pity the England team didn't
Alibinwilts, absolutely old chap, perhaps the selectors are under pressure to make it last for five days, for the extra revenue. Somehow we made a game out of the last one, possibly by including an out of form all-rounder who can't bat. If Michael Holding had been English he'd have had to wait till he was forty to get a game because of his batting average.
Can't help thinking England should have played Finn for Bresnan. They should be confident enough in the batting strength with Swann in at 9 and Finn is much more of a proven wicket taker (and looked brilliant over the winter when called upon). . . In this game it might not affect the outcome but I reckon that the Proteas will deal with Bresnan without much fuss
It does not matter where he bats though Carl because the whole team is batting way too slow and when they try to push the pace, they are not good enough and get out. Chanderpaul can only do so much really. The truth is that when the ball is doing a little against good and consistent bowling, these windies batsmen have neither the experience or ability to survive long enough to get set. Samuels is having a go but he looks like he could go at anytime. This pitch is hardly terrible and they are 90 for 4. They are just all over the place. Totally outmatched again. They had a good go in the first test but they are struggling.
Dizzy,agree with you on the Gayle issue but there is no gayle in the team and W.I. have to make best of what they currently have. I believe that in the "old school" cricket when your top order batsman is not consistent and struggling to score runs you move him down the batting order for him to regroup and build back confidence. Chanderpaul has been through all that and can handle it. If you look at the batting card, scores, stats ... for W.I. even before the England test you will see. W.I. is one down in the series, do what is necessary to win the series or otherwise they are happy to settle for a draw at the most. The bowlers aren't given a fair chance to protect a decent score.
Comment 99 - 119 of 119
Another inept afternoon fielding performance from England yesterday as at Lords on the fourth day. I thought the object of playing a test match is to try to win it, not keep letting the opposition off the hook! You simply cannot hope to bowl a side out cheaply with less than 5 bowlers, it's not rocket science, is it? When the Windies were 136-6, England should have gone in for the kill; the old Aussie side would certainly have nailed them from that position. We should have won the first test inside 4 days, not the performance that should be expected from supposedly the world's number 1 team. The malaise from India and Sri Lanka is still showing at times; I know that many test fans probably want to see an even contest, but as an England fan, I just want us to win whether in 3 ,4 or 5 days. Number 1 in the world, you're still having a laugh and I don't suppose that either our football team or Englebert will bring us any further joy tonight! Bring on the Olympics, at least most of them will be trying to win first and entertain later. In the famous words of Brian Clough; England want bloody shooting!
I think he must have Dan!
Chris M@104. . .just a point of interest. . . the letter "n" is missing from your "Funy". . .so there !!
What an asset Jimmy Anderson is to a team, Pretty decent night watchman {holds world record for most test innings without a duck} World class opening bowler and a superb fielder in lots of positions. First player on my team sheet every time.
So dizzy and carl bringing gayle and dwayne bravo in will help will it first of all it may stregthen the team but win test matches ? No bowlers win test matches and neither of there bowling will bowl a team out once never mind twice all the winning teams have great bowlers the windies had more than neede d years ago the aussies had warne and mcgrath the proteas steyn and morkel the indians khan and harbajan the pakistanis waquar and wasim the english broad and anderson+swann on a good pitch they all had at least one great batsman richards,ponting,tendulkar,kallis,younis,pieterson but the bowlers are always the key
The Windies have proved England is not invicible. Keep the runs coming as we welcome back a fighting side.
dizzy FYI dwayne bravo narine an gayle wernt picked by the wicb to play test cricket if you looked at the last series at home bravo an narine only played in the odi and t20 games so dont blame them blame the wicb
I've never seen Tim Bresnan's bowling look so innocuous. Last year against India, he was a good couple of yards quicker and as hostile as anyone. Now he's looking like a common or garden trundler. I hope he sees this comment and gets riled up, taking it out on the Windies batsmen.
lol only england can make the match hard for themself what a turnaround
Once again England have let a very strong position slip through thier fingers . The balance of the side is wrong , they need five bowlers as was obvious this afternoon . I like Bresnan , but he is not a 1st change at test level , that needs to be Fynn or Onions . Well done to Windies though as that was 9is ) a great partnership , really stuck at it .
What a load of rubbish this so called no 1 side being taken about by two average batsmen it's so hard to believe they have no idea it's time to stay out of the pub lads an analise the previous game because you haven't changed a thing but the west indies have done thier home work pity the England team didn't
Alibinwilts, absolutely old chap, perhaps the selectors are under pressure to make it last for five days, for the extra revenue. Somehow we made a game out of the last one, possibly by including an out of form all-rounder who can't bat. If Michael Holding had been English he'd have had to wait till he was forty to get a game because of his batting average.
Can't help thinking England should have played Finn for Bresnan. They should be confident enough in the batting strength with Swann in at 9 and Finn is much more of a proven wicket taker (and looked brilliant over the winter when called upon). . . In this game it might not affect the outcome but I reckon that the Proteas will deal with Bresnan without much fuss
carl, he can still only bat once.
The bad performance of any team must begin with the management. Top managers get it right.
@ ock-hi just a point of interest. . . Funy - I thought it was the apostrophe sign that was located below the @ character.
This isn't Test cricket. The WI's are no better than my village club side.
@GUY@95. . . .just a point of interest. . . if you'd like to use the "apostrophy" its located below the @ character.
It does not matter where he bats though Carl because the whole team is batting way too slow and when they try to push the pace, they are not good enough and get out. Chanderpaul can only do so much really. The truth is that when the ball is doing a little against good and consistent bowling, these windies batsmen have neither the experience or ability to survive long enough to get set. Samuels is having a go but he looks like he could go at anytime. This pitch is hardly terrible and they are 90 for 4. They are just all over the place. Totally outmatched again. They had a good go in the first test but they are struggling.
Dizzy,agree with you on the Gayle issue but there is no gayle in the team and W.I. have to make best of what they currently have. I believe that in the "old school" cricket when your top order batsman is not consistent and struggling to score runs you move him down the batting order for him to regroup and build back confidence. Chanderpaul has been through all that and can handle it. If you look at the batting card, scores, stats ... for W.I. even before the England test you will see. W.I. is one down in the series, do what is necessary to win the series or otherwise they are happy to settle for a draw at the most. The bowlers aren't given a fair chance to protect a decent score.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account