The Windies dug in to make a respectable 287 and took two England wickets to leave the hosts in charge but not out of sight at Old Trafford
A intriguing, twisting, day’s play. West indies consolidated in the morning and then as England took the second new ball lost 6 for 50 while in between avoiding the follow-on - thanks largely to Brathwaite, Blackwood and Chase. Stuart Broad especially, with the second new ball, said he found the right tempo and was pitch perfect. The last hurly-burly 40 minutes was long enough for Crawley and Buttler to sacrifice themselves, and (the superb) Roach and Gabriel to stop England running away with it. Lots to look forward to tomorrow, Broad says England are hoping to bowl with two new balls, which must mean quick runs in the morning. Thanks for all the emails, and see you tomorrow!
8th over: England 37-2 (Stokes 16, Root 8) In a very unusual definition of playing for the close, Stokes tries to whallop Gabriel into Didsbury. He fails, but survives. And that’s stumps!
7th over: England 32-2 (Stokes 12 , Root 7) Another superb over by Roach, who mixes slower balls with those on a good length. Root inside edges for two. West Indies rush through the motions - they want another over at England before the close.
“What a bold innovation from Rooteh,” writes Tat Wood, “get the middle-order collapse out of the way before the openers go in.”
6th over: England 27-2 (Stokes 10 , Root 4) We cut to a pensive looking Buttler on the boundary. I still so want him to be the answer. Stokes and Root sprint two. Some excellent ground fielding by West Indies who haven’t given up on anything. If there was a crowd, it would be silent with anticipation, which is lucky.
5th over: England 20-2 (Stokes 6 , Root 2) Root and Stokes try a bit of old fashioned graft against an excellent Roach.
Tom Hopkins opens a can of worms;“I’m kind of getting the feeling that if it was going to happen for Buttler in Tests, it would have happened before now.”
Crawley attempts an awkward smear to leg and Roach slots the ball between bat and pad and removes Crawley’s middle stump.
4th over: England 17-1 (Stokes 5 , Crawley 11 ) Michael Holding complains that Gabriel’s field is wrong, as Stokes lifts him high, straight legged to just in front of long off. Timing a bit off. Gabriel then drags him inelegantly wide. Crawley on the other hand creams a delightful four.
3rd over: England 9-1 (Stokes 3 , Crawley 6 ) Superb bowling by Roach, a perfect length as England hack about for runs.
An aside: when West Indies were all out, Sibley sprinted off the field only to be told by Root that he wouldn’t be needed. As a blusher myself, I can speak with some authority that it had big potential as a blushing moment.
2nd over: England 5-1 (Stokes 2 , Crawley 3 ) Gabriel nips one back through Crawley’s gate and then next ball sends one through that lifts and leaves him. Crawley swings, for a single. The Old Trafford lights are on. It’s a strange dynamic - one side are playing T20, while the other side are playing Test cricket.
1st over: England 2-1 (Stokes 1 , Crawley 1 ) Stokes knocks Roach for a single, before Buttler tries his extravagant reach at a wide one.A sad walk back. Crawley drives nicely to mid-on and England are, well, where they are. What do they want - 100 by the close - wickets no object? Lots of anticipatory emails arrive that are sadly out of date by the end of the first over....
The ball after hitting Roach straight back into the non-striker’s stumps, he gets a huge inside edge onto his own stumps. West Indies looks amused. Glad the ECB didn’t fork out £2m for that.
Roll-up, roll-up! Test cricket, it’s where it’s at.
England opening with Buttler and Stokes. Would cost about 2m quid to get that partnership in the IPL. Get ready.
So Stokes’ indigestion is well and truly over! The super over pairing of Stokes and Buttler open the batting!
The Windies lost 6 for 45 this afternoon, victims of the new ball under sunny Manchester skies. They have Chase to thank for avoiding the follow-on, but England will still be pushing for that win. Quick runs and then two sessions to bowl West Indies out? Weather forecast for Manchester tomorrow is fine. 38 minutes of play left this evening, and 98 overs tomorrow.
A slower ball does Gabriel a cropper, after a superb over which included a fast bouncer and a length ball that hits Gabriel in the nuts (one to add to the counterproductive actions?)
Woakes sends the big man home, with an in-ducker that clocks him on the knee roll. Given not out originally but England review.
98th over: West Indies 287-8 (Chase 51, Roach 5) With a well-run two, Chase reaches his fifty, with a modest raise of the bat and a brief glance up at the sky. Roach congratulates him from at least half a foot smaller. Potentially a match-saving, series-saving, innings.
97th over: West Indies 283-8 (Chase 48, Roach 4) Woakes bowling beautifully but without reward. Chase in good enough form to leave well alone.
96th over: West Indies 283-8 (Chase 48, Roach 4) Chase, who made 47 and 37 at the Rose Bowl, and took five wickets in the first innings here, hits another lip-smacking fours through extra-cover off Curran.
Dear Tanya, writes Peter Rowntree.
“Can’t really believe you are a cat stomach tickler. When a cat rolls on his/her back it is showing you it is happy and secure in its environment, that is not an invitation to tickle its’ tum. In the wild a cat always protects its stomach which is the weakest part of its’ body, so if you tickle the said ‘tum’ the cat thinks you are attacking it and any self-respecting Moggy is likely either to scratch your hand or bite it, or both. You may well say that you are not the sort of person to attack cats, and I believe you, but what I think is not important, what’s important is what the cat thinks and it is likely to mutilate your hand for the aggression you have shown it.”
95th over: West Indies 272-8 (Chase 41, Roach 0) An anti-climactic maiden from Woakes.
Would we even want the Windies to follow on if Stokes is out of action? asks Trevor Barnet.
“Either way difficult to see how this isn’t a draw come tomorrow evening. Doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it for now!”
94th over: West Indies 272-8 (Chase 41, Roach 0) Anticipation over. Mop them brows. Send for a brew. Chase whips Curran wide of mid-on for four and then pulls a long-hop to long leg for four more. Ten off the over, a follow-on averted, and one plotline crossed out. West Indies a huge stride closer to retaining the Wisden Trophy.
93rd over: West Indies 262-8 (Chase 30, Roach 0) Woakes on the money in his non-regulations black plastic headband. Roach sways, plays a straight bat, thrusts his front pad forward. Eight needed.
