England v West Indies, 3rd Test, Edgbaston, 7-11 June, 2012

Not a lot of swing was there? Surprised they opened up with Bresnan too.

Need at least 3 if you put a side in, another session like that and this game is a certain draw.

Unless we crapitulate at the first sighting of a "mystery" spinner. There will be a reduced follow-on difference for a 3-day Test, is it 150 or 100 behind?

At the risk of a serious NSR, doesn't the follow on target remain the same if rain stops two days as it's still officially a five day test?

Bells shells Barath off Finn - I know we're down to bare bones in terms of the slips cordon, but Bell's much better in front of the wicket.

Onions get Barath. Close LB. Opens an end up.

As this is now a 3-day match the follow-on target has been reduced from 200 to 150 behind the side batting first.

Bell catches one behind the wicket. Obviously been practising.

Got to say i'm amazed at how many runs Marlon Samuels has racked up on this tour in these conditions.

This is the first Test since the 189-run defeat by the Kiwis at Hamilton in March 2008 in which neither Broad nor Anderson has featured in the England side. It is the first home Test in which neither player has been included since the 4th Test v. the Windies at The Riverside in June 2007.

JKLever wrote:Got to say i'm amazed at how many runs Marlon Samuels has racked up on this tour in these conditions.

He's been the best batsman on either side by a country mile. I could watch him bat all week tbh. Elegance personified. It is an absolute crime that a man of his talent has taken so long to produce runs like this but I'm glad he's finally arrived.

On a different topic, I thought Barath's lbw decision was pretty poor, looked clearly headed down leg. It shows that DRS doesn't really cut out all errors, we rely on the umpires to use their common sense still. If all of those are given out it will be a very low scoring 3 days.

Allan D wrote:As this is now a 3-day match the follow-on target has been reduced from 200 to 150 behind the side batting first.

Seriously? Not that it's likely to matter but why should the follow on rules change change? This is technically day 3 of the match. If a team bats out day 1 and then days 2 and 3 washout does the follow on change then?

Only applies if Day 1 washed out:

Law 13 (The Follow-On)

Samuels makes HS by a West Indian No.5 at Edgbaston beating I.V.A.Richards' 73* in July 1991.

Another one that shouldn't have been given out. As long as he carries on like this when we bowl than fair enough.

Mr Hill is feeling trigger happy.

JKLever wrote:Got to say i'm amazed at how many runs Marlon Samuels has racked up on this tour in these conditions.

What conditions? Lord's and Trent Bridge were flat and dull as anything. Haven't watched any of this Test so can't comment. Samuels is a decent player and he's been up against a good attack, but the number of times a ball has hit the seam and deviated, or else spun and bounced, can be counted on one hand. West Indies have done really well to lose two matches.

WTF is Bell doing in the slips? Oh, Jimmy has been rested - that's alright then!

HS by a Windies' 'keeper at Edgbaston beating Rohan Kanhai's 42 in May 1957 (Kanhai's debut innings).

Test HS by a Warwickshire player at Edgbaston - 95 by B.C.Lara in July 2004. Test HS by a concurrent Warwickshire player (Lara left Warwickshire at end of 1998 season) - 86* by D.L.Amiss v. West Indies in August 1973.

Ramdin's 10th score of 50+ in Tests - 5th v. England.

Difficult to force a win now you would think, and Englands back up not at their best by any means.

Probably the only chance is for WI to scrape another 40 and then hope England bat like twats and fold for say 150? Even then that scenario leaves the WI no more than 250 ahead by close.

Chivalry Augustus wrote:
What conditions? Lord's and Trent Bridge were flat and dull as anything..

Hmmm, Anderson was swinging it all over the place at Lords and Bres getting good reverse at TB. I remember Samuels as someone leadenfooted who I didn't think would really be a 'threat' but i'm impressed, he's done well.

JKLever wrote:

Chivalry Augustus wrote:
What conditions? Lord's and Trent Bridge were flat and dull as anything..

Hmmm, Anderson was swinging it all over the place at Lords and Bres getting good reverse at TB. I remember Samuels as someone leadenfooted who I didn't think would really be a 'threat' but i'm impressed, he's done well.

He's never been leaden foooted, not sure where you got that impression from tbh. He's always had all the shots, a decent enough technique and silky timing. Unfortunately he has tried to play too many shots and hasn't ever shown the patience he has on this tour.

Long may it continue.

Brass Monkey wrote:

Allan D wrote:
Way in front.

Anywhere in front of the wicket, he is exemplary. Behind the wicket, he's no better than Ali Cook.

As for Onions, it seems that Dello is the one who should be spanked with a pastel blue spatula - only half a yard down on pace at the very most - now he's loosened up.

Wasted a review there though.

Bowled all right, Onions, in the passages I caught (or barely got a finger to, in the Ian Bell stylee). Steady 85s. That's about what he was back in the day.

He was a positive on a drab and underwhelming day of somewhat pointless cricket in a match nailed on for a draw.

Bresnan well down on pace from last year just like Broad/Jimmeh. Pace isn't everything, but you hope they're taking it easy rather than having losing a bit of nip.

Nice to see some play. Looks a fair effort by the Windies. Should go a long way to avoiding a sweep.