Ed Smith
Gaffer
Oh and while we're on. Here's a couple of Bothams (there isn't a good mullett) for his glorious, chubby comeback next year.
I wish they didnt blink though..
I wish they didnt blink though..
England in the 90s
- Thread starter blockerdave
- Start date
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
@DalePlaysCricket they are brilliant, thanks
Ed Smith
Gaffer
Mouseydread
Associate Captain
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2017
Love the set up intro!
Ed Smith
Gaffer
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
Day Two
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60) lead England (22-2) by 188 runs.
There's a long rain delay, so a short morning session. The outfield is wet and slow, and there's very little value for shots. England are at barely 1 an over. Gooch (13) goes early but Lamb and Smith see out the rest of the morning.
Smith and Lamb continue in the afternoon session but it's painfully slow going. The 50 partnership takes 163 balls. England lose Lamb for 40, but Hussain joins Smith and that's the only wicket to fall until tea.
With a ring of covers and the danger of edging, there's little to no reward in off-side shots and England are mainly restricted of leg-side scoring, but the Windies bowlers are bowling a tight line on the off-side so there's not much to score from. England are still ticking along around the 1 rpo mark, and it's frankly boring as hell.
Why didn't I take that Civil Service exam?
How boring, you ask? England's first boundary came in the 31st over. Their second, in the 73rd over and that was from overthrows. In the meantime Smith had fallen for 39 from 131 balls and Hussain was joined by Capel. The scoring rate finally increased, but this was more to do with Capel being the beneficiary of a flurry of overthrows and some madcap running rather than any increased fluency in the batting.
The Hussain/Capel partnership was crucial for the match. Lose another wicket now, and the hard set-up work of Lamb and Smith would be for nought, whereas a substantial partnership would put England in the driving seat. A substantial partnership was indeed what they got, as England's middle order really rebuilt after the failures of the top order.
Geoff Boycott would shed an affectionate tear reading that
Hussain passed 50 for the second time in the series, as England got through the close without further loss, finishing 200-5 just 10 runs behind and well set up. It was boring though.
That's time I'm never getting back.
Just 3 wickets lost, but only 178 runs scored in 72 overs on day 2. Day 3 looking crucial - can England bat themselves into a match-winning lead?
Last time England finished the day in a strong position they fell apart the next morning.
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60) lead England (22-2) by 188 runs.
There's a long rain delay, so a short morning session. The outfield is wet and slow, and there's very little value for shots. England are at barely 1 an over. Gooch (13) goes early but Lamb and Smith see out the rest of the morning.
Smith and Lamb continue in the afternoon session but it's painfully slow going. The 50 partnership takes 163 balls. England lose Lamb for 40, but Hussain joins Smith and that's the only wicket to fall until tea.
With a ring of covers and the danger of edging, there's little to no reward in off-side shots and England are mainly restricted of leg-side scoring, but the Windies bowlers are bowling a tight line on the off-side so there's not much to score from. England are still ticking along around the 1 rpo mark, and it's frankly boring as hell.
Why didn't I take that Civil Service exam?
The Hussain/Capel partnership was crucial for the match. Lose another wicket now, and the hard set-up work of Lamb and Smith would be for nought, whereas a substantial partnership would put England in the driving seat. A substantial partnership was indeed what they got, as England's middle order really rebuilt after the failures of the top order.
Geoff Boycott would shed an affectionate tear reading that
That's time I'm never getting back.
Last time England finished the day in a strong position they fell apart the next morning.
Ed Smith
Gaffer
Great stuff. Is this the test that didn't actually take place? Seems you're getting similar weather.
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
Day Three
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60) lead England (200-5, Hussain 53*, Walsh 3-68) by 10 runs.
There's another delayed start, but when play finally gets underway England start confidently and Capel soon passes 50. On top of his fine showing with the ball, is he finally blossoming into a test class all rounder?
In a few years we'll be burdening promising all rounders with the mantle of "the new Capel"
Capel and Hussain continued to play well, with Capel scoring relatively briskly and Hussain milking singles. They would pass a hundred partnership, but shortly after Hussain would depart playing on to Walsh for 60: 216/6 and only 6 runs ahead.
A troubling failure to convert
That was the only loss in the short morning session, England going into lunch 231/6 with Capel well placed on 58* and Russell looking solid on 9*. After lunch, Capel and Russell began to up the scoring rate. Russell in particular benefited from a leg stump line in at the body, which he was able to milk into the leg side with ease. In a match where scoring was often pedestrian, Russel was somehow going a run a ball.
Capel eventually fell for a fine 71, nicking Ambrose behind the wicket. Russell marshalled the tail superbly bringing up England's third half century, and the quickest of the lot coming in just 55 balls.
