England poised to go two-up in series

 Publication Date – May 28, 2012

In association with Investec.

Nottingham – A total batting debacle in the West Indies second innings has put England in complete command of the second Investec Test. In all probability England will wrap up the match on the fourth day and go two up in the three-Test series. At stump, West Indies on 61 for six were just three runs ahead and even with Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy the centurions in the first innings at the crease, there is little chance of them saving the Test.

After a first innings deficit of 58, wickets tumbled rapidly at the start of West Indies’ second innings. James Anderson began the tourists’ early rout removing both opening batsmen within the first five overs. He had Kieran Powell play-on to his stumps in the third over and in his next he brought a ball in sharply to pin Adrian Barath in front of the stumps and that was 14 for two. With Kirk Edwards suffering from ‘flu, Shavnarine Chanderpaul came up the order. He would have been expected to hold the innings together, certainly he is one who is able to do so in most circumstances but it wasn’t to be this time.

It was Stuart Broad’s turn to get among the wickets and he did so with a rising ball which the diminutive world No.1 ranked batsman, on 11, hooked into the hands of fine leg. England then made a double bowling change. First Graeme Swann and then Tim Bresnan came on. The latter struck in his second over dismissing Darren Bravo leg before wicket for 22. It was surprising that the batsman asked for a review of the umpire’s decision, the replay showed that the ball would have hit the middle stump.

Swann was replaced after just two overs with Broad returning but it was Bresnan who struck again having Denesh Ramdin lbw in the 25th over and the tourists had lost half the side for just 61. Edwards having come in lower in the order, perhaps still a little indisposed, lasted two balls before falling lbw as well and Bresnan at that point had three wickets for 10 in six overs. Wicket to wicket he had three for 9 in 26 balls.

Earlier, having toiled for the entire final session of the previous day without being able to find a way through to break the third wicket partnership of Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen, the tourists took just ten minutes on the third morning to trap Pietersen lbw after he had added just eight runs to his overnight score of 72. It finally brought an end to the 144 run-stand off 216 balls.

Strauss went on to add 33 with Ian Bell who fell lbw to Kemar Roach for 22 and England were 300 for four. Within half an hour Roach struck again when a leading edge from Jonny Bairstow went into the hands of Chanderpaul at mid-off. Having made his debut last week in the first Test, Bairstow has only batted twice scoring 16 and 4. He’ll no doubt have more opportunities to impress for much is expected of this very promising 22-year-old.

The first session was going much in favour of West Indies and the fourth wicket of the day fell ten minutes before lunch with Sammy uprooting Matt Prior’s off stump. The ball didn’t have much movement but Prior was late in going forward to it. The fall of the wicket reduced England to 336 for six and lunch was taken four runs later. England had lost four wickets in the session for 81 but the centurion Andrew Strauss was still in, playing defensively in his attempt to keep the innings intact. In two hours he had scored only 23 runs from 63 balls.

West Indies finally claimed Strauss’ wicket ten overs into the second session. The England captain was attempting to play shots at little more freely in batting with the lower order but he flashed once too often well outside off stump, getting a thick edge to the wicket-keeper and Sammy had taken two wickets either side of lunch. It was a marathon innings of 141 from Strauss lasting over seven hours during which he had faced 303 balls, 22 of which he hit to the boundary. Having resumed on his overnight score of 102, he was content to occupy the crease scoring just 39 from 98 balls in two and a quarter hours.

The seventh wicket then added 53 before off spinner Shane Shillingford claimed his only wicket having Broad, on 20, caught from a top edge as he attempted a sweep. The last two wickets were snapped up by Samuels. He had Swann caught at slip, umpire Asad Rauf had turned down the appeal but his decision was overturned on review. Clearly the hot spot indicated a faint touch. With Anderson going lbw without scoring, Bresnan was left not out with 39 from 93 balls. Roach finished with three for 120 from 34 overs.

Event: West Indies in England 2012

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2012 Andy Jalil