England v West Indies

[Guest]

Draw at lords yet again?

It shouldn't be, but England seem so adept at them that I can't rule it out. WI have been rubbish in their warm up and in the English early season conditions, combined with lack of preparatio and a captain only just arrived in the country on Monday, England surely, surely should ease home with room to spare? Surely?

Man of the match: Onions with ball, Pietersen with Bat

[The Purple Cow]

England v West Indies

The Lord's square is an absolute road these days, very difficult to take 20 wickets. With the last six Lord's tests ending in a draw, and rain forecast for Friday and Sunday, a draw is the most likely outcome.

[Now just watch one of the teams be skittled for 87 by mid-afternoon today, just to make me look silly.]

[Guest]

England v West Indies

bah and humbug.
Onions to make Windies cry.
Strauss to call the tune,
KP to drive windies nuts,
Cook Roasts W.I.
Swann to have Windies in a flap,
Prior(y) to send Windies plans to rehab!

I tell you it'll all be true and more.

[The Purple Cow]

England v West Indies

I should have kept my trap shut. This track looks atypically green and grassy, so "the Calypso King" (© 'FakeIPLplayer' 2009) has put England into bat. Still think it'll settle down by this afternoon though.

[Funny story from fakeiplplayer about Chris Gayle. As you know the Kolkata Knight Riders are not having a good time of it in the I.P.L. In particular Captain Brendon McCullum is having a very poor time with the bat.

McCullum has his Black Cap team numbers tatood on his upper arm. At a KKR team reception last week, Gayle suggested that McCullum should tatoo his IPL batting average on his arm as well. Gayle then asked loudly if anyone knew what the Roman numeral for zero was. Apparently an (allegedly intoxicated) McCullum had to be physically restrained from bashing Gayle's head in.]

[Wyatt Earp]

England v West Indies

Gayle then asked loudly if anyone knew what the Roman numeral for zero was.

Well,...

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Gripping stuff, innnit?

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Then again . . .

[Kusal Flyer]

England v West Indies

Cook out, KP first ball, Semper Fidelis on a hat trick...Colly keeps it out. 96/3.

[The Purple Cow]

England v West Indies

109/4 - Colly gone to Edwardes.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Was Bopara out in the previous over?

[Guest]

England v West Indies

Umpire didn't give it, so no.

But everything in the replay suggests he should have been out LBW.

My Pietersen MOM is looking debatable right now...

So Onions then...

[Eggchaser]

England v West Indies

This shithouse mob are going to even challenge the Australians?

[Wizard in Black]

England v West Indies

Does anyone have a live feed?

[The Purple Cow]

England v West Indies

The England batsmen seem to have forgotten how to move their feet.

Fidel off the pitch due to lower back spasms, currently enduring an ice-bath - poor sod.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

182/4 at tea, this has draw written all over it.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

That was reasonably effective.

Prior out after Nash drops Bopara, who may just have all of England's luck for the day.

201/5.

[Guest]

England v West Indies

yah yah bopara bopara

[The Purple Cow]

England v West Indies

Fair play to Bopara, all you can do as a batsman is ride your luck, and make the opposition pay for their errors, which is what he has done. He's certainly saved the selector's blushes.

I really hope Fidel get his Michelle this morning and gets his name on the big board, he certainly deserves it. His fielders owe him a few beers as it is.

[Etienne]

England v West Indies

He was one of the best bowlers in the IPL too. Maybe he's making a breakthrough.

[Duncan Gardner]

England v West Indies

If the Windies bat as carelessly as they've fielded, England will win this game on the fourth day.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Were that to occur it wouldn't take four days for England to prevail, as half of the WIndies lineup would drop their bats on the stumps while taking guard.

Strongly second TPC's sentiments re Edwards' five-for.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

There are still a number of things I don't understand about this sport . . .

[Eggchaser]

England v West Indies

Odd decision to take the light - sets a low bar and could bite them on the bum either in a wicket when they come back on or if they're chasing either runs or wickets late on.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Doesn't seem to have had any effect so far, given that they look to be on their way to 400.

I have the strong impression that Windies really don't want to be there.

[ursus arctos]

England v West Indies

Well done, Fidel.