England usually always need to do better with the bat but for some reason always tinker with the bowling.

Some news on the batting is that Ben Duckett could miss the test with the birth of his child imminent with Lawrence on standby to take his place if needed. He opens in T20 cricket so kind of makes sense that England would consider him a natural replacement to fill in at the top of the order. Does also provide another spin option that we probably won't need

Also been confirmed that Big Gus will share the new ball with Woakes.

Not sure I'm all that keen on Lawrence as a Test opener but all the best to him if he does play. He might do well.

Yeah, not a natural fit there at all but it'd only be a stop-gap job while Duckett is out anyway

West Indies won the toss and will field.

Duckett opening anyway but yeah, with Lawrence now batting down at 6 for Surrey, he seems less prepared to open. At least for Essex he was batting at 4 and kind of considered a top order bat. He's basically remodelled himself as an attacking middle order batting all-rounder

Crawley gone for 0.

Well..... runs flowing now.

comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted 46 minutes ago
Duckett opening anyway but yeah, with Lawrence now batting down at 6 for Surrey, he seems less prepared to open. At least for Essex he was batting at 4 and kind of considered a top order bat. He's basically remodelled himself as an attacking middle order batting all-rounder
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Came in at 3 vs Essex tbf but yeah, he's playing the "no pressure" role really. Always quite liked being a specialist bat at 6 myself

comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 32 minutes ago
Crawley gone for 0.
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Rotter of a delivery tbf

Ollie Pope doing Ollie Pope things from the sounds of it. It's so frustrating when such a talented player gets himself into such a tangle. He gets so fidgety when it's not flowing naturally.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted 46 minutes ago
Duckett opening anyway but yeah, with Lawrence now batting down at 6 for Surrey, he seems less prepared to open. At least for Essex he was batting at 4 and kind of considered a top order bat. He's basically remodelled himself as an attacking middle order batting all-rounder
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Came in at 3 vs Essex tbf but yeah, he's playing the "no pressure" role really. Always quite liked being a specialist bat at 6 myself
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Specialist bat at 7 is a nice spot. The Jos Buttler role.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 26 minutes ago
Ollie Pope doing Ollie Pope things from the sounds of it. It's so frustrating when such a talented player gets himself into such a tangle. He gets so fidgety when it's not flowing naturally.
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He'd definitely be the Hick/Ramprakash of his generation if he wasn't being so unequivocally backed. His FC average and test average are a bit closer together than those other 2 and he is averaging 3 more than Hick and 7 more than Ramps.

Should probably move to 4 when Root retires but if he's still in the side then he's going to be a guy with some 6 or 7 years of experience of batting at 3 but he could well end up being captain within the next 2-3 years.

He still feels like such a weird pick for skipper, based entirely on hypotheticals. He really needs to turn talent into stats before Stokes retires.

Surprised his average is so high at #3 actually. Upwards of 44 according to Zaltzman just now. Feels like he does the old Bell/Bairstow trick of making a huge innings then going barren for a while.

England batsmen could careless about batting sensibly.. its all about whacking the ball for 4. every ball needs to be scored off.. no need for that shot from Brook.. no need at all

Not that every single player who gets in should go onto make a big hundred but it's getting a tad frustrating how many of our top 6 are getting into the 30s and getting out, or even more annoying getting into the 60s and 70s and getting out.

I suppose it's the risk with how we play but 40-60 runs won't win many games against the best teams, and it almost feels like the new freedom means there's no responsibility to go on and get that truly match winning score.

Indeed.
Fair play Popey for riding his luck and cashing in

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
Ollie Pope doing Ollie Pope things from the sounds of it. It's so frustrating when such a talented player gets himself into such a tangle. He gets so fidgety when it's not flowing naturally.
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Jason Roy same

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 23 minutes ago
Indeed.
Fair play Popey for riding his luck and cashing in
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This innings is him done for the summer then

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
Ollie Pope doing Ollie Pope things from the sounds of it. It's so frustrating when such a talented player gets himself into such a tangle. He gets so fidgety when it's not flowing naturally.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason Roy same
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Pope a much more natural fit for tests, but yeah fair comment

comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 23 minutes ago
Indeed.
Fair play Popey for riding his luck and cashing in
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This innings is him done for the summer then
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Stokes in desperate need of some runs too, of course <fingerscrossed>

Pope out for 121. 281-5.

Windies just about staying in this game as no there have been no monster partnerships to completely demoralise them. Stokes and Smith partnership crucial to whether it's 350 or 450 you suspect although I fancy Gus to deliver a handy 30 when he comes to bat after his golden quicker in the first test.

Poor shot by Stokes, gone for 69. 342-6.