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A stunning performance from debut boy Toby Roland-Jones yesterday, the knock from Ben Stokes was a bit special as well.

It helped England that Philander was unwell but I still wish him a speedy recovery, on a drip in hospital last night. :(

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Hopefully today and Monday the weather will behave for once.:Sun::Sun::Sun:

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A comprehensive victory by England, much improved on the dire performance at Trent Bridge.

Moeen Ali gets a hat trick, in fact three England bowlers had a chance of a hat trick in this match. :shocked:

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Lets hope we can repeat this performance in the next test.

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Well they have a habit of following a good win by a poor performance, especially when bowling first, plenty of rain and a draw would do. :)

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Seems to be a case of win the toss, win the match. The expert pundits might not like it but it might be as simple as that. I'd like to see them do away with the toss in Test matches as they have in county cricket, and the away captain gets to decide.

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Nothing is ever simple like that all the time MR K.

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It is in this series Den and a lot of Test cricket, there seem to be very few close matches any longer. The side that wins the toss and bats first dominates. Just as it is predictable when we go to the subcontinent we'll lose, at home we'll win (usually ;) ). Getting rid of the Toss and giving the away captain the choice would even things up a bit.

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Geoffrey Boycott - love him, but this has got to be one of the best wind ups ever.... :D
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/40781223

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Wonderful.:D

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Great catch from Jonny Bairstow on the England balcony.:D

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Another crushing win by England, the top order is still well below par Cook excepted. Can't keep relying on the middle order to bail them out.

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take a bow Moeen Ali great performance

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Not bad for a number 8 batsman and 'second' spinner. :cool:

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Not this time Jim.:D

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One of our must pick players now.

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Win the toss, bat, and win the match again. It's a simple game ;)

The bowling attack is is great, but the England coach is right, they have problems in the batting that will be exposed in Australia. Need to try some new blood for the WI series, not that they'll be much of a test.

Day/night Test and pink ball at Edgbaston will be interesting - I predict a 3 day test and some cases of hypothermia in the WI team...

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Englands new top order batsmen fail once again. :(

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Keep on like this and the Aussies will be licking their lips in anticipation down under this winter.:(

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If the Windies bat as badly as the have bowled this test won't last three days.:(

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SWMBO is definitely not a fan of day/night tests, may have to watch it on the other tv or my iPad.:D

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Know thy station in your household or you could be in deep trouble else Jim.;)

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Got tickets for the Saturday at Headingley on the 26th - always a fun day out.

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l hope you enjoy it Hugh as there are many good memories there for England.:tu:

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So far today WI have lost 3 wickets and scored 5 runs. It's just no contest which is no fun for anyone really.

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Don't feel sorry for them Mr K as they did not feel sorry for us 30 years ago.:erm:

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Ahem.

Have to say that on balance I am not a fan of Day/Night tests.

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Why?.

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The rythym of the day feels all wrong for me.

Even the crowd at the game starts leaving around 7.00 leaving the mainly drunken oafs singing the same boring song.:(

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Perhaps you are too set in your ways as you need to give it a chance Jim.:)

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Call me Mystic Meg !

Day night tests don't work. Too much of a disadvantage to the team batting under lights, the pink ball is silly and the evening crowd aren't really interested. Coupled with the fact the WIndies aren't a Test Match team atm.
Hopefully they'll compete more in the one dayers, but 2 utterly pointless 'Test' Matches coming up.

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Rather than messing around with day/night matches this game highlights the need for a proper test league table and two or even three divisions. Such one sided games do nothing for the future of test match cricket.:(

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Crikey we have some right stick in the muds in the cricket thread.;)

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Well test cricket survived when we were whitewashed by the Windies and the Aussies in the past 40 years.:erm:

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Even those games weren't such a no contest as this one. The problem is test cricket has died in WI, they are only interested in 20/20. Their best players eg. Chris Gayle, won't play test cricket any longer.

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Rubbish Mr K as your memory seems to have shortened rather lately.

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Chris Gayle is not the be all or end all of test cricket.:erm:

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As someone like Mr K who is old enough to have watched first hand the Windies teams of the early 70's I agree with him, the matches where not as one sided as this. A four day test was unusual, a three day one just didn't happen. He is also correct in saying the Windies are a spent force. More interested in baseball and 'soccer' these days.

How old where you in 1976 when Holding blitzed England at the Oval Den?

Also in the 70's test cricket in this country was shown non terrestrial TV so had a massive audience.

And Chris Gayle is one of at least five players who are not in this side but would be if not chasing money elsewhere.:(

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Old enough less said.;)

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Can't disagree with that.:p:

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If he and others put the pride of representing their country in the test arena before money and greed his thinking and others might be rather different.:td:

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Like our media and pundits at that time of the 70's saying the same about us unless yours and Mr K's memory have forgotten that.;)

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I don't recall the press in general calling England cricket a spent force. The press just accepted that the 70s/80s Windies team was a vastly superior team in all departments to any other side in the world then, not just England, they drubbed everyone.

