After an iffy start from England’s batsmen, Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler helped the hosts take control of the deciding Test
A good day’s work for England: runs in the bank and for the two men who hadn’t passed fifty this summer - an unbroken partnership of 136. Buttler had an understandably wary start but freed the shoulders with those two sixes off Cornwall and looked increasingly confident. Pope was all ease and poise and timing. He sleeps, nine short of his century.
Jason Holder’s decision to bowl first hasn’t paid off but they still have the morning, and they still have the new ball, and they still have the England tail. Kemar Roach was the pick of the bowlers.
Related: Ollie Pope delivers to put England in charge of third Test against West Indies
That’s that then folks. The hover covers float into place and England will be hoping that weather forecast bucks up. A reminder that batsmen can’t accept or decline the light any more, it’s purely the umpires’ decision.
A hoarse sounding Ollie Pope is being interviewed. “Jos is a nice guy to bat with, he doesn’t need me telling him how to bat. The pitch spun a little bit, still a little bit of nip in it for the bowlers, a pretty good wicket, not as much pace as we thought. The West Indies have looked after the ball well.
85.4 over: England 258-4 (Buttler 56, Pope 91)After four dot balls, the umpires draw together like a couple of shifty looking dealers . From a mile away, it doesn’t seem particularly dark, but their light meters say otherwise. Pope and Buttler trot off happy with their afternoon’s work. West Indies, denied their new ball, are not so merry.
85th over: England 258-4 (Buttler 56, Pope 91)Roach has Pope in a touch of trouble. Pope pushes him awkwardly just short of the cover fielder and pulls at a bouncer rather wildly, but to the final ball he storms into the 90s with an on-drive. (an irrelevant aside: I never find an on-drive as easy on the eye as an off-drive)
Good afternoon Tanya, writes Geoff Wignall, “Too late now to advise you to plead a typo - schlepping for skelping. Jos Buttler is as fine a skelper as you’ll find, but he’ll never be anywhere near as good a keeper as Foakes which is one reason the doubters will continue to doubt. “
84th over: England 252-4 (Buttler 55, Pope 85) Gabriel hurtles in; his first ball flies aimlessly past Buttler’s off stump. And so it continues for the rest of the over.
Some Buttlerstatism: this is Buttler’s 17th 50 in Test cricket, only five times has he reached fifty in fewer than 80 balls. Basically, he’s more of a classical Test batsman in Tests than you think. The question is whether he should be forcing himself into that mode
83rd over: England 252-4 (Buttler 55, Pope 85) Aha! The new ball - and a chance for West Indies to finish the day with some equity. Roach takes it and Buttler promptly edges him through the slips for four.
82nd over: England 246-4 (Buttler 51, Pope 84) And that’s Buttler’s fifty! With a shovel through the covers off Chase and a wriggle of the shoulders as the burden slips.
81st over: England 244-4 (Buttler 49, Pope 84) No new ball? No new ball. Cornwall continues and leaks a couple.
80th over: England 242-4 (Buttler 48, Pope 83) Windies going through the motions here now, England breezing along. Another four, twinking toes, immaculate blade, Pope driving on the off-side
“I’m not really a Buttler sceptic or detractor (I tend to hope that whoever is playing does well, since that generally me as that the team does), but I think that the number that Buttler needs is three or four’” writes Chris Howell. “As in, three or four innings of substance in the remaining tests this summer. It’s a little unfair, in that his 35 at Southampton was overshadowed by the collapse going on around him, while the 40 last game here was overshadowed by what had gone before. It’s good to see him currently being involved in a partnership that is changing the nature of the game England’s way, as he does so often in limited overs matches.”
79th over: England 236-4 (Buttler 47, Pope 78) Another four for Pope as he tickles Cornwall behind square and a weary Gabriel half-heatedly sticks a clod-hopper towards it and tips it over the rope. One over before the new ball.
78th over: England 230-4 (Buttler 46, Pope 73) Chase tosses the ball up and Buttler slams him through the covers, past a semi-comatose cover fielder , for four. That magic fifty is in touching distance.
77th over: England 223-4 (Buttler 40, Pope 71) Cornwall roars an appeal against Pope who looks worried enough for Holder to call for the third umpire. It hit him plump on the front leg, but the review assumes some MASSIVE turn that has the ball ripping past leg. Not out and West Indies lose a review.
Should we be faced with an appeal by Gabriel over a decision regarding Pope, should the umpires refer the appeal to Upstairs, as unopposed to merely upstairs? asks Andrew Tyacke. And how will the decision be conveyed to the field umpires? Personally I favour a thunderbolt to strike the one in the wrong but maybe a short chorus from a celestial choir might be more in keeping with the tranquil nature of cricketing tradition.
76th over: England 220-4 (Buttler 39, Pope 70) Buttler envelopes Cornwall and presses him through extra-cover beautifully to the boundary.
75th over: England 215-4 (Buttler 35, Pope 69) Buttler faces down a Cornwall maiden to a stadium of empty seats.
74th over: England 215-4 (Buttler 35, Pope 69) Chase continues as West Indies wheel through some overs before the new ball.
73rd over: England 212-4 (Buttler 33, Pope 68) It’s still a jolt every time Cornwall approaches the crease. He’s as tall as Jason Holder but four times the width and the walking-talking antithesis of what we’ve come to recognise as a cricketer’s physique (T20 style McCullum muscle or Root-like slender). He has a big shout for lbw against Buttler but an inside edge.
72nd over: England 210-4 (Buttler 32, Pope 67) A maiden from Chase, and a tweet from Gary Naylor.
