The International Cricket Thread

[Monty]

Wood potentially injured.

When isn't this true?

[Villa Lew]

That was tremendous from Da Sila and Joseph.

[dcdavecollett]

Thanks to some fairly brainless captaincy from Stokes.

I can't understand why, when you're bowling at a 7 & an 11 that you wouldn't try especially hard to get them out.

it looks like the batsmen may have saved the situation. We'll find out tomorrow.

[manic-road]

Poor shot from Harry Brook to get out but a great century.

[beness]

Woakes bowling great so far (2 wickets). Bashir gets a wicket in his first over. West indies came back well in the first innings but a mountain to climb ATM. Bashir gets another as I type.75-4

[PaulWinch again]

Windies folding sadly.

[Gareth]

3 hours ago when they announced free entry tomorrow it looked good value :-) might be a little worthless now

[PaulWinch again]

Disappointing from the Windies, but great from Bashir.

[Villan For Life]

It was good that the Windies were competitive for a lot of this match but we bowled beautifully in the second innings and what a 5-fer from Bashir.

[PaulWinch again]

It was good that the Windies were competitive for a lot of this match but we bowled beautifully in the second innings and what a 5-fer from Bashir.

It’s a shame they clattered in a heap. They really have a lot of potential in the side.

[Villan For Life]

It was good that the Windies were competitive for a lot of this match but we bowled beautifully in the second innings and what a 5-fer from Bashir.

It’s a shame they clattered in a heap. They really have a lot of potential in the side.

I know, their great sides of the 70’s and 80’s are one of the reasons why I love cricket, some of their players from that era are my favourites of all time. The game needs a competitive Werst Indies team.

[PaulWinch again]

It was good that the Windies were competitive for a lot of this match but we bowled beautifully in the second innings and what a 5-fer from Bashir.

It’s a shame they clattered in a heap. They really have a lot of potential in the side.

I know, their great sides of the 70’s and 80’s are one of the reasons why I love cricket, some of their players from that era are my favourites of all time. The game needs a competitive Werst Indies team.

Yep and it’s a massive cliche but it’s true. Problem is the game is almost actively undermining that chance.

The bowling attack is legitimately quality, and with a bit more experience can be top class. They have good batters too, they just need a better platform. They have the inherent disadvantage of being a collection of islands with different interests/motivations. They don’t need another hand tied behind their back in terms of ICC funding/support.

[dcdavecollett]

Very good bowling from Bashir who now has three five-fors in Test Cricket at the ripe old age of twenty.

He can really spin it with those long fingers and gets some drift on the ball.

I didn't really understand Agnew's comment when SB came on to bowl that "there wasn't much in the pitch for him." I would have thought most spinners would look forward to bowling in the last session of Day 4, on a dry track where the odd ball is misbehaving!

[tomd2103]

I like the look of the England side at the moment.  I think it's a big positive that Ben Stokes is bowling again, as along with having Woakes batting at 8, it just balances the side out nicely.  It's just a shame Mark Wood's body just can't handle the rigours of test cricket, as the extra pace he brings is a great weapon to have.

It's not the best England side I've seen, but it now looks a much better balanced one than in recent times and the introduction of Smith, Atkinson and Bashir has brought some new energy to it.  Hopefully this side can now keep together in the main with a view to the Ashes in 18 months. 

[dcdavecollett]

Getting Joffra fit to bowl in Test matches would be a massive boost.