Geoff Wignall writes: “Boa tarde Tanya,I like Iain McShane’s suggestion for a rejigged order (87th over), though I might be tempted to open with Curran.But it isn’t going to happen, is it? I suspect Burns and Crawley will open, maybe with Stokes at three, and am very confident that Root won’t be looking to demote himself; so then Buttler, Pope and Curran at 5, 6 & 7 - or Pope then Buttler. Which could work.”
92nd over: West Indies 261-8 (Chase 30, Roach 0) Curran keeps it mostly full, his fourth ball strikes Roach on the pads. England review - but Roach had got an inside edge - England lose a review, with just one now remaining. Nine needed.
91st over: West Indies 260-8 (Chase 30, Roach 0) On a captain’s hunch, Woakes replaces Broad, and Root is rewarded almost straight away as Holder steers Woakes’ second ball to slip. Roach survives the remaining four balls and it’s all getting a bit tasty. West Indies have lost four for 18!
Holder gives Root some catching practise at slip as West Indies’ Mr Reliable has to leave before steering the ship to safety. Just ten needed to avoid the follow-on!
90th over: West Indies 260-7 (Chase 30, Holder 2) Ah, no. Stokes looks increasingly discomforted by his abdominal pain during the over, and furious when he drifts wide and Chase turns him to midwicket for four. At the end of the over, he walks off the pitch and into the pavilion, replaced by substitute Overton. Did he overbowl after lunch?
89th over: West Indies 256-7 (Chase 26, Holder 2) Stuart Broad is riding the Stuart Broad wave: the eyes are wide, the arms are long, the energy is high. Just a (risky) single from the over. In the nets Archer continues his exertions, watched by THREE men in England tracksuits - as normal human being, that level of scrutiny seems almost unbearable.
88th over: West Indies 255-7 (Chase 25, Holder 2) Stokes, fresh from his 11 over spell before tea, is back. Holder strokes him through the covers for a couple. Stokes rubs his tummy, repeatedly, just where you’d tickle a cat. Stomach muscle issues?
87th over: West Indies 252-7 (Chase 24, Holder 0) The reassuring presence of Jason Holder towers over the stumps. He prods back at Broad’s last three balls, a hand on the shoulder of the West Indies batting. How well Broad has bowled with this new ball! Inspired by his place on the balcony at the Rose Bowl? This from Iain McShane may have a limited shelf life....18 to avoid the follow-on.
“This new ball is talking, Tanya, now Jermaine B has been castled by a great ball from Apache Broad: and it’s saying: “Guys: you may well save the follow-on. But with a hard pill ‘doing The Jam’ and “Going Underground”, this could still be a toughie to save.” So, assuming the West Indies DO save the F.O., do England change the batting order? An hour or so tonight could see England put on another 100 runs. No real need for the estimable Sibbers in such circumstances. My choice to open? Crawley and Buttler; then Stokes, Pope, Curran, in whatever order best maintains a left/right pairing at the crease. Could be fun....”
They take drinks mid-over and the groundstaff hammer the bowling crease and repaint the white lines.
Broad pitches short and the ball skids on and would have removed leg stump. Dowrich appeals for mercy from the third umpire, but there is no reprieve. Suddenly the English garden is more rosy!
86th over: West Indies 252-6 (Chase 24, Dowrich 0) A glorious Chase cover drive for four spoils Curran’s otherwise immaculate over as the sun beats down on Old Trafford.
85th over: West Indies 248-6 (Chase 20, Dowrich 0) Superb bowling from Stuart Broad, feisty with that new ball, utterly destroying Blackwood’s stumps with one that shot low and sent both bails splaying. Could this yet be interesting? 24 needed to avoid the follow-on.
Hook, line and sinker.
84th over: West Indies 247-5 (Chase 19, Blackwood 0) Curran roars a huge appeal against Chase after pinning him on leg-stump. The ump raises his finger but Chase reviews immediately and hawkeye shows the ball pitching just a cornflake outside off stump - the seam lying just outside the shadow. The next ball Chase inside edges him for four.
83rd over: West Indies 242-5 (Chase 14, Blackwood 0) Broad’s first over with the new ball earned him that wicket in his second. Brooks, after an important and smart innings, trapped back on his stumps by a beauty that caught him on middle stump.
As plumb as it is possible to be
82nd over: West Indies 241-4 (Chase 14, Brooks 67) The returning Curran is thrown the new ball and is on the button immediately. Were he a perfume, he’d be sold as“Unfazed.” Woody with flowery notes.
Meanwhile, Andrew is not enamoured of the rumoured new Peerage . For me, he’ll always be Lord Beefy of Brexit, England’s top Full Tosser. But Peter Rowntree prefers the tastier, Lord Beefy of Cheddar.
81st over: West Indies 241-4 (Chase 14, Brooks 67) Broad and Root stroke their beards and consider this and that and whether to take the new ball and decide, yes. And why not? One last huzzah. Sam Curran lurks on the boundary tying up his headband (they seem to be universal throughout the team - is this a new Covid-19 England issue headband?). Holy Baloney, it was the right decision to take the new ball. Chase given a torrid time, including an inducker that by the luck of the holy book(s) avoids brushing the top of the stumps. Brooks steers Broad, with an element of luck, through the slips for four.
80th over: West Indies 235-4 (Chase 8, Brooks 63) A Bess half-volley is thwacked down the ground by Chase for four, a Bess round-arm experiment is blocked with bemusement and Craig Overton appears to be on the field for Sam Curran.
79th over: West Indies 230-4 (Chase 8, Brooks 63) Feisty Broad, Steaming Broad. Brooks crouches low as the ball bounces a fist’s height over the stumps. Just one over left till the new ball can be taken.
75th over: West Indies 230-4 (Chase 8, Brooks 62) Bess continues. A late cut by Brooks, lovely, fine, for two and a crazily optimistic single that would have seen Brooks way out of his crease if Broad had made a direct hit at the non-strikers end
The camera pans away to show us Jofra Archer warming up in the nets wearing blue plastic gloves and a multi-coloured mask.
75th over: West Indies 227-4 (Chase 8, Brooks 60) Broad begins with a jam scone, short that passes harmlessly on the leg-side. After three round the wickets, he switches to over the wicket and Chase is immediately troubled. His last ball is back round the wicket. OF all that, make what you will. A maiden.
Good to know the weather is nice in Manchester,” writes Julian Menz.