Much like the Aussies a few years back.

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Perhaps you need to go to the library and look back at the headlines from all those years ago on microfilm Jim.

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No need at all,

From 1965 to 1985 Englands overall test record against all comers out of a total of 56 series was Won 27, Lost 17, Drawn 12. Hardly the sign of a team in terminal decline.

I will say it once again in case I didn't make myself clear earlier, the West Indies team of that era was a phenomenal team in every single department, no team before or since has had a battery of 6 or 7 world class fast bowlers on call at the same time. Put that together with brilliant openers and untouchable middle order batsmen and you are going to get steam rollered most of the time.

Every other nation struggled against them not just England.

England had a couple of bad series against the Windies, this current West Indies side cannot beat anybody, that is why they are near the bottom of the test rankings.

They haven't won a test series since 2014, have lost the last eight and their only wins just before that came v Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. :rolleyes:

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We should rest the Test team and play under 21's in the next 2 games. It'd still be comfortable wins.

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From 1974 to 1989 England never won a Wisden trophy test match against the West Indies so alas it was very one sided Mr K and Jim for a considerable period.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Trophy_records

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Trophy_records

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However, as I keep trying to get you to accept, at that time England where still winning series against the other test playing countries. And at the risk of repeating myself, the West Indies where beating everyone else as well.

So, England in that time, winning test matches, this current West indies side not, and not looking likely to do either. However you like to play it there is no comparison with England in the 70/80's and this current Windies side.
There where some very good players in the England sides of the 70/80's, the Windies where just a lot better. There are no good players in this West Indies side, most of them wouldn't make a county second eleven and the England teams of the 70/80's would have the thrashed them as well.

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Most of these players in the current WI side are very callow currently so to say they are not good enough Jim l can't agree with that.

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Well Sir Geoffrey for one agrees with me. Worst team ever :p:

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l thought a intelligent wise man like you did not need someone else to substantiate your argument.;):p:

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Just pointing out you disagree with me but someone with far more gravitas than either of us agrees with me. :p:

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He's not allowed to play for them unless he plays full time in the Caribbean iirc

Not really, he didn't make this rule and I suspect he will return to the test fold soon

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Just because they didn't win doesn't mean it was a one-sided match, they were competitive at least

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I think he's being harsh, this is a very young team and by no means their first choice line up, more like third choice

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Harsh, but a very true assessment of this teams abilities, which is what he was giving his opinion on.

TBH the Windies have been in decline for a long time, over 17 years since the won a test match series in this country, even with the likes of Walsh & Ambrose bowling, Lara & Chanderpaul batting, Dujon behind the sticks. Even that side got rolled over in three days at least once.

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Englands top order fails yet again. :(

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They cannot be that bad judging by thus so far today..;)

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I think England are doing quite well at the moment - 254 for 7.

Tomorrow should be fun, and the weather is looking good - I will ensure I keep hydrated...

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They must have heard you as we have just lost three more wickets.;)

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You sure about that statement Mr K?.;)

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Perhaps you need to switch the TV on.;)

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Only just got home from Old Trafford and checked the cricket score for the first time today.

Had a severe test of our own last night and today, looking after our two year old granddaughter. :cool:

I don't ever remember her mother being such hard work, couldn't take our eyes of her for a second. :)

An amazing transformation from the Windies and good to see, England need to be pushed even harder than this.

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A team wounded by some disparaging OTT comments is a very dangerous team as its like a lion that is at its most dangerous when it has been wounded.

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I wouldn't agree they where OTT comments at all. A team that looses 19 wickets in one day on a wicket the other team scored well over 500 then declared deserves all the criticism it gets. If it served to give them a kick up the backside so much the better for all concerned.

We now have a 'proper' test match on our hands that could even last five days for a change. I would much sooner watch this than the last pathetic display.:p:

And apart from a regular check up on the current F1 race I won't be watching The Baggies v Stoke.:(

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Sadly the Windies couldn't maintain it, interesting few overs tonight and last day to come. :)

Another test team struggling. Aussies behind :D

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Now this is really scraping the barrel, not a test match and most definitely 'not cricket'. Welsh shockers

Should be stripped of the title for that.:(

Test goes into the fifth day with all three results on the table, exactly as it should be.:)

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Not very gentlemanly that is for sure.:td:

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Looking rather different now Jim sadly.:(

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Not sad for me, a great finish in prospect and the chance of going to a last game decider, just the proper test that England badly needed TBH.