Strange @tjaldred. I have the feeling that England don't think Rakheem Cornwall can bowl, whereas Jason Holder doesn't think Roston Chase can bowl.
71st over: England 210-4 (Buttler 32, Pope 67) A risk-free five runs collected from Holder’s over and West Indies need to conjure a wicket from somewhere quickly.
“What number will satisfy Buttler sceptics?” asks Will Wiles. It may not last but so far this is a proper Test innings from Buttler. For me anything more than 50 and he’s done enough to quiet the detractors for the rest of the summer. He’s applying himself to the red ball and needs time and experience just like the top order.”
70th over: England 205-4 (Buttler 30, Pope 64) A Cornwall maiden takes us up to the final drinks break of the day. A fabulous half-session for England that: 74 runs off it and feeling of breaking-free in the air.
69th over: England 205-4 (Buttler 30, Pope 64) Holder sticks to an off-stump line and from riches England pull just a single from the over.
“Hello” writes Andrew Benton. Hello Andrew! “ I’ve not seen “blooter” in use on the OBO for some time - a fine word for a shot that is, I miss it. And incidentally Google translate says in German it is.....”Blooter”
68th over: England 205-4 (Buttler 30, Pope 64) Ay-oh. Buttler carts Cornwall for two huge sixes, one over long-on and one over deep mid-wicket.
67th over: England 191-4 (Buttler 18, Pope 62) Just one from Holder’s over too as West Indies buy themselves some breathing space.
66th over: England 190-4 (Buttler 18, Pope 61) Cornwall back into the attack to reassert some control, just a single off the over and a reminder of the link to donate to the Ruth Strauss Foundation - an amazing £194K raised at tea!
65th over: England 189-4 (Buttler 18, Pope 60) Five off Holder’s over.
I might switch my email off. Over to you Richard Woods
64th over: England 184-4 (Buttler 15, Pope 59) I rather took my eye off the ball that over what with drowing in an inbox Schlamassel of my own making (hope Google translate hasn’t let me down there). Basically Pope is creeping towards the level of princeling, first edging Gabriel down to third man for four then driving the increasingly out of sorts bowler for four more
63rd over: England 173-4 (Buttler 12, Pope 51) Pope pretties up fifty with another boundary, a powerful off drive, his sixth boundary of the innings. He really is to the manor born.
It appears my German GCSE has let me down. I’m handing this over to you.
62nd over: England 168-4 (Buttler 12, Pope 43) An eventful over. A stylish ondrive for four from Pope before he is hit on the knee roll. Holder reviews in a slightly half-hearted way - he should have trusted his instincts. It’s close, but not close enough, brushing the top of the bails, umpire’s call - and Gabriel raises both hands in frustration. Mood unimproved when Pope pulls him in front of square, front foot squarely down the pitch, for another boundary.
61st over: England 160-4 (Buttler 12, Pope 39) Nine off the over as tick becomes tock and England start to press on.Ollie Pope rolls those wrists to send the ball spinning to the boundary with a bootiful late cut.
60th over: England 151-4 (Buttler 11, Pope 31) The Old Trafford lights come on as Pope swishes at a short one and Chase comes within a egg-cup of snaffling a superb catch running at full tilt. Buttler swings at a Gabriel bit of old junk for four.
59th over: England 145-4 (Buttler 7, Pope 30) Poor Dowrich is out of sorts behind the stumps this afternoon, fluffing balls that he would normally swallow. Here one bounces awkwardly and he gloves it for three byes.
58th over: England 142-4 (Buttler 7, Pope 30) Yum, that’s delicious. Buttler drives Holder straight down the ground for four. A morale-boost in a single stroke - imagine a surprise A in a maths Test when you’ve been in a C plus phase.
David Keech writes.“Schleps” is derived from the German word “Scleppen”. It has a ton of different meanings in German but the official English translation is “toe”. So “Burns toes it to the boundary”???
57th over: England 138-4 (Buttler 3, Pope 30) Pope edges Roach between slip and gully and down to the boundary. The sort of four that will please bowler more than batsman.
56th over: England 134-4 (Buttler 3, Pope 26) Holder dangles out the option of the drive. Buttler studiously ignores him with the air of a man thinking about a cigar and a not-out sundowner on a balcony of the Emirates Old Trafford Hilton. Has anyone read Tim Wigmore and Freddie Wilde’s book on T20 cricket? Fascinating on T20 batting and you see how difficult it must be to change mindset. The self/team/risk/ ratio is just completely different.
55th over: England 134-4 (Buttler 3, Pope 26) Pope pushes forward at Roach and gets an outside edge that bounces a couple of feet forward of Holder’s Inspector Gadget-esque arms at second slip. And Buttler bats on in deep cleansing breaths: 3 from 20 balls.
“Afternoon, Tanya,” writes Phil Sawyer.” Nothing wrong with inventing new ways of describing the cricket. Let’s face it, the eccentric language surrounding cricket is one of its charms. Try using the phrase ‘juicy half volley’ to a non-cricket enthusiast and seeing their reaction. And I’ve always thought that ‘meandering’ would be a very good way to describe my own bowling. ‘And Sawyer meanders down another short, wide one, which the batter disdains away for another boundary’.”
54th over: England 131-4 (Buttler 2, Pope 24) Pope’s white warpaint peers through his helmet as he taps Holder back for six dot balls in a post-prandial kind of way. Nice n easy.
A gratifying avalanche of emails about verbs during the tea-break. Starting with Paul Griffin, “Re verbs, there must be ones specific to certain players: Bradman perfected the ball to the boundary, Gower Tiger Mothed the ball past the ropes, Stokes (night) clubbed the ball away (perhaps not any more), Pietersen narcissisted the ball for four. And so on.”