“I assume the rain and grotty grey Mancunian skies don’t observe Covid travel-bans, as they’ve arrived here in Sweden with a Shaun Ryder-like bitter sneer. Will be watching the football later with a Red Mancunian, and expect that to end badly, with me paying for the beers.
“Dejected pessimism should be far from England’s thoughts now though. A day and a half to go, 17 wickets to take (as I write), and maybe a quick 90+ to knock off tommorow evening....
“It’s looking like a beautiful day (tomorrow, of course).”
The umpires stroll out and the players trundle down the steps, mostly be-jumpered.
Michael Atherton is as wise as ever on Sky. He first points out that Dom Bess is very young - just 23 next week. At a similar age, Derek Underwood had bowled 27,000 balls in first-class cricket, Graeme Swann 13,900 balls, whereas Bess has bowled only 7400 balls. Bess is therefore learning his trade at Test match level. He then say that Bess should be aiming to pitch nine feet in front of the popping crease, for optimum dip and grip, and that at the moment his pitch is too variable.
75th over: West Indies 227-4 (Chase 8, Brooks 60) Bess flies through one last over, West Indies amble through for three singles, Stuart Broad fields with his giant boot and that’s tea. West Indies can dine fairly confidently, with just 43 more needed for the follow-on. How Joe Root must wish he had Jofra Archer up his sleeves. Time for a quick cup of tea, see you in ten minutes!
75th over: West Indies 224-4 (Chase 6, Brooks 59) A tasty pre-prandial over from Broad, who gets one to rise and rise again off the pitch giving Brooks nowhere to go as the ball jags off the glove and under his armpit and just short of the diving Butler. Four. West Indies 46 away from their magic number and just one over left before tea.
74th over: West Indies 217-4 (Chase 3, Brooks 53) A double change as Root turns to Bess. Let’s see if he can find a bit more consistency this time around. Three tipped off the over, as Kim Thonger mulls over Lord Beefy’s nomenclature:
“Hypothetical of course until we know what’s actually going on, but as a Somerset man myself I feel obliged to point out there are a number of place names in the county that would suit the beefy ennoblement rather well.
73rd over: West Indies 214-4 (Chase 3, Brooks 53) Root prizes the ball from Stokes’ hands and throws it to Broad, who we now watch to see if Arthur Graves’s anti-Samson theory is correct.Brooks studiously ignores the tasty short chocolate treats Broad sends down. On TMS, Andy Zaltzman says that 86 percent of Stokes’ balls were short.
72nd over: West Indies 213-4 (Chase 2, Brooks 53) Woakes stretches those long levers and rolls out another over. Fifty for Brooks, a handsome one too, brought up with a couple turned off the knee roll. If he can stay in for another session, West Indies will be home and dry.
And FYI:
This 11 over spell from Ben Stokes - which may continue - is the fifth longest of his career. His longest was at Headingley last year, when he bowled 16 overs on the bounce in the evening of Day 2. #ENGvWI
71st over: West Indies 209-4 (Chase 2, Brooks 49) Stokes ploughs on, a maiden. Arthur Graves is pondering hair, “ It’s just struck me (maybe much later than most other followers) that Stuart Broad does his best bowling when he has shorter hair. A kind of anti-Samson.”
I’m not sure that’s a function on cricinfo’s statsguru, but I feel in my bones you’re right. Also add Ian Botham, far more potent without the mullet (if less likely to win a peerage.)
70th over: West Indies 209-4 (Chase 2, Brooks 49) Brooks looking increasingly on point, square drives Woakes for four, then four leg byes are given to a ball that he looked to have a touch on.
69th over: West Indies 201-4 (Chase 2, Brooks 45) Whoever suggested Root should make a bowling change, was utterly misguided. Now, perhaps, Stokes will get a rest. Could be the breakthrough England need - but with less than 70 needed, on this pitch, I think it is too late.
Stokes make something from nothing, a back of a length ball and Brathwaite gets a leading edge straight back into those huge paws. And that is the Stokes magic.
68th over: West Indies 199-3 (Brathwaite 75, Brooks 45) Brooks shapes Woakes for four, then Woakes produces an absolute beauty which slides past the outside of Brookes’ pushing blade.
67th over: West Indies 194-3 (Brathwaite 74, Brooks 41) It has all got a bit listless out there, in as much as you can tell without a crowd to list or cheer. Warm sun, short shadows, Stokes bowls his ninth in succession, another all effort over: Brooks remains largely unbothered.
John Starbuck has another example of counter-productiver cricket: “One might add Ricky Ponting’s reactions of rage and highly audible indignation whenever he was got out. It looked as if all the other guys were cheating and only Ricky could see it. Hence he attracted some of the best wicket surrenders ever in highlights packages.”
66th over: West Indies 192-3 (Brathwaite 72, Brooks 41) A bowling change - at the other end. Bess is removed and England’s most hirsute is thrown the ball. Just one run off the over, Brathwaite nudges Woakes nicely off his hip for a single. The follow-on target ticks down, just 77 needed now, with the new ball due soon.
65th over: West Indies 192-3 (Brathwaite 72, Brooks 41) Still Stokes. Always Stokes. He steers his final ball, a nasty riser, into Brooks’ midrift and it hits him somewhere not too painful and billows up just short of the fielder. Shurely time for Stokes to have a rest?
64th over: West Indies 188-3 (Brathwaite 72, Brooks 37) After an orderly over, Bess over pitches with his final ball and Brathwaite absolutely lays into it, furious after being pickpocketed in the cinema, off-driving for four.
63rd over: West Indies 183-3 (Brathwaite 68, Brooks 36) Stokes, who with his longer hair is more matinee idol than enforcer, dispatches the smoking jacket to plough the first three balls short into Brooks. Brooks emerges unscathed.
And to continue Adam’s discussion on counterproductive moves in cricket, Niall Morrissey writes: “You could add to that list Tony Greig signalling his own boundaries with a flourish when facing the fastest of bowling”
62nd over: West Indies 182-3 (Brathwaite 68, Brooks 35) Bess is on the money with his first three balls, but his fourth drifts short and Brathwaite pull him towards the rope where Sibley just prevents a boundary.
