Windies vs England

[Mibbes Aye]

Decent start by the Windies, currently 123-1 pushing on for halfway through the first day.

A quickfire 44 from debutant John Campbell was a good entrance into Test cricket. The Windies now have Braithwaite and Hope at bat. I really like Shai Hope, he's a great young batsman with huge potential.

The bowling should be interesting. The Windies seem to have gone with four pacemen while England have opted for two spinners and of their quicks only Stokes can be argued to be seriously fast, though I can understand why England went with the slower Curran on the basis that he offers so much with the bat.

[Mibbes Aye]

And how quickly things turn. early tea taken because of light rain, with Stokes and England managing to snap up two wickets.

I think the Windies are still well-poised, I also think England are over-reliant on Stokes to find the breakthrough in the bowling, especially in such strong heat. But I also think England have proven strength at bat.

All in all it feels nicely balanced after the first two sessions.

[weecounty hibby]

Watching cricket in the West Indies makes me wish I was 5 years older and about to retire. This will certainly be something I do when I am retired

[weecounty hibby]

Fairly even so far today. I'd like to see the Windies make a competitive series of it. It's a shame to see how far they've slipped. I grew up watching Lloyd, Richards, Greenidge, Haynes, Marshall, Holding etc. Great players, great team

[Mibbes Aye]

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Fairly even so far today. I'd like to see the Windies make a competitive series of it. It's a shame to see how far they've slipped. I grew up watching Lloyd, Richards, Greenidge, Haynes, Marshall, Holding etc. Great players, great team

Truly dominant and formidable

Play called at 264-8.

If the second session was England's the third session was heading the way of the Windies until the new ball was taken. Three wickets for Anderson and one at the death for Stokes have shifted the balance somewhat.

Very impressed by Shimron Hetmyer though. Another very talented-looking Windies batsman. I've certainly enjoyed having one eye on the cricket more than one on the football.

[weecounty hibby]

Good day in the end for England. Anderson is a genius and I have no idea how England will replace him when he eventually retires

[Tobias Funke]

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Good day in the end for England. Anderson is a genius and I have no idea how England will replace him when he eventually retires

Anderson is brilliant, if he hadn't been such a slow burner and had hit the ground running in the early stages of his career then he would be close to Warnes test wicket haul right now and looking towards Muralis. I can see him continuing until he is 40, he is in such good shape.

Its a shame Steyn has been dogged by injury in recent years as its likely he would be up there with Anderson in the test wickets count right now, the battle between them would have been great to watch develop. Steyn is a better bowler in my opinion though, his average says it all. In fact the current three SA quicks averages are scary.

[JeMeSouviens]

Anderson finishes with 5/46, Windies all out 289.

Big pressure on Keaton Jennings. He got that big century in Sri Lanka but didn't back it up. I'd imagine if he doesn't do well in this series that'll be him?

[Mibbes Aye]

I thought Hetmyer played with a real flourish, probably had licence to do so. Anderson finished with great figures.

Shaky start for England, two down just after lunch but they have enormous batting depth.

The pitch does look like it has something to offer a tall paceman though and the Windies are stocked with them. I particularly like Holder, I think he developing into a fine, clever bowler.

[Mibbes Aye]

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Anderson finishes with 5/46, Windies all out 289.

Big pressure on Keaton Jennings. He got that big century in Sri Lanka but didn't back it up. I'd imagine if he doesn't do well in this series that'll be him?

The problem with the England openers is I doubt there is anyone left!

I heard one commentator describe Burns as “...the last cab on the rank” and he just hasn’t performed at Test level.

I think I argued before that they should stick with a pair and let them find form, however long it takes. They have such a long tail that they could get away with that against a lot of sides in a lot of conditions. Another option was to persuade Bairstow to open but they seem to have identified him as the solution to the number three problem.

[Mibbes Aye]

Six wickets for 19 runs in just a few overs, including a five-fer for Kemar Roach.

As English collapses in the Caribbean goes, it's just like the old days

AS I type the Windies introduce the fourth of their pace quartet, there really is no respite for England. Joseph is very much learning his trade, he's only 22, but his first-class figures are very respectable.

Looks like Sam Curran has been told to go for it though.

[weecounty hibby]

Ooft. 77 all out. Just like the old days in the Caribbean.

[JeMeSouviens]

England fighting back, Windies 61/4.