I’ve just dragged some shirts out of the washing machine and can tell you that the Manchester weather is doing her best and set fair (enough) for the rest of the day.
A note from Chris parachutes into my inbox “Just a quick thought while you’re having your brew. Really looking forward to the ‘Bob Willis Trophy’ and some decent county cricket. Fixtures came out this morning https://www.ecb.co.uk/county-championship/fixtures”
53rd over: England 131-4 (Buttler 2, Pope 24) One last throw of the dice by Roach, but Buttler and Pope are up to the task, ticking off three singles and then a cheery-enough stroll back for tea. Jason Holder will be pleased with that session, 65 runs, 2 wickets and England hovering dangerously close to that experimental tail. I’m just off to put the kettle on, back in five, for what could be a match-defining final session.
52nd over: England 128-4 (Buttler 1, Pope 22) Pope survives a might-have-been run-out as Chase fails to pick up cleanly from shortish midwicket.
“I’m sure David Boon belched them to the boundary,” writes Colum Farrelly. OBO writers job is to create verbs. The Fiver writers of this parish do it all the time. “blah blah etc” Sir Alex purpled is a favourite.”
51st over: England 127-4 (Buttler 0, Pope 18) A well-into-double-figures run-up gives an air of menace to the sturdy Gabriel. Just a couple off his over as England watch and wait. Does Buttler push and prod or does he “play his natural game”? I can’t bear to watch him poke to 11 off 38 balls before being bowled. In fact, I refuse.
“Hi Tanya,” writes Malcolm Richmond. “As an extra on the Bollywood film ‘83 I got to spend two weeks last summer at Tunbridge Wells watching a re-enactment of Dev’s world record ODI score against Zimbabwe. It was amazing!”
50th over: England 125-4 (Buttler 0, Pope 18) Holder replaces Chase now he’s done his job. An interesting dynamic now as we have the young pretender Pope full of confidence ,while the older Buttler’s Test career hangs by a thread . Does Pope have the confidence to produce a pep-talk? My guess is yes.
This is the first time I’ve ever got an OBO email about Jenni Murray. Thank you Kim Thonger!
49th over: England 123-4 (Buttler 0, Pope 18) Buttler survives an over from Gabriel who tests him him with short ‘uns (he ducks) and length balls (hesitant edge/straight bat).
John Morrisey writes, “.ref. 42nd over. “...schleps it to the boundary”. Wot, eh, wot? Have you just started choosing verbs at random, despite their inappropriate meaning? What next? Paints it to the boundary? Blinks it to the boundary? Belches it to the boundary?” I love belches it to the boundary! But yes, you’ve got me, the thing is that after a while every conventional verb starts to feel a cliche.
48th over: England 122-4 (Buttler 0, Pope 18) That catch really was remarkable, Burns was on the back foot and Cornwall would have had fractions of fractions of a second to react. I was wondering whether he would make the team if he wasn’t a good slip catcher, but I didn’t realise he was that good a slip catcher. That’s the fourth time Chase has dismissed Burns in 40 balls, and Jos Buttler walks out to bat.
Burns cuts one too close to call, and the ball flies past the keeper into the ample right paw of Cornwall at first slip. Fabulous catch!
47th over: England 122-3 (Burns 57, Pope 18) We get a side-on view of Pope as he waits for Gabriel to charge in with that spear-carrier action. He’s pretty textbook - depending on your view of bat up or down.
46th over: England 120-3 (Burns 56, Pope 17) Holder calls for Chase, and Pope plays his first over watchfully.
James Brough writes.
“Gary asks if England have ever fielded a number 6 and 7 with only 2 test centuries between them. Lords 1986 against India, England played Derek Pringle at 6 and John Emburey in the first innings and Paul Downton in the second at 7. Pringle scored his only Test 50. Neither he, Downton or Emburey ever managed a hundred. Either way, our current line up looks an absolute tower of strength by comparison...
45th over: England 119-3 (Burns 56, Pope 16) Burns doing what Burns does, unobtrusively plugging away, while Pope gets beaten by Gabriel before clipping him smartly off his legs. This is the attrition session.
44th over: England 114-3 (Burns 54, Pope 13) Pope laps at Cornwall and sends the ball purring through mid-wicket in a Merchant-Ivory kind of way for four.
“Good afternoon, Tanya.” Good afternoon Ian Forth!
43rd over: England 109-3 (Burns 54, Pope 8) Holder, at second slip, and Dowrich dispute how back he should stand, as Gabriel sends down a maiden. The heavyweights on from both ends for West Indies at the moment.
I see that Cornwall ran through England Lions in Jamaica when playing for West Indies A in February 2018, 5-68. Some familiar names in that England line-up. A Snog, Marry, Avoid, of recent Test hopes.
42nd over: England 109-3 (Burns 54, Pope 8) Thank you Rob, what an excellent discussion on all-rounders and their variations. Also concerned that I missed the missive about OBO writers needing statistics tattooed on their thighs. Anyway, Cornwall slurps in first ball after tea, lands one wide of off stump and Burns schleps it to the boundary.
41st over: England 104-3 (Burns 50, Pope 7) Shannon Gabriel replaces the excellent Kemar Roach (11.4-1-25-2). After a few harmless deliveries he moves around the wicket, who tucks him off the hip for a single to reach an unobtrusive fifty from 126 balls. Well played. He scores forgettable runs, which is a very good quality in an opener.