61st over: West Indies 178-3 (Brathwaite 65, Brooks 34) Thanks Adam, great stuff. And hello everyone from Manchester, where the sun is streaming through the living room window and the sky is a variety pack of non-threatening white fluffy clouds. Whether England can make anything of them, remains to be seen. Stokes continues, this time a maiden: West Indies need another 92 to avoid the follow-on.
60th over: West Indies 178-3 (Brathwaite 65, Brooks 34) Brooks picks up a single from the final delivery of an accurate Bess over, dancing down the track to clip. Not far away from short leg; the spinner is doing his job. That is drinks! And in turn, it’s time for me to say goodbye for the day. Thanks for your company, I’ll be back tomorrow morning. For now, say hello to Tanya - drop her a line! Bye for now.
59th over: West Indies 177-3 (Brathwaite 65, Brooks 33) Sharp bouncer from Stokes to Brooks around the wicket to begin his fifth. Ooh, and it’s a no-ball for three men behind square leg - you don’t see that too often! “Lucky it wasn’t a wicket,” says Rob Key. Lucky for Dom Bess, who he reckons was the offender at deep square. Brooks plays it cool when the subsequent short balls arrive, simply getting out of the way. It’s underplayed how exhausting it is for quicks when bowling two bumpers an over, then a couple more into the ribs. Stokes won’t have many left in this spell.
Speaking of the two behind square law... Hopkins has one for the counterproductive moves lists: “If all the legends about Bodyline are true, could we add Bradman backing away from a quick one at The Oval in 1930 to the list?”
58th over: West Indies 175-3 (Brathwaite 65, Brooks 32) Dom Bess with a short leg, a slip and a couple of men out on the legside but Brathwaite goes the other way, driving two more through point when Bess gives him enough length to get on the front foot. The opener deserves to go on and complete a ton later this afternoon.
57th over: West Indies 173-3 (Brathwaite 63, Brooks 32) Stokes goes straight to the bouncer and it successful in pinging Brooks on the arm. He’s fine though, straight back on his feet. It inspires the all-rounder to change it up around the wicket with men catching around the corner but the No5 is fine with that, adjusting in the crease to turn a single around the corner, Brathwaite doing likewise to midwicket to finish. I hate to say it England fans, but this could start drifting soon.
56th over: West Indies 170-3 (Brathwaite 62, Brooks 31) Boundaries in three consecutive overs for the West Indies, taking the West Indies to within 100 runs of avoiding the follow-on. And it’s Brooks once again looking the part, for the second time driving Bess against the spin through cover - timing the cover off it, too. He backs it up with three more with placement this time, steering behind point. After England looked likely 20 minutes ago, West Indies have taken back the initiative.
“Booing Steve Smith 2019,” Andrew Stanwell adds to the list of counterproductive moves in cricket. Yes, that... didn’t go so well for England. And was never going to.
55th over: West Indies 163-3 (Brathwaite 62, Brooks 24) This is a very handy innings from Brooks, into the 20s with his fifth boundary already, clipping Stokes past midwicket with swagger! Very attractive batting at an important time.
Speaking of, here’s Romeo again: “Sideburns got you 16 wickets at Lord’s on debut back in the day. The previous photo of DKL was taken just after the side arrived in
London in 1972, and evidently just before the players settled on the
moustache-growing championship. Six weeks and 11 first-class matches
later, the first Test began.” How I wish I could go on an old-fashioned Ashes tour. The last of those was 1993, although in 1997 they still played most counties. Trivia: who led Australia’s bowling averages in ‘93? The reserve ‘keeper, Tim Zoehrer!
54th over: West Indies 158-3 (Brathwaite 62, Brooks 19) Right, Curran is off and Bess is on. He did pick up a wicket straight away earlier today and has looked the part in terms of the turn he’s been able to generate. No fear for Brooks though, stepping down at the second ball of the new spell to launch into a square drive for four. As they say on telly, high risk but high reward. They’ve put on 35 in 50 balls.
53rd over: West Indies 151-3 (Brathwaite 60, Brooks 14) Brathwaite tries to pull Stokes but misses everything. Sure enough, hehas more short stuff to deal with, mixed in with a couple of other deliveries trained at his middle stump. There’s very little leave when the England all-rounder is at the bowling crease. Good.
A list from Ian Forth: “Counterproductive moves in cricket.”
1. Tony Greig’s ‘grovel’ comment
2. Bouncing Devon Malcolm at the Oval, 1994
3. Dean Jones asking Curtly Ambrose to remove his wristbands
4. Stuart Broad’s celebrappealing
5. Tim Paine’s decision to review, Headingley 2019
52nd over: West Indies 151-3 (Brathwaite 60, Brooks 14) Oh! Sam Curran through the gate with a little inducker, ever to close to castling Brooks. He goes the other way later in the over, some of that Underwood-esque deviation via his slower ball, and but fat outside edge runs away to the rope rather than a catcher. They’re not far away from a fourth but they only have 118 runs to play with. Over to you, Ben.
“Loving the action from Kuala Lumpur.” Pleased to hear it, Joel Eley. “Lots are being made of the hair and use of headbands in cricket at the moment. However I do note there is hardly proper sideburn on view, just well manicured beards. This is something the ICC needs to work on. On a more serious note can you give a shout out to Trizzy my Aussie mate whose old man goes in for heart surgery tomorrow.”
51st over: West Indies 145-3 (Brathwaite 60, Brooks 8)AT LONG LAST, Stokes is into the attack. And wouldn’t you know it? He creates a genuine chance first ball, Brathwaite - the crucial man at this point - edging him straight through third slip, the gap in the cordon. That stings for a captain.
“Sam Curran is the new Derek Underwood,” Romeo says in reference to Slammin’ Sam’s dismissal of Hope. “(but can bat).”
50th over: West Indies 141-3 (Brathwaite 56, Brooks 8) Brathwaite again early in the over, a single behind square. Brooks takes care of the rest, finding his groove.
49th over: West Indies 140-3 (Brathwaite 55, Brooks 8) Brooks goes again, almost an identical stroke to the one that got him off the mark, this time clipping Broad through midwicket for four. That’ll do. It all helps in terms of getting this deficit below the magic 200, currently at 329. Stokes. Stokes. Stokes. Come on, Joe.
48th over: West Indies 135-3 (Brathwaite 54, Brooks 4) Brooks is off the mark with a tidy little clip off his pads, Curran too full on that line. Nice start.