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But did you not say this test series was too one sided and West Indies were the laughing stock of world cricket..;):nworthy:

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I and many others far better qualified than myself did, and until this test it was a true, accurate assessment. Even some of West Indies legends professed embarrassment at the dire state of the team.;)

They have lost the large majority of recent tests, more than half of them by an innings as well.

A quite remarkable transformation but one that I welcome. The last test was an abomination and at least this test will give thier supporters at home something to lift them at long last.

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Don't you just love expert pundits and armchair experts.;):D

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The simple fact is that all of those experts where correct in their assessment of the Windies performances over the past four or five years. They where rubbish, this test performance has come out of the blue, let's see if they can build on it.;)

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Nothing like backtracking from ones original view.;)

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You seem to be unable to understand my posts, i am not back tracking. My opinion of the West Indies side 'before' this game was a fair, reasonable assessment given just how truly, consistantly awful they have been in recent years culminating in the last match.

In case you forgot they lost 19 wickets in one day in that match. They have been very good in this test but I need to see a few more performances like this before changing my mind.

As an example, Shai Hopes test average was 18 before this match.

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Brilliant result for the WIndies and Test Cricket. I always thought they were underated ;). But yes, they need to back it up with a few more results.

England didn't do that much wrong, just outplayed by a team that were playing for their credibility. Think England were planning to rest a few for the last Test, will they now?

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That is not what you said after the first test Mr K.;):D:p:

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Really set up nicely now, what I would like is for Holder to win the toss and bat first or Root to win it and bowl first. :)

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Well my money is on England to win the decider.:)

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Even more of a shock, Aussies beaten by Bangladesh.:shocked:

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Well that is something that is even going to cheer up the most miserable of cricket fans.:D

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Well I got my wish, Holder won the toss and batted. Very heavy going for Windies so far and Cook playing butter fingers again. :(

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Well early days yet Jim as past experiences have taught us.;)

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Always said this is a poor Windies team.;):D

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You would be perfect for a part in that new Punch and Judy show coming to a place near you soon.;):D

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Their bowling isn't bad though. :p:

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They obviously pay great attention to your wise and influential comments.;):D:p:

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Erm, :p:

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well done Jimmy Anderson 500 test match wickets :):):)

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A magnificent achievement given the way he was treated early on in his test career.

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An interesting day all round, boiling up nicely. Will be interesting to see how England perform if they have a decent target to chase.

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Given England's flimsy batting 150 might be a step too far.

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They may just manage 107 with 2.5 days to do it in. ;)

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I reckon the prevalence of limited overs cricket and crash bang wallop tactics has affected the cricketing brains of modern players. We're seeing an increasing number of tests settled with plenty of time to spare and it's not always because the conditions are unplayable. There seems to be a dearth of players who can grit their teeth and regularly bat for long periods when required and it's a shame. Although some people find that sort of cricket boring, it's a great test of ability and tactics when a side is faced with batting for well over either to save a match or secure an unlikely win. Test matches are supposed to be all about quick victories.

Well done to Jimmy for hitting the big 500. :clap:

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.... and it's all over in around 2 days when you take into account the time lost to rain and bad light!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/38521087

In the days of uncovered wickets I can see why unplayable pitches might result in very rapid results but in the days of modern cricket it has to be down to mentality surely. :shrug:

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Crikey that is a change of tone since the end of the first test.:p:;)

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Thought you were still hiding behind the settee.:p:

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Well l have not had a lot of spare time today with some of the family visiting.:)

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Ireland vs Windies in mid-September - totally rained off, who'd have thought it ?

Incredibly they're playing the Eng/Windies one dayers till the end of the month - cram as many in as possible to make as much money as possible. All from tv of course, no one in their right mind would sit outside all day in this weather.

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Stunning batting from Moeen Ali here at Bristol.:D:D

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And still going. :cool:

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Oh what a dolly.:rofl::rofl:

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He's at it again, thought he had grown up by now, even if provoked he should know enough to avoid these situations. :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41399632

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Sadly some will never grow up until its far too late sadly.

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He's full of energy you have to give him that ! Best we wait till we find out exactly what happened, all might not be as it seems. Celebs are often a target at nightclubs, maybe they should just avoid going.

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Professional sports people should do that as a prerequisite any way Mr K.

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Very true Den but they seem to like going; ask Wayne Rooney !

Remember the incident where the nasty Aussie David Warner gave our little innocent Joe Root a slap in a Birmingham nightclub? tbh I found that quite amusing, maybe I shouldn't....

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If they really must go to night clubs late at night/early morning then the should take a huge minder. The world is full of assholes who are just looking to take on someone like Stokes once the alcohol takes effect. :(

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As are the Windies currently..:(:td:

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Well that’s one way to stop him scoring, break his ankle.