[murray26]

Atleast Keaton Jennings has saved his career by being England’s top run scorer😊

[Mibbes Aye]

Through the night the Australians managed to get on top of SRL with their batting, without being too dominant.

Biggest thing of note was probably Labuschagne and Head establishing a decent partnership for 150 or so runs in the middle order. Early days and on a home pitch against one of the weaker Test sides but if they can build on partnerships like this then it is another step forward in Australia’s recovery.

[Mibbes Aye]

Travis Head looking good, he’s just gone past his Test best of 72 and without jinxing it could be on for a big score and his first century. At the other end the Aussies have another debutant in Kurtis Patterson. Don’t know much about him other than he has relatively decent figures for NSW but I guess this is an opportunity to push for Ashes selection in a very fluid Aussie batting line-up.

[Mibbes Aye]

I knew I would jinx it!

Head out from a great lbw off Lakmal and as I type he has also just got Paine caught beautifully in the slips. On a
hat-trick now but it’s the end of the over so he will have to wait!

[Mibbes Aye]

No hat-trick for Lakmal!

It was a build-up though, with four slips, a gully and a point. You don’t see that very much these days!

It’s been a torrid few deliveries for Cummins but if he can settle in then Australia can push on and probably seal the match.

[Mibbes Aye]

Australia end up with a first innings lead of 179.

Mitchell Starc fulfilled the duty expected of Australian fast bowlers with a swashbuckling 26 runs from 25 deliveries. The newbie Patterson managed 30 and will be disappointed not to have gone further but I reckon he might be looking like a middle order pick.

For SRL, it was all about Lakmal. 5-75 and no shortage of effort or skill in taking his wickets.

[Mibbes Aye]

Sri Lanka get put back in for the last few overs of today’s play and Pat Cummins takes a wicket with the last ball of the evening. Australia must be happy with that script.

[Mibbes Aye]

Fantastic morning session from the Windies.

Dorwich and Holder left the field last night and left the field again at lunch today.

A 117-run partnership, half-centuries apiece.

England's bowlers will be feeling the heat and Holder has exposed them remorselessly, now on 80 from 93 balls.

The lead is 449, it's just a question of how long the Windies want to keep England toiling in the field.

[weecounty hibby]

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Fantastic morning session from the Windies.

Dorwich and Holder left the field last night and left the field again at lunch today.

A 117-run partnership, half-centuries apiece.

England's bowlers will be feeling the heat and Holder has exposed them remorselessly, now on 80 from 93 balls.

The lead is 449, it's just a question of how long the Windies want to keep England toiling in the field.

If I was captain I would keep them in the field all day and maybe have a dart at the openers in the last half hour of the day. Buy I would have made a terrible captain!!

[Calvin]

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Sri Lanka get put back in for the last few overs of today’s play and Pat Cummins takes a wicket with the last ball of the evening. Australia must be happy with that script.

I was at The Gabba yesterday and that was definitely the highlight... some reward for managing to last until the final ball!

As you say, a decent day for Australia without being too spectacular.

Really happy that Jhye has such a good first day. I was interested to see how he’d get on at test level as his shirt form exploits speak for themselves. We’ve definitely missed him for the Scorchers in the BBL for most of this season.

[Mibbes Aye]

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I was at The Gabba yesterday and that was definitely the highlight... some reward for managing to last until the final ball!

As you say, a decent day for Australia without being too spectacular.

Really happy that Jhye has such a good first day. I was interested to see how he’d get on at test level as his shirt form exploits speak for themselves. We’ve definitely missed him for the Scorchers in the BBL for most of this season.

I watch a bit of the short games when I can and watch the Test side when I can, including this series, sleep permitting

How do you rate Jyhe and who would you plump for in the batting order?

[JeMeSouviens]

England get to the close on 56/0. Not a single wicket fell today, bizarrely.

Presumably they’re going to spend the night raindancing.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Another terrible start - England 17-2.

[JeMeSouviens]

All out for 187. Pitch reportedly showed lots of uneven bounce. We’ll see in the next hour and a bit.

[brianmc]

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All out for 187. Pitch reportedly showed lots of uneven bounce. We’ll see in the next hour and a bit.

Aww naw.......(looks in wardrobe for anything remotely connected to Antigua and Barbuda 😁)

Edit: Fails..

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

England a man down first ball of the day.

[weecounty hibby]

Chris Gayle has hit four balls out of the ground!! Unbelievable batting. It's not real cricket like test matches though!!