My criticism would be that England have gone into this Test woefully undercooked. Two 2 day matches is no way to prepare for a test. Having said that, I do a soft spot for the Windies, ever since those Hampshire boys, Roberts, Greenidge and Marshall played for them. Hopefully England get their awfulness out of them in this series to send the Aussies packing 5-0 in th summer. I expect England tp improve as the series progresses as they get use to the pitches. In the end it could end up a tight series.
Richards and Garner. If there has ever been a batsman as talented as Viv Richards in my lifetime, then I have missed him. He was the Pele of batsmen. Garner was an absolute brilliant bowler. During their days as a dominant one-day team, Somerset had some very good players assisting the famous trio. What a shame they never quite mastered it in the 3/4 day game.
During that era, gardeners with greenhouses in the vicinity of Taunton and Weston-Super-Mare must have had nightmares whenever Richards was at the crease. It was certainly the case at Bournemouth whenever Greenidge was batting.
Viv qualified for Somerset by playing club cricket for Lansdown CC in Bath, on the pitch owned by the Royal United Hospital, where I worked. When Viv was batting at the pavilion end he was within sight of the entrance to A&E. I often wonder if he ever aimed a 6 in that direction!
No doubt to aid a quick recovery from a sickly patient. Didn't Somerset employ the services of another big hitting West Indian as well? Never really played much test cricket but much sought after in Twenty/20 and the IPL.
As someone who, I think, isn't contracted to an IPL side, Jason Holder would ordinarily make a great signing in county cricket. However with the World Cup this year, and the Caribbean PL not long after that, he'll barely be available during our 2019 season unfortunately.
W/Indies declare . Holder 202 not out . Dorwich 116 not out . The first time England have not taken a wicket in an entire day since 1982 . With all that in mind , am I alone in being overjoyed at seeing the WINDIES on form in TEST CRICKET ?
Never support anyone against England, though will say the Windies are not my least favourite team,. And it will be good to see cricket support improve out there....it has been losing ground to basketball I believe.
