comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 5 minutes ago
It's 2 tests cos India want 5. What India want they will get. Even in England.
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Would prefer 4 against each but it is what it is.

comment by The Candlestick Maker (U8959)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by (Kash) I'm the Mané, I'm the Mané - Justice4Gaza (U1108)
posted 5 minutes ago
It's 2 tests cos India want 5. What India want they will get. Even in England.
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Would prefer 4 against each but it is what it is.
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India test series starts in August, meaning 2 tests will be in September.. if the conditions are similar to this sept test, India can wave the last 2 test matches goodbye

Hopefully we'll already by 3-0 up by then too. A 5-0 whitewash would be lovely.

We're back on

We've gone past 80 and only 5 down. West Indies were 78/2 before Stokes came out swinging.

Bairstow and Stokes can stick on a good partnership and push us on, Alli especially and Roland-Jones can bat

Target 200+ if Stokes can stick around

50 for Stokes in 51 balls. Excellent counter attacking knock.

Jonny's out, shame we couldn't get ahead with the two at the crease.

Stokes bowled off a no ball - then bowled again! Good innings of 60.

That 200 plus looking in doubt now

Alli and Roland-Jones our last hope, TRJ needs a good knock here, can't see Woakes being dropped for the Ashes,

I was just thinking Gabriel has been pretty quiet considering how good he was at Edgbaston. Moeen, Roland-Jones, Broad and Anderson. Quick runs/wickets to follow means we'll probably see the West Indies back in again shortly after tea. England will want to do as much damage as they can in that session you feel if the conditions are good tomorrow.

comment by Thudd (U1029)
posted 32 seconds ago
Alli and Roland-Jones our last hope, TRJ needs a good knock here, can't see Woakes being dropped for the Ashes,
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I'd play them both anyway. Woakes averages basically the same as both Westley and Malan in first class but has shown he can bat in Tests. Drop one for woakes, move Stokes and co up a place and have woakes at 8.

Batting gets no worse, probably better, and then have 6 bowlers. TRJ and Rashid can then alternate depending on the pitch.

Dropping like flies

Broad basically has to go in swiping, give it a go, no need to play conservatively

I'd be all for that to be honest. It's a lot of "all rounders" so to speak which makes it look more like an ODI/T20 team but if it improves batting and bowling then I don't see how it can be a bad thing.

Not sure if Rashid will go as England's second spinner but is surely the most experienced option.

Rashid has to go, when called upon has been reliable,

May as well give it a tonk, don't think either know how to defend.

comment by Thudd (U1029)
posted 38 seconds ago
Rashid has to go, when called upon has been reliable,
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I think he has to go as well. Can't pick a new spinner for the Ashes, even if we were 2-0 up and Crane had played this test match. I'm not his biggest fan but he's got experience all over the world, has played big bash (t20 I know) and has been around for a while. If he does get carted around, he'll always come back and do well in the ODIs. If someone like Crane got carted around, it could have a Simon Kerrigan effect, who you ask? Well he's now on loan at Northants in division 2 after being Lancashire's premier spinner.

Shocking missed catch by Dowrich. Schoolboy stuff.

comment by The Candlestick Maker (U8959)
posted 14 minutes ago
I'd be all for that to be honest. It's a lot of "all rounders" so to speak which makes it look more like an ODI/T20 team but if it improves batting and bowling then I don't see how it can be a bad thing.

Not sure if Rashid will go as England's second spinner but is surely the most experienced option.
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Yeah it's not a team I'd want all the time but seeing as no one has nailed down the 3 or 5, might as well give it a go. At least with woakes you know he can chip in with 30+ runs an innings.

Another drop although I can't see it being too costly.

Rashid and Alli are in for the tour for me, can't bring anyone else in now, Stokes, Woakes, Broad, Anderson will be in as standard

Sure TRJ will play in ODI's

TRJ done!

Time for Jimmy to beat his high score of 81.