“Hi Adam.” Hi, Arthur Graves. “Still here, in Sydney, up too late, following another game slip slowly out of England’s grasp. I don’t mind too much as it’s not the Ashes. On the subject of substances used to change the balls, there’s been a lot of debate over the last few years about how the game has moved a long way in support of batters and the bowlers haven’t been able to keep pace. Why not just go back to the days of Vaseline, bottle caps, sand, sandpaper, spit, cough-sweets, etc. Just let the fielding side do whatever they need to do – but only allow them a certain amount of balls per match – so no-one goes crazy.”
47th over: West Indies 131-3 (Brathwaite 54, Brooks 0) Another close call for lbw two balls later! Stokes, though, makes the call from slip that they shouldn’t review as he thinks it is going over the top. He’s right - it was. Brathwaite responds in style, with a pair of quite lovely on-driven boundaries. The toughest shot in the game, they call that? Well, not for the West Indies’ opener it’s not. The first of those takes him to 50 for the second time in the series and the 27th time in Tests.
@collinsadam the LBW review frim Broad just now. England should have lost the review. Snickometer showed it brushed the front pad, well outside the line. Ball tracking had umpires call on the backpad. Should be obvious.
NOT OUT! Umpire’s call on contact! It was smashing into the off-stump, so had the call gone his way on the field the decision would have stood. But not to be. Broad’s patented celebrappeal wasn’t convincing enough. They retain the review.
HAS BROAD TRAPPED BRATHWAITE? Michael Gough says no, Root says yes. To DRS!
46th over: West Indies 123-3 (Brathwaite 46, Brooks 0) So the window opens for England, a wicket within quarter of an hour of the resumption. In effect, they need to take the final seven wickets for fewer than 146 runs. That’s not out of the question in the slightest, they just need to get on a roll and remain patient.
Curran gets the breakthrough! Running his fingers down the seam, there’s just enough deviation off the track to win a faint edge, taken low by Buttler. A frustrating end for Hope, who played so well before lunch.
45th over: West Indies 123-2 (Brathwaite 46, Hope 25) That’s a top shot, Brathwaite learning into an on-drive off Broad, earning a boundary for it. For a man who came into this tour so badly out of form, he’s doing a job on this tour. Remember, of course, that he struck 65 in that low-scoring affair at Southampton last week.
A big conversation after lunch about the importance of county cricket on developing players, angling at getting Hope over here for a season - good call. “With regards to the discussion on Sky,” says Digvijay Yadav, listening in. “I’ll tell you who will benefit the most from playing County Cricket - Renshaw.”
44th over: West Indies 119-2 (Brathwaite 42, Hope 25) Brathwaite is off strike second ball, picking up a single early in the over as he has so often in this innings. Hope plays himself back in for the rest of the tidy set, comfortable defending.
“Why not think ahead,” begins Terry Pointer. “A ball which, on contact with saliva, will determine if the spitter has Covid. We could call it a test ball...” What a world!
Right, we all fed and watered? Let’s gear up for this middle session. England have 151 runs to play with and they won’t mind giving up 149 of those so long as they get the wickets in time. But in saying that, Hope is in lovely touch and Brathwaite is playing a proper senior-pro hand. I can’t work out why Stokes hasn’t been used with his knack of claiming wickets at vital times, but I’m sure we’ll see him soon.
Sam Curran has the ball, bowling to Brathwaite. PLAY!
Some emails? Let’s do it. To begin, Romeo has an option for what the players could use to polish the ball during the days of Covid - a little dab will suffice, of course.
“Surely wet wipes have the same effect on the ball as saliva?” asks Andrew Thomas. “A clever ruse?” They looked like that to me, but I’m an unreliable narratow, seeing everything through that lens at the moment due to my five-month old.
Why is Bumble is disguise? pic.twitter.com/FMNq8COkCm
I’ll grab a sandwich too. Back shortly. If you’re after a break from the telly or radio during the interval, Geoff Lemon and my conversation with Kate Cross might be of interest. The England seamer was most forthcoming with us about her battles with anxiety and depression. Earlier in the ep, 45 minutes of deep-diving from Andre van Troost to Bobby Abel; Sandhya Argawal to Bill Ponsford. Enjoy!
43rd over: West Indies 118-2 (Brathwaite 41, Hope 25) It’s Joe Root! The man who took a bag at Port Elizabeth earlier this year - he should bowl more often, for mine. He’s around the wicket to Hope, who is well set here, pushing the off-breaks back to the fielders without any concern. The captain is racing through this too quickly; there’s no need for that, build some pressure? Anyway, his final ball - the last of the session - is the best of the set, bringing the No4 forward in defence. That’s lunch! 86 runs and just the one wicket, a fantastic session for the visitors, only losing their nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph. They walk off for a bite to eat 351 runs behind.
42nd over: West Indies 118-2 (Brathwaite 41, Hope 25) Clever cricket from Bess to skip through an over in 90 seconds in order to get England another before lunch. He’s bowled nine very good overs this morning, claiming the one wicket to fall.
41st over: West Indies 117-2 (Brathwaite 41, Hope 24) Woakes is up for leg before against Brathwaite, beating him on the inside edge with his one that goes the other way, but he can’t convince the umpre and Root again plays is safe with his review. It would have been umpire’s call had they gone upstairs, so nothing lost. The opener is back on it straight away, clipping a couple. Interesting between overs: the umpires take the ball after Dom Sibley self-reported that he put some saliva on it, Sky Cricket explain. So, in keeping with the protocols for this series, Michael Gough got his baby wipes (or so it looked) out to sanitise the ball. Good to see.
40th over: West Indies 115-2 (Brathwaite 39, Hope 24) Big shout from Bess and Buttler for a edge down the legside but Richard Illingworth wants none of it and Root isn’t reviewing another like that. I don’t think Hope hit that. To begin the over, Brathwaite kept the board ticking over with another drive against the spin of Bess, finding the gap at extra cover with the neat stroke and getting three runs for it.
Michael Holding, in the form of his life in this series, talking about Albert Padmore's cooking and barbering. Super stuff @collinsadam.
What other sport would allow for such lovely diversions in the midst of the struggle?
39th over: West Indies 112-2 (Brathwaite 36, Hope 24) Woakes beats Hope with the ball of the morning. Shaping in, on the money, angling away off the seam - everything but the edge. He finds that part of the bat later in the over, but straight to ground. A frustrating morning for the seamer - he’s bowled really well.