One fancies a young Adam Gilchrist listening on the wireless and being inspired.
Viv, maybe a packed offside field with a leg stump line isn't the best idea?
Russell was eventually 9th man out for 66, yet another victim for Courtney Walsh, who would finish with 7/89 - a stunning performance. England reaching 322 all out, a great performance from the middle/lower order from the depths of 26/3. All of Lamb, Smith, Hussain and Capel faced more than 100 balls.
The West Indian production line will clearly NEVER end.
Lamb, Smith, Hussain, Capel and Russell - an engine room for the ages.
West Indies started their inns shortly before tea, and were quickly in trouble, Small forcing an inside edge on to the stumps from Haynes for 1. His somewhat fortunate first inns 90 aside, Haynes has scored just 6 runs in his other 3 inns. West Indies got through to the tea break without further loss. But it was tough going - the pitch was absolutely lifeless with no pace or bounce.
More life in a necrophiliac's harem
In the evening session, Greenidge and Richardson looked solid enough. There were a few edges but the pitch was so lifeless nothing looked like carrying. Until, suddenly, one did - a brilliant dive forward from Larkins snaffling one just above the floor after Capel had found Richardson's edge. Richardson gone for 26, his first inns of the series without a half-century. For Greenidge it was the opposite, as he brought up his first half century of the series. It was a fine inns in tough conditions.
Bastard.
England were trying to keep things tight, and Small in particular (1/17 off 10) succeeded, but there was no sign of a further breakthrough and Gooch even turned briefly to the non-turning legspin of Nasser Hussain. It didn't work, but shortly before the close the extra pace of Malcolm induced Greenidge to play on for 53. Best and Hooper getting through to the close without further alarm, the West Indies 104-3, 8 runs behind at the close.
Anyone's game this.
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60) lead England (200-5, Hussain 53*, Walsh 3-68) by 10 runs.
There's another delayed start, but when play finally gets underway England start confidently and Capel soon passes 50. On top of his fine showing with the ball, is he finally blossoming into a test class all rounder?
In a few years we'll be burdening promising all rounders with the mantle of "the new Capel"
A troubling failure to convert
Capel eventually fell for a fine 71, nicking Ambrose behind the wicket. Russell marshalled the tail superbly bringing up England's third half century, and the quickest of the lot coming in just 55 balls.
One fancies a young Adam Gilchrist listening on the wireless and being inspired.
Viv, maybe a packed offside field with a leg stump line isn't the best idea?
Russell was eventually 9th man out for 66, yet another victim for Courtney Walsh, who would finish with 7/89 - a stunning performance. England reaching 322 all out, a great performance from the middle/lower order from the depths of 26/3. All of Lamb, Smith, Hussain and Capel faced more than 100 balls.
The West Indian production line will clearly NEVER end.
Lamb, Smith, Hussain, Capel and Russell - an engine room for the ages.
More life in a necrophiliac's harem
Bastard.
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Ed Smith
Gaffer
Erm, I may have rehashed the whole team now. I blame you
Also. When I said I blame you, I mean I ended up so far down the rabbit hole I tweeted Jack Russell to find out what kind of bat he used, as it was difficult to find a decent picture...
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
@DalePlaysCricket that's amazing, and the most Jack Russell answer ever.
Jack was a famous eccentric. He'd carry suitcases full of tea, beans and weetabix around the world with him on tour; had some insanely specific ritual over how each should be made, and also obsessive about his privacy. Nobody was allowed to know where he lived, and if he ever had anybody round he'd drive them there himself and they'd be blindfolded.
Jack was a famous eccentric. He'd carry suitcases full of tea, beans and weetabix around the world with him on tour; had some insanely specific ritual over how each should be made, and also obsessive about his privacy. Nobody was allowed to know where he lived, and if he ever had anybody round he'd drive them there himself and they'd be blindfolded.
Ed Smith
Gaffer
That's the best thing ever.
Blindfolding your guests man, what a guy.
Blindfolding your guests man, what a guy.
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
Day Four
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60; and 104/3, Greenidge 53, Small 1-17) trail England (322, Capel 71, Walsh 9-89) by 8 runs.
Day 4 was another day of attritional cricket on a lifeless pitch. Miraculously the start was delayed to the EXACT same time as on days 2 and 3, and in the morning session the run rate was slow (except for when Fraser was bowling, he took a fair bit of tap) and West Indies lost only Hooper, bowled by the afore-mentioned Fraser.
After lunch, Best went to his 50, a fine and patient knock off 131 balls and just what his team needed.
