West Indies v England, 3rd Test, St John's, Feb 15-19

From an English perspective, it´s heartening that both openers were so often "on the front foot" - literally as well as metaphorically. Obviously, a slowish pitch will have helped a lot. But that only partly accounts for the agile, positive footwork, and a lot of shots in front of the wicket. - What got into Strauss? Don´t remember this array of strokes from him, including a whacking straight six :--O

He seems to have discovered that fortune really does often favour the bold.
Instead of waiting for something carvable to turn up.

Shah - his well-judged confident style was a breath of fresh air (to any cricket watcher perhaps - apart maybe from dyed-in-the-wool England opponents!). After Bell´s many frail and dispiriting performances. Someone on this forum recently blathered on about sheer scores alone not being the point. That scores in the scorebook are only statistics, retrospective ink, etc. - I think his or her point was that the batting style especially of a Number 3 informs the whole team´s morale and batting approach. That seems very true of the difference between Bell and Shah.

And if Shah suffers the occasional brainfade - well, that´s generally something you can learn from. Whereas chronic timidity often seems self-perpetuating. And in any case, a Shah WITH brainfades is still less demoralising than a Bell too often flattering (very briefly) to deceive.


WIndies. Was JT crocked in some way? (WIndies outstanding bowler surely.) It doesn´t seem so. Why did the occasional third spinner get so many overs? And Christle himself bowl so many? Nash did a good containing job, but he was hardly a declaration of intent.

I can only assume Gayle´s thinking (annoyed after misreading the pitch?) was something like: let these fellas get as many as they want - we will be able to match that, and stalemate it out for a draw. (His own previous ARG score was about 3000,wasn´t it? which might make him even more confident of matching high scores.) And therefore save JT - and to an extent Fidel - for the deciding next Test. .... ?

That makes some sort of sense, but it seems dangerous to me. Surely you should never want to hand over the initiative and morale - not even to shaky old England

(I hope CG was not just sulking after the switch of venue! :O )

Nice post.

Of course we all know Bell will be back in time for the Ashes.

TBH, I could see Bell play pretty much that innings. He would've scored in different areas but he likes a flat deck. That twat run-out would be another thing Bell could've done.

Brass Monkey wrote:TBH, I could see Bell play pretty much that innings. He would've scored in different areas but he likes a flat deck. That twat run-out would be another thing Bell could've done.

Pull the other one Danny .... it´s got Bell´s on.

PeterCS wrote:
Pull the other one Danny .... it´s got Bell´s on.

It's no biggie though, saying that - is it? He consistantly feasted on flat tracks or easy situations. This was both.

Well, it may be a dead predictable track - we´ll see. There were a couple of low shooters. ...

and tbh I´d rather be in England´s position in this Test in any case (óbbyórse statement of the week, no doubt).

Well, yep, yet I can see an all out for 400 for some reason...

Who 400 a/o, though?


Could be a sort of diagnostic test for long-suffering England fans:

"England", says the pessimist.

"WIndies", says the optimist.


("Draw", says the realist?)

Brass Monkey wrote:Well, yep, yet I can see an all out for 400 for some reason...

Bitter experience, Danny - bitter experience.

You´re both reminding me of Tommy on Early Doors.

Anyone for a pint?

Not familiar with the character, but a pint of bitter since you ask please, Pete.

Jonty was keen ... best post on the other thread

I'd love for us to be 400 all-out if it meant the pitch had turned into a mine-field overnight.

Augustus wrote:I'd love for us to be 400 all-out if it meant the pitch had turned into a mine-field overnight.

Aye, though as you infer it could easily be down to our inepticrapness.

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:Not familiar with the character, but a pint of bitter since you ask please, Pete.

Nice pun, from an English supporter!

Where´s that Brakspear´s got to ....?

Lets hope that the pacers get to bowl. I don't particularly want to watch part time spinners all day today.

WIFAN wrote:Lets hope that England gets to bowl. I don't particularly want to watch the West Indians all day today.

fixed, and seconded

lardbucket wrote:

WIFAN wrote:Lets hope that England gets to bowl. I don't particularly want to watch the West Indians all day today.

fixed, and seconded

Phurt..................

There's no need for you to be phurtive in your support of West Indian cricket.

Fidel appears to be back in rhythm. KP and Collywobbles struggling big time.

Oh Powell F&*k off. He is so rubbish. Ruining Fidels work.

Both now looking comfortable.

Pietersen dropped by Edwards; England now has the series in the bag.

Fidel is such an unlucky bowler. He has had so many dropped catches off his bowling through his career, and a high percentage of the runs against him come from the outside half of the bat.

lardbucket wrote:Jonty was keen ... best post on the other thread

Thanks, Lardy, but I plagiarized it from a character on The Fast Show who would ask this - inopportunely, of course - when ever things started going over his head (at a business meeting, etc..).