It’s time for drinks, which is my cue to hand over to Tanya Aldred. You can email her on tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com, or tweet her @tjaldred. Thanks for your company and emails (only 42 unread now) - bye!
40th over: England 103-3 (Burns 49, Pope 7) Pope walks down the pitch and clips Cornwall into the leg side for three. He looks like the kind of character who won’t be unnerved by a few low scores and can rationalise them as part of cricket’s eccentricity. He has started like a man in form - busy, purposeful and light on his feet.
“Quite what one calls them is (as we have learned) open to question, but have England ever fielded a No6 and 7 with just two Test centuries between them in 133 innings?” challenges Gary Naylor. “Centuries shape innings and England might be hearing ‘Last Orders’ in the saloon already. Hard to win Tests if your order is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 8, 8, 10, 11, 11.”
39th over: England 99-3 (Burns 48, Pope 4) Now it’s Pope’s turn for a concussion test after being hit on the helmet by Roach. He tried to pull and was beaten for pace, but he’s fine to continue. Burns then works a couple into the leg side to move within two of a patient fifty.
“Here’s Tom Bowtell. “I note that you demurely wrote: ‘Imran from 1982-92 (51 with the bat, 20 with the ball from memory)’ in over 29; when we all know that stat has been tattooed on your thigh since 1997.”
38th over: England 96-3 (Burns 46, Pope 4)
37th over: England 93-3 (Burns 46, Pope 1) Pope, inexplicably scoreless in this series so far, works his first ball for a single to get off the mark. Roach, who was having a barren spell of his own until recently, has good figures of 10.4-1-23-2.
“Interesting comment from Peter Williams,” says David Murray. “But surely, no matter what the stats say, Botham was a better batsman than Imran Khan, and Khan was a better bowler.”
36th over: England 92-3 (Burns 46, Pope 0) Rahkeem Cornwall continues to Burns, who comes down the track and drives straight to mid-on. A maiden. Cornwall’s five-step walk-up means he gets through his overs so quickly, which is particularly useful when you are on the hunt at the other end.
35th over: England 92-3 (Burns 46, Pope 0) “My Dear Rob,” says Robert Wilson. “Cricketing taxonomy is an innocent enough vice, (so and so is a lower-order biffer, thingamyjig is a left-arm trundler and Phil Edmonds was something we never understood). We all do it. But Kapil Dev resists all classifications bar one. Kapil was quite simply the most exhausted-looking cricketer in history. That’s because he was the most exhausted cricketer ever. To do him justice you need to be slightly disobliging about the Indian ‘pace’ attack of the era. Because he was it. For nearly a decade, he was an international strike force all on his own. His moustache didn’t droop that way because of fashion, it was the relentless gravity of uttermost (and sometimes thankless) effort. It was noble, magnificent and caused worship in all boyish hearts. To call such a man an all-rounder is near libellous. Kapil Dev looked permanently knackered because he was permanently knackered. He was a whole team. He gets his own genus.”
That was brilliant bowling from Roach, both the set up and the coup de grace. He pushed Stokes back with consecutive bouncers - the first hit him on the head, the second was swivel-pulled for four. Then, later in the over, he produced a beautiful nipbacker from round the wicket that roared through the gate and pegged back the off stump. Stokes looks suspiciously at the pitch, and may also feel he should have got a bigger stride in, but it was a terrific delivery.
Kemar Roach has knocked Stokes over with a ripper!
34.2 overs: England 88-2 (Burns 46, Stokes 16) Stokes, trying to hook, is clonked on the noggin by a beautiful bouncer from Roach. There will be a break in play while Stokes is checked. Roach appealed for caught behind but nobody else was particularly interested.
“To help Simon McMahon (over 25; 12:56), there is one genuine hangover cure,” says Andy Cooke. “And this isn’t a joke. A honey and banana sandwich, washed down with weak, sugary tea. It restores a whole bunch of minerals and vitamins that you’re missing (which cause the hangover) and helps rehydrate (dehydration also contributes to the hangover). Genuine cure. Actually works.”
34th over: England 88-2 (Burns 46, Stokes 16) Rahkeem Cornwall returns to the attack after a promising first spell of 7-1-24-0. A couple of singles, nothing else to report.
“Surely,” says Patrick Peake, “the England-specific category for ‘bits and pieces player’ is ‘The Next Botham’? Usually handed out when someone circa 1988-1995 hit a score of 30 or so when batting at No8. David Capel, Derek Pringle, Philip DeFreitas, Chris Lewis, Dominic Cork, Ian Austin...”
33rd over: Ingerlund Ingerlund Ingerluuuuuund! 86-2 (Burns 45, Stokes 15) Ben Stokes will always transcend statistics to some extent, but his numbers are still looking pretty good these days: 39 with the bat, 32 with the ball. I think the most relevant statistic with Stokes will always be Man of the Match ratio. He has nine in 66 Tests, which is very good, and four in the last 12, which is ludicrous.
“There’s only two top-class allrounders for me. Keith Miller and Imran Khan,” says Peter Williams. “I’d add Ellyse Perry to that list, but 8 Tests just isn’t enough of a record to judge. Sobers and Kallis were world-class batsmen who were very good bowlers, Botham and Pollock the opposite.”
32nd over: ENGLAND 84-2 (Burns 44, Stokes 14) Thanks to all who pointed out that I had Rory Burns and Ben Stokes batting for the West Indies. All I’d like to say is that I recently aced a cognitive test, and Joe Biden is a superb opening batsman.
Meanwhile, Burns and Stokes help themselves to seven runs from Holder’s over. No boundaries, just good old-fashioned running between the wicket.
