England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Old Trafford, 16-20 July, 2020

OK people, who is in and who is out of the England side for T2?

Root in for Denly, and Broad/Woakes in for Wood?

Buttler continues?

I think they’re committed to Buttler, despite his single century in over 40 Tests.

If we had a solid, established top six like we did in the days of Prior as keeper-batsman at 7, I think Buttler could cash in the same way as the Big Cheese did. But right now we need more of a scrapper, like Jack Russell back in the day.

Denly dropped as expected for the captain’s return. Jimmy and Wood rested, so Sturat will return with Woakes, Curran and the uncapped Robinson competing for a place as the remaining seamer.

Buttler must be on his last chance.

C'mon you Windies!!!!

So will OT have a sporty wicket?

Sounds like Jofra's been a bad boy. Ruled out of test for breaking Covid protocol's.

What a dill.

That sort of setback can't be great for England's confidence.

Sturat back in?

Well, I think he was a certainty anyway. Two from Woakes, Curran and Robinson will play. Certainly bolsters the batting, so Sturat may well bat #11... big swing away from the raw pace approach employed at Southampton though. Which means this pitch will probably turn out to suit 90mph bowlers.

Joffrey has some work to do to put things right, I don’t expect he will play in the decider either now.

So a damp squib of a first session then.

beamer wrote:Joffrey has some work to do to put things right, I don’t expect he will play in the decider either now.

England’s won this one already?

Seems like he only stayed at home for an hour. Should really not punish him more if that's the case. Not exactly Kyle walker or Grealish.

Remarkable change in the complexion with that one over.

lardbucket wrote:

beamer wrote:Joffrey has some work to do to put things right, I don’t expect he will play in the decider either now.

England’s won this one already?

Well, we have to be optimistic and call it that... even a draw makes it a live game, if not for the trophy.

With a part-time spinner looking like running through us again though, doesn’t look too hopeful.

Advice to Sibley - forget the reverse sweep...

Poms are well placed.

The success of R Chase against England is something of a mystery. ...

Even factoring in the fact that England's batting is pretty parlous.



So Sibley looks the firmest of the top four, is that the new order of things?

beamer wrote:

lardbucket wrote:

beamer wrote:Joffrey has some work to do to put things right, I don’t expect he will play in the decider either now.

England’s won this one already?

Well, we have to be optimistic and call it that... even a draw makes it a live game, if not for the trophy.

With a part-time spinner looking like running through us again though, doesn’t look too hopeful.

Maybe "the decider" in terms of the viability of a Test career for a couple of England's picks ...

At 3-81 England were on the brink, but Sibley and Stokes have ground the home team into a solid position.

skully wrote:At 3-81 England were on the brink, but Sibley and Stokes have ground the home team into a solid position.

Sibley is a bit of a snore bore crab like Barnacle or Tavare. His lack of intent may cost the Poms if this ends up a draw.

We’ve needed traditional openers for years, so we can’t complain when we find them. He might not (yet) be in the class of Boycott, Cook or Atherton, but we need solid foundations for an explosive middle order, not sending them out there midway through the morning session at 40-4, and we’re achieving that.

I’d like to see us have an opener who can change gear and take the game to the opposition when the time is right, as we used to see with Gooch, Stewart and Trescothick, but it’s more important to have players with the necessary defensive technique and patience. We tried the likes of Roy and Hales and it just didn’t work, in English red ball conditions.

Stokes 99* at lunch. Nasty.

Added his own name to the list of 250-ball centuries before taking off. Still need something from Buttler and the tail to make it a matchwinning total.

Roach with 2 in 2 balls (Stokes and Woakes) needs 5 more to become the first WI bowler since Ambrose and Walsh to make it to 200.

After bowling a couple of Harmisons in this innings, Gabriel now does a Nathan Lyon at the stumps...

Geez, Sibley and Stokes really cashed in on Holder's decision to bowl first.

Well done them.