It probably won’t be a full live blog the way the last Test was, but we’ll open this one to have a place for discussion given how there’s a lot of content on the site at present.
We’ll all chime in at different points during the day, but over by over it isn’t.
Comments below of course!
England have lost the toss and will bat first. What could possibly go wrong?
This doesn’t look a particularly quick pitch at all.
As John Etheridge states…
It’s almost like people expected that from Jennings…
All in all a pretty decent session from England. Jennings went in familiar fashion, but they’ve been a fair bit more restrained in their play, and left better than in either of the first two Tests. Whether they can go on from here, well that’s a different question.
We sit here, patiently awaiting the collapse.
Buttler and Stokes have done rather well here.
Being Outside Cricket 
Jennings out if he had reviewed.
Jennings dropped at third slip.
Kylie Minogue singing her first hit (or was it second)
LikeLike
Made a bit of a mess of Bob Willis’s opinion who said after the last Test match that Jennings should never play for England again. He’s back, after one match!
I suppose they have no back up on a tour, so this could be his last test match. If he makes a hundred it will be funny to see who opens in the Ashes?
LikeLike
England went for better the devil they know, but ended up stepping back in time.
Put your hand on your heart and tell me that you didn’t think he did it again.
That was especially for you.
Jennings takes the slow walk back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jennings averages 2.67 per life this innings. Shoe-in for the Ashes. Ask Shaun Marsh who reached similar stratospheric heights for Australia against India in 2011/2012.
LikeLike
West Indies trolling England with their bowling line so far.
“We know you want to play at it. Go on, go on, go on (etc.)”
Although I am officially supporting West Indies at the moment, I hope Burns does well. It’s because I’d like England to have at least one opener by the time the Ashes come round (and I start supporting them again – ODIs don’t count).
LikeLike
Sorry to report that while he scored as many as Cook would have, Burns looks a bit vulnerable to the kind of bowling the Aussie lineup has plenty of…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thinking short term, I can live with that!
More seriously, and more long term, he still seems as cut out for this as anyone else available. Potential bolter in 2019 CC: Nick Gubbins (though I’m a big fan of Max Holden if we’re talking properly long term).
LikeLike
yep, the issues around the other spots have meant everyone is presuming Burns is a test opener when that has been far from proven.
LikeLike
He has a worrying propensity to miss straight ones. It’s not quite up to Nasser having a fit over it, but it won’t be long.
LikeLike
He certainly has a serious flaw if the ball holds its line at all around off from over the wicket. The bat comes down from second slip, he gets squared up, and even if his hands are in line with the ball, the toe end of the bat skews across towards his body.
LikeLike
Sorry, from round the wicket.
LikeLike
Agree. I seem to be the only one with doubts about Burns, but who else have we got? He is awful to watch, but he does consider each ball on merits, attempts to dig in and give what is needed. I suppose we have to admit that our strength is in the middle order, rather than the top three. At best they need to be protected from the new ball even if the runs are slow in coming. In conclusion, stick with Burns.
LikeLike
I’ve always doubted that Burns is true test class. I think he’s a tweener – between county and international level – he’ll be top of the charts in county cricket but be found out a little at the top.
I keep hoping I’m wrong.
LikeLike
I have to say I like what the groundsman has done with the grass stripes around the wicket. Quite impressive. Takes my attention away from the English batting..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see banning the WI captain has had zero effect at speeding up the over rate. Only ten over behind to be made up in the last session.
I know, I know it’s only us obsessives, and who cares if the match is over in less than four days?
Four hours to bowl fifty overs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you point out a flaw in the system, Mark. A replacement captain has no motivation to speed up the over rate, because he knows that he’ll only be racking up disciplinary points once every two years or so. Then the normal skipper comes back with a clean slate.
Perhaps the match official should nominate the bowler who is most to blame, and *he” should be banned…
LikeLike
It did rain – I’m not sure they’ve made up all the time as yet. But they didn’t lose 10 overs worth of time.
LikeLike
Ok, thanks for that boss.I haven’t watched very much coverage today. Preferring to watch the rugby. So I didn’t know it had rained.
LikeLike
If the West Indies are agiain to take their place near the top of the rankings they need to sort out their slow over rate.
LikeLike
West Indies dominated world cricket in the 1980s by bowling 13 overs an hour. It was always a tactic to slow down the game further if they found themselves in a little difficulty. They were a great team, but very, very professional.
LikeLike
I must say, I’ve very much enjoyed the far more sedate pacing of our collapse today. Shows a real respect for test cricket.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re very rarely online at the same time Q. Hope the seal-fur-clad clan are all doing well.
LikeLike
All ok on the tundra, Roo. It’s a balmy -9 today so only one set of furs required. How’s Brexit treating you, my soon to be repatriated friend?
LikeLike
Family soon to be in Kafka-esque bureaucratic hell (i.e. trying to get French documents.) We’re all registered here, so, even if events overtake us, in terms of Brexit, we only need residential permits. Dual nationality is an 18-month process, and will come eventually).
In the meantime, enjoying the pre-spring down here.
Sorry for taking up the blog, everyone else. If Dmitri has access to my email address, please send it to Q, and delete anything unnecessary.
LikeLike
Check your inboxes.
LikeLike
100 for 4 or 5 seems to be pretty standard these days for England.
As usual it’s up to the lower middle order to save face. Up to 147/4 now.
LikeLike
Meanwhile. Bromance update.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phew! Worried that the bromance update would involve me…
LikeLike
Now the producer is at it…
LikeLike
Mountford will be fired for that tweet. It’s Sir Alastair now you peasant.
It seems Agnew wants to rub it in our faces. Just in case we didn’t know how friendly they are. Makes his last four years as BBC cricket corespondent completely pointless.
Every piece he wrote or spoke in commentary about the KP issue or Cooks captaincy is now completely discredited.
Meanwhile Stokes gave it away, and was then called back as it was a no ball. He had left the ground and taken his kit off, but hey ho. Umpires don’t bother calling no balls now in real time unless they are way over the line. Only checking when it’s a wicket.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be very fair on the no-ball, it was very tight. And they’ve called several that have been over the line.
Have more of a pop at Dharmasena not getting the Burns LBW!
LikeLike
Well said Mark. Totally agree. His cosying up to Cook is ridiculous to say the least.
LikeLike
Great recovery from Stokes and Buttler. I think the West Indies missed Holder though. His height and bounce would have been useful today.
LikeLike