“Dear Adam.” Dearest Bob Wilson! “How’s the family?” They’re the best. Winnie is currently having a nap, having tried to eat my ears and nose all morning until then.
38th over: West Indies 111-2 (Brathwaite 35, Hope 24) Back to Bess v Hope, with the tweaker spun around to the Statham End. I reckon we might see these two play a lot of international cricket against each other over the next ten years. The spinner keeps him at home so the No4 responds with a full-blooded sweep, the first time he’s played that shot, striking it expertly - four runs. Stokes now, right?
Iain McKane is hot on the emails, informing me that he’s found a new role for his cricket headbands as Coronavirus masks. Good thinking - more of that!
37th over: West Indies 107-2 (Brathwaite 35, Hope 20) Shot! And again! After the failed review, Brathwaite strikes a pair of delightful boundaries from consecutive deliveries. The first is a full-blooded slap through the off-side off the back foot, the second is all timing, not a lot of footwork but the result is the same, four past point. Ten from the Woakes over, his first back into the attack. He’s had a top morning.
“Hi Adam.” G’day Romeo. “This guy didn’t use a headband in 1972, although he did when he cut his hair a bit shorter and it started coming out.” And so did every cricketer of my father’s generation as a result. By the time I came along, we were all wearing the Nike headbands because of Shane Warne’s influence.
NOT OUT! Michael Gough’s decision is confirmed by Richard Kettleborough and England lose a review. They have two remaining, the West Indies three.
HAS BRATHWAITE GLOVED WOAKES TO BUTTLER? Root wants DRS to take a look.
36th over: West Indies 97-2 (Brathwaite 27, Hope 20) Well played, Brathwaite steering Broad off the back foot past backward point for three. With about half a dozen overs left until lunch, the West Indies are 372 runs behind. England need to find a way through before that break. Throw it to Ben Stokes for a couple, right?
“Something to put you off your lunch,” begins Peter Gibbs. Should we? Okay, let’s. “Listening to Tufnell and how to shine the ball without sweat/spit, I think he suggested a sweat substitute of salty water in a bottle at the beginning of the run-up. Even better, why not get properly shielded people collecting both and sending it in at a cost. Ticks all the working from home boxes etc. Plus! sweatshop.online is available for just a couple of quid Naturally with all website ideas, I’ll just offer it up and take 50% of the profits and EVEN forego any employees take home product privileges.” Yuk! But not as bad as how Ash Giles kept his fingers in good shape...
35th over: West Indies 94-2 (Brathwaite 24, Hope 20) Hope does again at Bess but this time by jumping back and thumping him hard through midwicket. His fourth boundary so far for him and they’ve all been class. Quality Test Match cricket.
“I like Bess,” writes Digvijay Yadav. “Old fashioned offie, drift it outside the off and get it to turn back sharply towards the top of off. Beautiful. None of this carrom ball nonsense.” I’ve nothing against a finger-spinner who has the other one up his sleeve, but I agree that there’s something comforting about the fact that, for all of cricket’s rapid evolution in recent times, there remains room for an old-school offie.
34th over: West Indies 90-2 (Brathwaite 24, Hope 16) Back to back maidens from Broad, this time at Brathwaite, who he takes a straighter and shorter line at. He’s not far away at all with the final delivery, banging it in and finding an edge from relatively high on the blade. The opener did well to take his bottom hand off the handle at the point of contact, taking the cordon out of play. Speaking of slips...
“Adam.” John Starbuck. “I’ve often wondered about how much work goes into calculating the optimum distances for close fielders, especially the slip cordon. Obviously, you need time enough to spot the ball coming your way to catch it, but the speed will vary between bowlers and the pitch character. Supposedly, the wicketkeeper’s placing sets the distance, but most of the time the ball doesn’t touch the bat, the keeper has to take it directly, whereas a slip usually gets a ricochet from the edge. Moreover, it seems like bad manners or lack of team spirit to appear to be disparaging some bowlers’ lack of pace, which could make them perform worse (or gee them up). Any suggestions?”
33rd over: West Indies 90-2 (Brathwaite 24, Hope 16) Shot, Shai. Big stride in, driving against the spin of Bess, perfect contact, four runs. Bess drags his length back just a tad with his next ball, finding an inside edge. Good little contest.
32nd over: West Indies 85-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 12) Broad is back for his second spell and it is a tidy re-start, hitting the deck outside the off-stump at Hope.
“Surely in England matches should start at 11-ish, 10.30 for 11, or 11 on the dot.” Very good, Paul Griffin. I missed most of Bess’ next over laughing at this.
31st over: West Indies 85-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 12) The other big selling point for Bess: he gives away nothing in terms of runs. Another maiden. We saw that in South Africa, of course, when he came into the XI from nowhere. I spoke to his coach at Somerset about that call-up and, at that stage, it was unclear if he would even be in the county team to start this year. A nice ride he’s been on since.
30th over: West Indies 85-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 12) A nice start this from Hope, into double figures off Curran with a couple through square leg then two more into the gap at midwicket. Meanwhile, Jimmy is in Sky Cricket’s Diary Room. Not quite as much to report on as there was when his old mucker Stuart Broad had a chat during his week off in Southampton! Says he feels fit after a few days rest.
“It’s all floppy hair and headbands in the England attack just now, and I’m worried.” Strong words from Luke Williams. “Kindest thing to say is that it’s very Love Over Gold era Dire Straits, although I’m sure I saw Broady trying a Hugh Grant copyrighted boyish-grin-with-a-hint-of-fop.”
29th over: West Indies 81-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 8) “A little bit sloppy,” is Nasser’s verdict of England’s first hour. But Bess, who got them a prize before the drinks break, is right on the money. Three men around the bat, which could afford to be four if Root wants to throw in a silly point. Whatever happened to off-spinners having silly points by default? For another time. Brathwaite is up to the challenge. On Root, fancy us seeing a fair bit of him later today as well. Spin twins.
“All the talk of Test start times - doesn’t anyone remember the bad (good) old days of Channel 4?” asls Thomas Hannan. “Tests started at 10.50am or sometimes 10.45am I think (to accommodate horse racing?) so starting early in England is certainly doable. Sky made a big deal of moving it back to 11am when they got the rights but just think if only it was still on Channel 4, England would have had the extra 10-15 mins daily play that surely would have guaranteed victory.”
