Cricket

Quite a few of this side are of course Stanford Millionaires, which is probably helping their morale tbh

Oh yes, sorry, I know the death of West Indian cricket has been talked about for years, but I don't think I ever really felt it until the shambles of the last World cup.

I guess from my POV it was more the seeming lack of world class players and at times even the sense of flair that ran through the great West Indies sides, that and the "basketball taking over the Caribbean" stories.

LOL at England.

Bell out, Monty out (although he'll stay). Not convinced about Shah replacing Bell. No form and little interest from most of the batsmen, it would seem.

Also well played West Indies.

ALL OUT FOR 51
ALL OUT FOR 51
ALL OUT FOR 51

And to think I was worried about The Ashes this year.

Yeah not looking too handy for that, I get the feeling that the wheels are falling off.

BTW The Sun called KP "Dumb Slog Millionaire", which I thought was pretty good.

One of the worser things is that Pietersen was one of the few good performers in the match, but you have to say his presence probably means the dressing room won't reach any kind of equilibrium for a while.

The decision to not hire a coach for this series was crazy in retrospect. Hard to see what the ECB could've done, its not a decision to be taken lightly given that they had to sack the Moores right there and then, with no obvious replacement (Tom Moody not readily available, say). Totally fucked situation.

This is probably worse than '95 or so. This time you kinda know this bunch could perform better than they are.

"Dumb Slog Millionaire"

genuine lols

I have three words for England: BRING IN BOOF

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2003/11/26/26_11_2003_lehmann24.jpg

Yeah he wouldn't take any crap. I get the feeling that Flower is a lame duck, and Strauss is having trouble getting his (perfectly sensible) message across.

Yep. Flower and Ottis Gibson. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Lehmann in charge

Dude is from Elizabeth so a) he wouldn't take any crap and b) is used to dealing with annoying useless poms.

you have to say his presence probably means the dressing room won't reach any kind of equilibrium for a while

This is just lazy and I'd say totally inaccurate speculation.

"Dumb Slog Millionaire" is ingenious, but again using it on KP strikes me as injustifiably going for the easy target.

ban antigua

ffs WI couldnt run a pissup in a brewery. I remember this happening before

one step forward, two back

takes then one step closer to a series victory.
I feel sorry for Owais Shah!

They'll fit an extra Test in somewhere.

and they will have second thoughts and bring back Bell lol

That joke's already been made in the BBC rolling coverage :P

go one step further and bring in Swann for Panesar lol

Poor old Viv, felt sorry for him

DISAPPOINTED that England and the Windies couldn't come to the table for the first ever Beach Cricket Test.

This pitch should suit Harmison, hope England don't fuck it up and keep the team unchanged. Last chance saloon for Harmison but really if he cant deliver on a pitch full of bounce and pace he should be dropped forever, but he deserves this one last chance because of the pitch. Should suit Monty too actually.
Bell must remain out the team. Just wish there was another opener out there as Cook needs dropped, he's a liability, he hasn't scored a century in a long time, he, like Bell, needs a season in he counties. Both are young and good enough to come back better and fulfil their obvious potential.

Super innings from Strauss. Shah looking assured Batsmens paradise of a pitch so scratch what I said about Harmison. Noones gonna get anything as a bowler. McGrath would struggle. Wonder if England will regret not haing two spinners. Most money on the draw here me thinks.

ps thank fuck Lara is retired or he would have another 400. Chandarpaul might fancy a 300 though. Gayle should get an exciting big score too.

"they should all score centuries"

Depends on whether the pitch stays true, if it deteriorates it could be difficult to bat in the 4th innings. Strauss should get a double century here, or at least beat his current best of 177.

dont jinx him

Shah just does a completely stupid thing and gets out going for a suicidal single.

Frustrates me when England players throw their wickets away.

Hope it doesn't trigger a collapse.

relax dude, they're gonna make 600

the worry is, has shah's 57 done enough to keep run-hungry ian bell at bay? :-/

Yeah KP will slaughter this attack.

England make 600? hah

On this pitch, that is. xp

Shah will get the rest of the series unless he gets 2 single figures scores next match. It's not like Bell can nip back to the counties and score a century or two.

lol I was kiddin', Shah should get the whole summer too

He looks the real deal, if he can sort out his running between the wickets. Good player of spin too.

Not that that's a consideration for playing the Aussies!

I fancy bell will bat at 5 instead of Colly in the ashes IF bell gets some runs in the counties and colly fails for the rest of this tour. I get the feeling England might become more ruthless with selections.

Bell is a good no5 (as is colly) hes not a no3. Hopefully Shah can come good at 3.

Argh another wkt thrown away

Time for Anderson's long-overdue first duck in Tests?

no

Penultimate over of the day *shakes head* good knock though...

I still don't understand why KP doesn't bat at three.

He's vulnerable to the new ball apparently.

This is weird, Flat pitch, everyone's expecting KP to make a double hundred and he's out of sorts, dropped, should've been out LBW a few minutes ago. I guess if he does suddenly find his form he will punish them for it, but atm He doesn't look like doing that. But he's still there and he has his half century.