I don't follow or have any interest in 'cricket' though when did Be(z)ss of the Happy Mondays get on on the gig? Probably a spinner with your melons man...
I don't think we have bowled badly today. I think our first innings under par score has really hurt us, if they needed 250 to win I think we would have won. Gave a way too many cheap wickets across both innings which is so frustrating as we didn't do that anywhere near as much in South Africa. No need to be too critical given it's the first game back.
Didn't bat well enough, end of. Struggled in the first innings then the old batting collapse in the second. Good game to watch though.
All in all a good test match to watch, and great to see the West Indies back with a competitive test side. They seemed to have come out of this hiatus in better shape than us, we looked rusty in the first innings, and overall were not at our best. Not too disheartened, should get better next time out. If Root's back then Denley out, Broad back in. Didn't think Archer looked comfortable all game, maybe playing his mates put him off a bit. Edit: Wrote the above before seeing the highlights of the last day, Archer looked better than he had on the previous 4 days.
Seems he went home to Brighton after the first test. What a prick, and whatever is the management doing letting him out of their sight?
Good first day from England, Root and Sibley did well to stem their bowling when the conditions suited the Windies. Then both Sibley and Stokes took advantage and really had a great partnership. The first hour today will be key, with a new ball and the West Indies fresh, if we can get through the first hour not losing a wicket then a big score beckons.
We certainly have been looking for a test batsman ho can occupy the crease and just stay in. Let's hope he proves to be half as good as Boycott, if so, then he is just what we've been looking for.
He's certainly his own man, he hit four 4's in his 120. I remember one of the commentators saying he couldn't remember Sibley hitting a shot, but he'd amassed 70-odd runs! But you're right anybody who can stick around is worth hanging on to.
Just noticed there is a new format of the game being played in S Africa tomorrow whereby 3 teams are in one game. Good to see England pass 450.agood first innings.