31st over: England 77-2 (Burns 41, Stokes 10) Burns moves into the forties with a careful cover drive for two off Roach. A year ago this week, Burns failed twice against Ireland and was expected to be dropped for the Ashes. Since then he has 795 Test runs at 44.16.
Here’s John Starbuck on the subject of classifying lower-order batsmen. “You’d need a term for those instances where a tail-ender suddenly comes good, an Eddie Hemmings or Dizzy Gillespie scoring massively from a nightwatchman’s position. And what about the Greatest Number 1 Ever, Jack Leach?”
30th over: England 75-2 (Burns 39, Stokes 10) Stokes turns an inswinger from Holder to leg for a couple to move into double figures. It’s been a careful start from Stokes, though that isn’t really news anymore. On Sky, Nasser spots that he jogged two earlier in the over rather than pressing for a third, which suggests he is feeling his quad injury. He’s not 100 per cent fit to bat, then, but even at 90 per cent he is well worth his place.
“Hi Rob,” says Phil Rebbeck. “Think you are wrong about Kapil Dev - a batting average of 31 in old money makes him indisputably an allrounder in my book.”
29th over: England 73-2 (Burns 39, Stokes 8) Roach also returns to the attack, a sign that Jason Holder thinks it’s now or later, maybe never, for the West Indies. Burns is beaten, trying to drive a tempting wider delivery.
“People often speak of batting all-rounders and bowling all-rounders,” says Romeo. “All-rounders could be plotted on a standard two-axis graph, one a continuum of quality, simply how good a player they are/were, and the other the equilibrium, the balance of how good they are/were at batting vs bowling (and you could have a third axis/dimension - fielding). In the bottom left you’d find your ‘bits and pieces’ player (very disrespectful), your Alan Ealhams (with great respect), and in the top right, who would you find? I know the answer to this.”
28th over: England 72-2 (Burns 39, Stokes 7) An eventful first over of the afternoon session. Burns cuts a loosener for four and then edges a fraction short of gully. Holder has been unlucky today. According to my sophisticated Expected Wickets model, which involves me thinking about a bowler’s performance for no longer than three seconds and then pulling a number from my hindquarters, he has an xW of 1.2 today.
“Not sure about anyone else,” says Neill Brown, “but the coverage I’m watching is being soundtracked by a low crowd murmur that’s constantly making me wait for “Tusk” by Fleetwood Mac to start.”
The players are back on the field. Jason Holder will open the bowling after lunch.
A few of you have emailed to dispute Digvijay Yadav’s definition of an allrounder. I misread it at first as well. He said they should get in the team in one of the disciplines, not both, so Richie Benaud, Ben Stokes, Andrew Flintoff and Wasim Akram are all allrounders. I’m not totally sure I agree with that (I have an immovable prejudice against bowling allrounders), but I think his definition of a bits-and-pieces player is perfect: someone who is not in the best six batsmen or the best four bowlers.
Honours even, I reckon. Dominic Sibley went for a duck in the first over and Joe Root was superbly run out by Roston Chase. The match and series are perfectly posied. West Indies, who chose to bowl first, know they have an excellent chance to expose a weakened England batting line-up in the afternoon session. England know that if they dig in as effectively as they did in the second Test, they will control and probably win this Test.
27th over: England 66-2 (Burns 33, Stokes 7) Rory Burns has done a lot right, particularly since his breakthrough in last summer’s Ashes. One slight irritant is that he has had quite a few nothing scores between 20 and 49. It’s only a mild case of the Denlys at this stage, but he’ll be keen to cash in after doing the hard yards this morning.
He survives the final over the session from Gabriel, who has now cranked it up to 88mph. That’s very encouraging for the West Indies, not to mention all lovers of a fair fight.
26th over: England 63-2 (Burns 30, Stokes 7) A high-class stroke from Stokes, who walks down the pitch to drive Cornwall past mid-on for four. There should be time for one more over before lunch.
“Definition of an allrounder is simple: walk into the team on either discipline i.e. either be in the top six batsmen in your country or top five bowlers,” says Digvijay Yadav. “Anyone else is a bits and pieces player.”
25th over: England 59-2 (Burns 30, Stokes 3) Gabriel has pulled up okay since coming back into the attack. He’s not at top speed - mid 80s rather than low 80s - but he’s a fighter, and that’s the best we’ve got. He still has enough pace to force Burns into a mistimed hook that falls short of fine leg.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Loving all the cricket chat but, given that I foolishly opened a couple of bottles that I found at the back of the cupboard last night, I was kind of hoping for some more rather traditional OBO offerings. Namely, what’s the best hangover cure known to man?”
24th over: England 57-2 (Burns 29, Stokes 2) Ten minutes to lunch. Cornwall continues to Stokes with a slip and short leg in place. A maiden. The days of Stokes pumping bowlers into the crowd at the start of an innings just before lunch, just for the hell of it, are long gone.
“I like how nominative determinism can be seen at play in much of the England line-up, a thought that struck me when Root (whose class is based on remaining at the crease) tried to go against type to dominate a bowler,” says Ian Copestake. “Stokes has fire that fuels him, Archer is a supreme technician and Buttler, well, alas someone will have to get his coat for him.”
23rd over: England 57-2 (Burns 29, Stokes 2) Stokes edges Gabriel just short of Campbell at third slip. That was really close. Earlier in the over, England received four bonus runs when a short ball flew down the leg side past Dowrich.
“Hi Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “Surely the definition of a true allrounder is someone who can bowl finger spin, wrist spin, seam, swing and flat out fast combined with a Test average around 60 plus holding the record innings for a few decades and be a world class fielder in several positions, as well as drinking brandy all night and occasionally at lunch. Not that many come to mind.”