28th over: West Indies 81-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 8) The final over of the first hour, and Hope is off the mark courtesy of a long half-volley, timing Curran through cover for four. Granted, not a high degree of difficulty but still needed to be put away. And he does it again later in the over - a classical square drive! “Shai Hope at his best,” says Ebony Rainford-Brent on television. Top over for him. And that’s drinks.
“Morning Adam.” Hi, Damian Clarke. “Sitting here with a leg in plaster, I need a little project. So I’ll be happy to take your funding for the PhD. Can you first bung me a sub to get a degree and Masters, though. Thanks in advance.”
27th over: West Indies 73-2 (Brathwaite 23, Hope 0) Positive signs for Bess early on here, the turn considerable at Brathwaite, who plays him well off the front foot for a couple before defending deeper in the crease with nice, soft hands later on.
26th over: West Indies 71-2 (Brathwaite 21, Hope 0) Brathwaite flicks Curran for a single early in the over, Hope then playing him watchfully, getting his eye in.
25th over: West Indies 70-2 (Brathwaite 20, Hope 0) This is a big matchfor Shai Hope, who battled last week at Southampton. Of course, he has those twin tons to his name at Leeds the last time these teams met in England, and is one of the most prolific ODI openers in the world with nine tons to his name in that format, but he has averaged just 25 in Tests since August 2017. He’s well forward to begin against Bess, but the off-spinner goes through the gate with the final offering of his successful over, a gorgeous, dipping delivery that turns big and bounces over the middle stump; the type of delivery that’s earned Nathan Lyon so many wickets over the last decade. The end of a fantastic set to begin the Somerset tweaker’s day.
“Hey Adam.” Thilo Fob, my man. “Good to have you back and congratulations again on your big news this year, talking about the introduction of the tv umpire checking front foot bo-balls of course. Changing Meal and start times next!” Just you wait.
After talking up Joseph, he’s out from the second ball of spin! Bess is into the attack and immediately into the book with a classic off-spinners’ wicket, finding the shoulder of the nightwatchman’s bat, the sharp chance taken well at short leg.
24th over: West Indies 70-1 (Brathwaite 20, Joseph 32) Singles for both players early off Curran, Brathwaite to midwicket then Joseph cover. The latter, the TV tells me, had a first class average in excess of 100 last year at home. Don’t read too much into that, but based on what we’ve seen, he’s better than your average nightwatchman.
23rd over: West Indies 68-1 (Brathwaite 19, Joseph 31) Woakes has bowled nicely this morning but this is less threatening, Joseph through it without a bother.
22nd over: West Indies 67-1 (Brathwaite 18, Joseph 31) Slammin’ Sammy Curran! The OBO darling is into the attack and immediatley making things happen when Joseph tries to smack him onto the moon. He’s lucky to get an inside edge on it before returning to a more conservative strategy as the all-rounder finds his range.
“Not being able to see it,” writes Rod Ryan. “Are England’s slips too close together? It always seems the ‘deviation angles’ between them are less than Australian slips. I think the Australian idea is that you ‘go for everything’ while the English pattern can lead to occasional unfortunate ‘double leaves’ or ‘crossover interference’ and also a bigger gap to the gully fieldsman.”There’s a PhD thesis somewhere in that!
21st over: West Indies 67-1 (Brathwaite 18, Joseph 31) Woakes is the man most likely so far this morning, generating plenty of dangerous movement away from both right-handers. In this case, Brathwaite plays him judiciously, carefully getting his bat inside the line just before the ball reaches him. Good work. It’s a maiden.
20th over: West Indies 67-1 (Brathwaite 18, Joseph 31) Runs aplenty here, Brathwaite busy early in the over before Joseph is lucky not to be caught in the gully when hanging his bat at a good ball. Ohh, and again with a more conventional outside edge, bisecting third slip and gully. Broad is fuming. A quick bouncer to finish and it’s four more straight off the helmet when the nightwatchman misses the ball when attempting an awkward hook. Those leg byes make it 17 off the over! The Windies have in half an hour this morning taken the deficit from 437 to 402 and this partnership is now 51 from just 63 deliveries. England need to strike.
“It is lovely to have the rhythm of international cricket back,” writes Rod Ryan. “And for us in Australia or elsewhere in the world if we are unable to listen or watch the game, the Guardian OBO experience is identical with zero crowd!”
19th over: West Indies 50-1 (Brathwaite 15, Joseph 21) RUN OUT CHANCE! Joseph defends to mid-off and sets off for reasons best explained by the nightwatchman! Brathwaite sends him back but had Sibley’s throw been a direct hit, that would have been that. He gathers his thoughts and gets through another probing Woakes over.
“I think that the 11am start on the fifth day was so that the game would finish earlier allowing the players to get back to their counties for a match the next day,” recalls RTK Davies. “Mind you can’t see that half an hour would make much difference.”
18th over: West Indies 50-1 (Brathwaite 15, Joseph 21) Time for Disco Stu to get in the book? Not this time around, Joseph able to get off strike with an unconvincing pull shot before Brathwaite gets his bat out of the way of one that would have caused him trouble had he elected to play at it. The West Indies are 419 behind.
17th over: West Indies 49-1 (Brathwaite 15, Joseph 20) Woakes squares Joseph up, trying to slip to midwicket but instead spitting out into the offside off the leading edge, but safely away for three behind point. Oooh, nearly a carbon copy to Brathwaite next up - three more through the cordon. Most frustrating for the bowler, who is looking dangerous early on here. DROPPED CATCH! Oh dear, that’s a pretty straightforward chance for Stokes at second slip to his right. Yes, Crawley edging into his line of sight from third slip, but it wasn’t coming quickly from the edge of Joseph’s bat. Perhaps it was too slowly and he had too long to think? In any case, the chance goes down. As is the custom after something like that, a boundary follows to finish, Brathwaite glancing Woakes away fine. 13 off an over when Woakes found three legitimate edges. It is a batsmans’ game and never forget it.
“Hi Adam.” Morning, Ian Forth. “Do I remember this right? When I was a lad, test matches used to start at 11.30 (and there was a rest day). But on the final morning, it was 11a.m. What on earth was the logic behind that?”
