England should win this game comfortably now. Our lead of 220 is a commanding one, and I severely doubt the Windies will be able to chase anything over 300 – even if Chanderpaul plays a blinder.
It got a little nervy at one point, when a fine opening spell by Jerome Taylor reduced us to 20-2, and Ian Bell was catastrophically run out, but Root came to the rescue.
Gary Ballance also battled hard, and eventually looked more settled. I really hope he scores big runs today. If we can survive the first hour, there should be easy, pressure-free runs to be had.
I won’t talk too much about the top order. Trott received an absolute beauty – although his tendency to shuffle across the crease isn’t a great omen – so I imagine he’ll have another opportunity in the next test.
Cook looked pretty terrible again I’m afraid to say. He was beaten on the inside in the first innings and on the outside in the second. What worries me most is his head position, plus the fact his front foot was still in the air when he made contact with the ball.
I’m pretty shocked that Cook’s trigger movement is so out of synch considering he had time to work on his game during the World Cup. Poor Alastair.
The real stars yesterday were Jermaine ‘Stokes is ma boy’ Blackwood, who made a really gutsy maiden test century, and James Tredwell.
I quite like the look of Blackwood. He’s a little vulnerable to the short ball, but I love the way he hits through the line (and over the top), plus he’s got a bit of ticker too. His century was entertaining to watch and fully deserved.
The sausage dog also bowled really well. Although I criticised his selection in the squad, he’s certainly justified his place in the team ahead of Rashid. He bowled with good control and guile. Tredders is a bit of a throw back, and he’s impossible not to like.
James Morgan
@DoctorCopy
Alistair “cookie” cook looks pretty cooked. He’s less bed and breakfast, more smoked kippers. #incookwetrust init
Telegraph calls cook “captain calamity”. The worm has turned. Ecb protection finally ends. Last chance saloon #incookwetrust
‘The Sausage Dog’ haha
Thought Geoffrey spoke well yesterday about the top order problems stemming from Strauss’s retirement and that not only have Eng failed to replace him, but Cook’s form took a nosedive as a result so 1+2 are now a problem… I fear a re-run of the World Cup prep where Cook (or Trott) are dropped with little time for their replacements to establish themselves before the Ashes.
While I really don’t begrudge Tredwell his moment in the sun (and it was ridiculous that he wasn’t trusted during the World Cup), how does his selection ahead of Rashid square with the declared policy of bringing on an exciting team of youngsters ?
If Rashid is ever to be introduced, far better now than during a more. operative series. If not, why bugger around with bringing him along as a glorified drinks waiter ?
The only way I can see Alistair Cook ever getting back to anything like his previous form is by stepping out of the international stage and spending a season in county cricket rediscovering what worked for him.
It looks to me like his head is full of trigger movements and alignment, and he needs to simplify it to ‘see ball, hit ball’ (or ‘see ball, leave ball’ in his case). He’s always going to be susceptible to full balls outside off (is there an opening batsman who isn’t?), but he seems to be trying to change his technique, instead of working within the limitations of what he’s got. He’s always had the same technical problem, but previously, he was a much better judge of what to leave – 3 years ago he would never have played at the one he got out to (I thought he got a pretty good ball first innings).
The selectors have a choice to make for the Ashes and surely they have to learn from the World Cup that leaving a decision till the last minute is not the way to go. Neither Cook or Trott look in a good place.