22nd over: England 52-2 (Burns 29, Stokes 1) Benjamin Stokes is the new batsman. This is his fifth innings at No4; the last two were as a specialist batsman against Australia at the Oval last summer. Burns, meanwhile, cuts Cornwall for four to bring up England’s fifty.
Burns worked Cornwall to backward point and was called through by Root, who was just short of his ground when Chase picked up on the run and skimmed the bails with a flat throw. That was brilliant fielding, not least because a direct hit was the only way Root could have been dismissed.
Turns out England were a bit too alive to the opportunities for a quick single: Joe Root has been run out!
21st over: England 47-1 (Burns 25, Root 17) Gabriel returns to the attack. As Athers says on Sky, this is a big moment because if he breaks down again West Indies will be in the malodorous stuff. He gets through his first over, albeit at half ratpower, and England scamper another five runs. There’s been only one boundary all morning, with England reluctant to play aggressively against the moving ball, but they have been alive to most opportunities for a quick single.
20th over: England 42-1 (Burns 22, Root 15) Burns moves into the twenties with an confident stroke, walking down the track to clip Cornwall through midwicket for three. Cornwall has bowled four overs for 15. England are trying to go after him - not through boundaries but with placement and good running. It’s almost as if Graham Thorpe is their batting coach.
“Hi Rob,” says Tom Atkins. “A bit niche for those not from Kent, but I always thought one of Mark Ealham or Matthew Fleming were good enough to become a fifth bowler and genuine all-rounder in the mid-nineties. Unfortunately before the days of central contracts, coherent bowling strategies, aerobic fitness and selectors actually putting faith in their players, they were always dismissed as bits and pieces merchants.”
19th over: England 38-1 (Burns 19, Root 14) Burns is beaten by consecutive deliveries from the luckless Holder, who has been the best bowler by a distance this morning. Figures of 7-3-7-0 tell only part of the story.
“Chris Woakes’ Test batting average might be 26 but his first-class
average is almost 34,” says Romeo. “Stokes’ f-c average is 36. And Jason Holder’s f-c average is just under 26. Woakes also has a Test century.”
18th over: England 37-1 (Burns 19, Root 13) I say! Root tries a big pull stroke off his first delivery from Cornwall, misses and is almost bowled round his legs. He clearly wants to dominate Cornwall and manoeuvres the next two balls for two and then runs.
17th over: England 30-1 (Burns 17, Root 8) It’s attitional stuff out there. A soft-handed drive brings Root a couple off Holder, and he keeps the strike by stealing a single off the last delivery.
16th over: England 27-1 (Burns 17, Root 5) More spin for Cornwall, who turns one past Burns’s outside edge. Actually I think Burns left that at the last minute. But this has been a really good start from Cornwall.
“There’s no shame in being a bowler that can be expected to bat a bit,” says Paddy Blewer. “Hadlee comes to mind - obviously Woakes isn’t the bowler he is, but there was a time when Hadlee might have made a World XI on his bowling, but his batting would have been an afterthought. I remember in the 80s we believed we lived in an age of allrounders – Botham, Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Rice, Imran. If we’re honest with ourselves however, I’m not convicned that for much of the period I remember (late 80s) they were true allrounders. Imran maybe - he did very well against the Windies. The others were hot and cold and Hadlee and Kapil always struck me as bowlers that could bad well - just like Woakes.”
15th over: England 25-1 (Burns 15, Root 5) More tempting outswing from Holder to Root, who has compromised his usual busy approach and is just trying to get through to lunch. A maiden.
14th over: England 25-1 (Burns 15, Root 5) The big offspiner Rahkeem Cornwall is coming into the attack. He barely has a walk-up, never mind a run-up, but his numbers are extremely impressive. His fifth ball is gorgeous, drifting in and then spitting away to beat Burns’ defensive push. Seeing a ball turn like that before lunch on day one is extremely encouraging for both sides.
13th over: England 23-1 (Burns 13, Root 5) There’s been a bit of swing for Holder, though not as much as in the first innings of the last two Tests. Batting isn’t easy, far from it, but these are conditions in which any self-respecting grinder would back themselves to get through to lunch. England have done pretty well so far. Burns has 13 from 38 balls, Root five from 35.
Thanks for all your emails, which I’m trying to read between deliveries. Few things panic a liveblog writer (well, me) more than looking at an inbox with more a couple of unread emails. At the moment I have
17 19 and am in need of valium.
12th over: England 21-1 (Burns 12, Root 4) Burns gets the first boundary of the day, driving a gentle half-volley from Roach through extra cover. Shannon Gabriel has returned to the field. Who knows, the state of his calf may decide this whole series. Meantime, that’s drinks.
11th over: England 17-1 (Burns 8, Root 4) Root is beaten by a beauty that straightens past his defensive stroke. West Indies only have two seamers, it’s true, but they have the best two for these conditions. Holder ends the over - another maiden - with a seductive full-length outswinger that beats Root’s attempted drive. Lovely bowling.
“Interested in the captaincy chat re the early 90s,” says Hugh. “Atherton’s autobiography Opening Up insightful that there was never any animus between them but that they were such different characters that hard to build a rapport. Atherton would see himself as an awkward squad member, quite cerebral and challenging, compared with Stewart being far more mainstream, straightforward, not a subtle character (although a class keeper and batsman). I don’t think his father was the best manager England ever had including in relation to people management.”
10th over: England 16-1 (Burns 7, Root 4) Burns inside-edges Roach past leg stump for a single. The mood was so positive when West Indies took that early wicket, but the loss of Gabriel has dampened all that enthusiasm.