16th over: West Indies 36-1 (Brathwaite 6, Joseph 16) Now Broad with the headband, who has swung himself around to the Statham End. Athers explains that there was a strong breeze on Friday but not much now, allowing the attack-leader to return to end he usually bowls from at this ground when Anderson is in the team. Joseph gets his first run of the day from the first ball he faces, a single behind point. Back to Brathwaite, who leaves to begin before Broad really sprays one, heading to the right of Root at first slip when Buttler gets his glove in there to parry it away; a couple of wides added to the total. We saw Shannon Gabriel put a couple of deliveries in that direction but you don’t expect it from Broad. Joseph on strike once more and he gets another single, nicely timed through the gap at midwicket.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Peter Salmon. “Surely the ideal situation for us OBOers would be the Windies rolled for about 180 and then England failing to enforce the follow on. Then making a sluggish 7/150 and it ending in a draw. Imagine the exasperation we could share! Proper cricket.” We should be so lucky, my friend.
15th over: West Indies 32-1 (Brathwaite 6, Joseph 14) Ball on bat, the first two deliveries clipped to fielders on the legside, Woakes then nearly squaring up Brathwaite, who plays him with soft hands. Ooh, and there’s the leg-cutter, hitting the seam and beating the edge. Not a lot of bounce but plenty of movement. To finish, more bounce on that same nagging line, well left by the opener. Nice start.
The players are on the field! And we’re ready to go. Nasser Hussain is ringing the pavilion bell and Chris Woakes is at the top of his mark. The West Indies resume on 32-1, some 437 runs behind the hosts. Kraigg Brathwaite is the man on strike, resuming on 6. He has Alzarri Joseph with him, the nightwatchman 14. PLAY!
“G’mornin Adam, g’mornin all.” Hi, Dean Kinsella. “So the photo shows a fair bit of cloud cover this morning. Looking forward to seeing Jimmy hooping it about on his home ground and. Oh wait.” It’s sunny now! But, yes. I wonder, if they knew about Archer earlier, whether Anderson would have been in this XI. On the other hand, as Silverwood has hinted, it’s about getting him safely fit for four Tests this summer.
Before we begin, an excellent Vic Marks column on Stokes and Botham. I’m not posting this to start a discussion about the House of Lords, by the way - for the sake of all of our mental health, let’s leave that one well alone today.
Related: Ben Stokes is still evolving and can lord it over even Ian Botham | Vic Marks
“Morning Collo; morning everyone. Love channelling my inner Benaud.” Iain McKane, hello to you. “I’ve a feeling Sam Curran and Bess will “come to the party” more tomorrow; today, I’m looking particularly at Broad and Stokes to make the major breakthroughs. Here’s hoping, though, that the West Indies batsmen make a real fight of things and we get a finish, late tomorrow, to match the brilliance of the First Test at The Ageas. Enjoy, Sir!”
As Vish Ehantharajah - formerly of the OBO parish - noted in his piece last night, if you need wickets in a hurry, who are going to call? Stuart Broad.
Lovely, sunny day in Manchester. Watching the telly, and taking a look at the forecast, there will be no issue with rain today. Let’s get those 98 overs in. Meanwhile, Michael Holding and Ian Bishop are talking with Nas about their distinctive approaches to the crease on Sky Cricket. Outstanding coverage.
So frustrating that playing conditions don’t allow for a 10:30 start when there’s no crowd and Sky has a dedicated channel. Maybe something that can be looked at before the Pakistan series. PS autocorrect changed ‘conditions’ to ‘combustion’s’ - confident I’ve never typed that.
“Hi Adam.” G’day, Avitaj Mitra.“Since yesterday’s play was entirely washed out, and this is now, in effect, a 4 day match.. shouldn’t the follow on mark be 319 and not 269?”
Good shout but not quite. If the Test had been reduced to four-days before it started - i.e. had the first day been washed out - I believe this would be the case. It’s certainly how they do it in First Class cricket: I was commentating a three-day game between Northants and the touring Australians in 2015 where the follow-on was reduced to 100 after day one was washed out. However, not once the game begins.
“Hi Adam!” Morning, Sam Rhodes. “Pleasure to be reading your work, and I’m a big fan of The Final Word.” Why, thank you! “Given states of flux invite aimless crystal ball-gazing, I’m seeing a future where the West Indies are skittled at around 11.15 tomorrow for 271. Obviously they’ve avoided the follow on, but there’s still time to take ten more wickets if England bowl well. How much do you (and the broader OBO parish) think England would want to set them in order to keep the Wisden trophy alive? Would we see an instant declaration, or perhaps a quickfire fifty from Stokes and Buttler? Normally I’d expect England to take the draw, but with the series dead with any result other than an England win, we might see some quite tantalising aggression.”
I like your speculation - I like it a lot. In that scenario, sending Buttler/Stokes out with a mandate to go wild for an hour to put the chase out of reach but leave 60-odd overs, well, it would keep things interesting! And would be good for Jos.
On that theme, our first message of the day is a frustrated one, from @Katie_Allen: “It’s INFURIATING that they aren’t playing already - they’re all there, there’s no spectators or public transport to consider, they can just roll out of bed and out to the pitch.”
The boring answer is that they can’t modify the playing conditions after they have been agreed before the Test/series - or, indeed the World Test Championship. You might have seen my story the other day about front-foot no-balls going to the TV umpire for ICC events. Well, this is an ICC event, part of the WTC. However, they already agreed to the conditions for this cycle so the status quo prevails for now.
Session times. So, as I said below, 98 overs can be bowled today. It’s one of those quirks that if it rains during a day, the scheduled closed can be pushed to 7pm before the 30 extra minutes. However, when they are making up time from earlier, only half an hour is available before the extra half an hour that takes us to the 7pm.
A slow but large first innings, loads of rain, the fact that a follow-on is now required in order to give it a chance of getting exciting on day five, this Test Match has a distinct olde worlde feel at this stage. I know that isn’t everyone’s jam - I see that some fans are ready to banish Dom Sibley because he didn’t predict the Saturday washout (or something like that) - but I’m quite excited about the next two days.
For England, the focus couldn’t be sharper: they have to skittle the Windies for under 270. Mostly due to the advice of medical staff, it is rare for a side to be invited to follow-on in this modern era. To get ahead of one element of this debate, that has very little to do with VVS Laxman; a myth, debunked by Geoff Lemon during the 2015 Ashes. Even so, the aggressive option has long since been standard practice.