“Hello Rob,” says Leah Mahtani. “Hope you’re being treated to quite the Windies dominance show. Sadly, this devout Windies fan can’t watch because I’m at the SCG watching rugby at an extreme distance. Safe to say I can’t see a bloody thing.”
Related: AFL: GWS Giants v Richmond, grand final rematch – live!
9th over: England 14-1 (Burns 6, Root 3) “Hi Rob,” says Alastair Fillingham. “First time caller, big fan of the show. I think we can all agree there is decent reasoning behind the name change of the Wisden Trophy to the Richards-Botham Trophy, if we are basing it purely on cricketing merit of course and not certain political factors in the news this week. It is a bit wordy though, may I suggest referring to it as the ‘Ri-tham’ Trophy, has a better sound to it, if you’ll pardon the pun.”
Did you notice the press release, a-hem, forgot to mention Botham’s record against West Indies with the bat (20 Tests, no centuries)? I don’t mind Richards/Botham, given their status and friendship, although I would have preferred to have two players who simultaneously excelled in this fixture: the Marshall/Gooch Trophy, something like that. Or maybe the Lambert and Buttler trophy, just for the craic.
8th over: England 14-1 (Burns 6, Root 3) Bad news for the West Indies: Shannon Gabriel is leaving the field through injury. He pulled up twice in a row in his delivery stride, and it looks like a problem with his calf or achilles. West Indies are down to only two seamers, so Kemar Roach has to come back on to complete Gabriel’s over. You don’t want to be down to two seamers before midday, especially not when you bowl first. They don’t even have a part-time swing bowler in their top six.
7th over: England 11-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) Kemar Roach is replaced by Jason Holder, who fancies some of these conditions. His first ball, which curves beautifully past Root’s tentative defensive stroke, shows why. It’s another maiden, including a couple of soft-handed thick-edges from Root. Having been put in, England’s progress this morning is measured in balls survived rather than runs scored. I reckon they’d take being two down at lunch.
“Rob, about Micky Stewart’s promoting Alec’s captaincy claims over Atherton’s,” begins Steve Hudson. “I remember Ted Dexter (head of selectors back then) saying immediately after Atherton was appointed that ‘it was a close decision and Micky as you’d expect made clear he thought Alec should get the job’. Which was an example of Ted D’s endearing habit of speaking without engaging his brain and didn’t really do anyone any favours!”
6th over: England 11-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) A short ball from Gabriel to Burns swings down the leg side for four byes. That aside it’s been a good start from the West Indies bowlers, who are making the England batsmen play at most deliveries. The early indications are that batting conditions are challenging rather than whatever the adjective is for Johannesburg 99.
“Good morning Rob,” says Trevor Tutu. “Just settled down in a mild Cape Town to read the OBO and watch the cricket, and the first thing that happens is I have to take umbrage! In the first preamble you seem to suggest that South Africa could have been expected to lose the series? This is so far from the truth that I have had to take a walk to the beach to cool off. Lockdown restrictions prevented me from throwing myself into the sea to aid the process.”
5th over: England 7-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) A maiden from Roach to Root. On Sky, Mike Atherton makes the good point that there was an “I love it when a plan comes together” feel to Kemar Roach’s celebration when he took Sibley’s wicket. West Indies bowled poorly to Sibley in the second Test, allowing him to leave far too many deliveries, and evidently discussed the subject in the last few days.
“Hi Rob,” says Mojo Wellington. “ Jack Russell averaged 27; Alec Stewart 39. I’m sure Russell would have saved more than 12 runs to make up the difference. Stewart could and should have been opening the batting throughout and maybe, just maybe, England wouldn’t have been quite so rubbish during those years.”
4th over: England 7-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) Michael Gough is so good that there is a case for never reviewing his decisions unless you are nigh-on certain it’s a howler.
“So Rob,” says Geoff Wignall, “would you have wanted Sangakkara batting at 7?”
ROOT IS NOT OUT! Yes, Root was outside the line. Michael Gough, the world’s best umpire, gets another big decision right.
WEST INDIES REVIEW FOR LBW AGAINST ROOT!
3.5 overs: England 6-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) Root is beaten by a good delivery from Gabriel that straightens on a length - and then he survives a big LBW appeal after playing outside the line of an offcutter. Outside the line I reckon - but West Indies want to review.
3rd over: England 6-1 (Burns 3, Root 3) Root digs out a first-ball yorker from Roach, and then scrunches another attempted yorker through midwicket for three to get off the mark. Whatever the situation, Root is busy as soon as he walks out to bat.
“Good morning Rob,” says Darrel Boulcott. “I am wondering if Crawley has been dropped for an extra bowler because Stokes is injured? Really it makes no sense to play an injured man as a batter when Crawley is fully fit and ready to go. Surely it is better to rest Stokes so that he can recover.”
2nd over: England 3-1 (Burns 3, Root 0) Burns inside-edges Gabriel’s first ball in the air but well wide of short leg. That aside it’s a quiet first over. West Indies could do serious damage today, with the out-of-form Jos Buttler at No6. Talking of which...
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “You might be treating Chris Woakes’s record rather harshly, given he achieved a certain record in the last game. We all have to revise our views at times.”
1st over: England 1-1 (Burns 1, Root 0) That’s Sibley’s second duck of the series to go with a fifty and a hundred. He tried to work to leg, as is his wont, missed and was plumb in front. Sibley discussed a review but it would have been a waste. Joe Root is the new batsman, and England are one wicket away from being in big trouble. Already.
A great start for the West Indies! Dominic Sibley has gone fifth ball for nought, pinned in front by a beautiful inswinger from Roach.
It’ll be Kemar Roach to bowl the first ball to Rory Burns...
“Morning Rob, morning all,” says Matt Turland. “I’ve just about recovered from the shambling shower of a Wednesday night when Forest out-Forest’d themselves. So I’m hoping (against my better judgement) that this Test can cheer me up.
“Batting is looking a little light here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not for one minute suggesting Crawley would have guaranteed us a first innings score of 400+ but it still looks worrying light. Presumably, it’s a decision that is based around wanting to win (and thus having your best bowlers on the pitch), while also thinking about the Pakistan series (and being able to rotate and rest said best players). All I know is that footer can do one and cricket best not let me down again.”
The players on both sides trot down the steps, resplendent in their red caps to mark the second Ruth Strauss Foundation Test. If you’d like to donate, click here.
“I see England have gone with three No11s again,” says Richard O’Hagan. “This is bad for the psyche of those of us who remember the nightmare of Tufnell, Mullally and Giddins all fighting for the #9 spot.”
Come on, Archer’s not a No11. His batting has been a disappointment so far but he’s still at worst a No10.
“Hi Rob,” says Dan Hunt. “Looks like Stokes won’t be bowling in this test then. Five-man attack and Big Ben as a specialist batsman. Lot of pressure on Buttler, Woakes and Bess to find 100 runs between them minimum when England bat. If I was someone who’d started watching cricket in the ‘90’s I’d be thinking this was set up for a spectacular England batting collapse at some point...”
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
“Any respect I have for Holder as a captain is severely tempered by his often choosing to bowl at the toss,” says Robert Speed. “Although being a bowler himself means it’s not as if he’s trying to avoid facing up to the task at hand (as opposed to if he was an opening batsman), I see bowling first as a negative, passive and frankly soft option. It was particularly indefensible in the second Test given that the pace bowlers were predictably tired after the quick turn-around from the first Test. I predict it won’t work out here for WI once more.”
I know what you mean, but surely batting first is the safer option? You know that if you bowl first and it goes wrong, you’ll be Brisbaned, whereas if you bat first and are bowled out in 36.4 overs, the batsmen rather than the captain get the blame.
Pre-match pluggery
The brother-in-law of a friend of an old friend spent lockdown inventing a new game – FlickIt Cricket. It looks like oodles of fun, especially if you have immediate descendants. And the good news is you can play it with people from your support bubble!
I’m off to grab a coffee and think about whether England have taken too big a gamble with that team selection. LOOK, I SAID I NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT. See you back here for the first ball at 11am.
“Morning, Smyth,” says Sean Clayton. “Rhodes over Jack Russell? Not having that - JR’s Test batting average was marginally higher and his ‘keeping was far better than Rhodes, Stewart* or anyone else from that era.
“*I’m not proud of it but I always had an irrational dislike of Alec Stewart just for keeping Russell out of the Test side in the mid-late 90s, even if the rationale - we needed an ‘extra’ specialist batsman, given the state of our batting in the 90s - made sense. I seem to recall Micky Stewart, as team manager, forcefully arguing for his son to be the successor to Gooch as captain (Atherton got the job), which didn’t endear the Stewarts to me either...”
England’s team selection is very interesting - Zak Crawley and Sam Curran have been replaced by Jofra Archer and Jimmy Anderson. Leaving out Crawley is a not insignificant gamble, especially in view of Jos Buttler’s form. West Indies, as expected, bring in Rahkeem Cornwall for Alzarri Joseph.
West Indies Campbell, Brathwaite, Hope, Brooks, Blackwood, Chase, Holder, Dowrich (wk), Cornwall, Roach, Gabriel.
That’s a brave call given what happened in the second Test.
This is the second #RedforRuth Test, with both teams raising money for the Ruth Strauss Foundation. You can donate and read more about the foundation here, and I’d urge you to read Andrew Strauss’s interview with Zoe Williams. If there’s a more impressive man in the world than Strauss, I’d love to meet him.
Related: ‘It’s important to live without bitterness’: Andrew Strauss on the death of his wife Ruth
The forecast isn’t great for this test, with showers predicted for days 2-4. Today? Well, I’d probably expect a dry but largely cloudy morning with the best of the sunshine across the north. Through the afternoon, the cloud will begin to break up, allowing for widespread sunny spells. Feeling warm. Maximum temperature 23 °C.
The toss is at 10.30am, and there will plenty of interest in the England XI. They will leave out at least two and possibly three of their sextet of seamers: Anderson, Archer, Broad, Curran, Woakes and Wood.
Since you asked so politely, I’d be happy with any combination. If I was a Ray Illingworth-style supremo, I’d include Stuart Broad and pick the rest of the attack based on conditions, morale and fitness. And I’d have Steve Rhodes at No7.
Related: Ben Stokes's fitness to bowl is key to England's final selection
Hello. Now here’s a treat: a series decider. A proper series decider, where both sides can still win, lose or draw. They don’t came along as often as you might think. England had eight out of 24 in the 1990s, six out of 37 in the 2000s and only three out of 38 in the 2010s. The most recent was at Lord’s in 2017 against the West Indies, who are back to provide the first series decider of the 2020s.
It feels slightly strange to be talking about a grand finale, given the series started only 16 days ago. West Indies need a draw to retain the Wisden Trophy, but what they really want is to win in England for the first time since 1988. It would also be their first series victory away to one of the Big Eight since Courtney Walsh bulldozed New Zealand by taking 13 for 55 in 1994-95.
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