Remember the name, Carlisle Best. Another beacon of Caribbean batsmanship.
Richards and Best looked like batting the West Indies into a strong position, and were beginning to accelerate. But then Capel showed his Bothamesque habit of making things happen, trapping Richards (30) lbw for the second time in the match. Not even Beefy made King Viv his bunny. 216/5.
It was then, for the second time in the match, West Indies collapsed. Even before Richards departed Best had started to accelerate, and in attempting to pinch the strike went for an insane single that was never there and left Dujon (4) stranded - Gooch effecting the run out. 224/6.
Capel snagged his third wicket, trapping Marshall lbw for 1. 225/7.
The new ball brought more drama. Best hit the first ball with the new cherry for 4. Second ball, Small rapped him in front and England went up as one, but umpire Duncan shook his head. Replays suggested it was tight as to whether Best was outside the line, perhaps reasonable to give the benefit of the doubt. Third ball, England were up again with more belief, but again Duncan said no. Replays suggested this was plumb and England were aghast. Then, Small took the umpire out of the equation: the ball started wide before arrowing in past Best's outside edge and uprooting his off stump. It was an amazing delivery, and given the preceding balls it all added up to an astonishing passage of play. 232/8. England in command.
Ambrose was next, edging on to his pad from Malcolm and being snaffled by Russell behind the stumps. 247/9.
Bishop benefited from a few edges going into space as well as contributing a couple of lusty blows on his way to a merry 31 before Malcolm trapped him LBW for his third wicket and to finish the inns off for 272. Last 6 wickets falling for 56 with 25 contributed in a streaky last wicket stand - the misfiring West Indies tail will be a concern.
5-out all out is familiar to England fans so it's nice to be on the other end foronce twice.
England have 161 to win, and start their inns with less than an hour of day 4 to play.
The reply gets off to the worst possible start, losing Larkins for 1 and Stewart for a duck to complete his pair. Both players have 3 failures out of 4, and might be fearing for their place with top order batsman Rob Bailey also in the tour party.
Gooch and Lamb see England to the close, 18/2 from 12 overs. England need 143 to get on day 5 to level the series, West Indies 8 wickets to go 2 up.
Tighter than the proverbial.
This match is so close it may come down to hanging chads.
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60; and 104/3, Greenidge 53, Small 1-17) trail England (322, Capel 71, Walsh 9-89) by 8 runs.
Day 4 was another day of attritional cricket on a lifeless pitch. Miraculously the start was delayed to the EXACT same time as on days 2 and 3, and in the morning session the run rate was slow (except for when Fraser was bowling, he took a fair bit of tap) and West Indies lost only Hooper, bowled by the afore-mentioned Fraser.
After lunch, Best went to his 50, a fine and patient knock off 131 balls and just what his team needed.
Remember the name, Carlisle Best. Another beacon of Caribbean batsmanship.
It was then, for the second time in the match, West Indies collapsed. Even before Richards departed Best had started to accelerate, and in attempting to pinch the strike went for an insane single that was never there and left Dujon (4) stranded - Gooch effecting the run out. 224/6.
Capel snagged his third wicket, trapping Marshall lbw for 1. 225/7.
The new ball brought more drama. Best hit the first ball with the new cherry for 4. Second ball, Small rapped him in front and England went up as one, but umpire Duncan shook his head. Replays suggested it was tight as to whether Best was outside the line, perhaps reasonable to give the benefit of the doubt. Third ball, England were up again with more belief, but again Duncan said no. Replays suggested this was plumb and England were aghast. Then, Small took the umpire out of the equation: the ball started wide before arrowing in past Best's outside edge and uprooting his off stump. It was an amazing delivery, and given the preceding balls it all added up to an astonishing passage of play. 232/8. England in command.
Ambrose was next, edging on to his pad from Malcolm and being snaffled by Russell behind the stumps. 247/9.
Bishop benefited from a few edges going into space as well as contributing a couple of lusty blows on his way to a merry 31 before Malcolm trapped him LBW for his third wicket and to finish the inns off for 272. Last 6 wickets falling for 56 with 25 contributed in a streaky last wicket stand - the misfiring West Indies tail will be a concern.
5-out all out is familiar to England fans so it's nice to be on the other end for
The reply gets off to the worst possible start, losing Larkins for 1 and Stewart for a duck to complete his pair. Both players have 3 failures out of 4, and might be fearing for their place with top order batsman Rob Bailey also in the tour party.
Gooch and Lamb see England to the close, 18/2 from 12 overs. England need 143 to get on day 5 to level the series, West Indies 8 wickets to go 2 up.
Tighter than the proverbial.
This match is so close it may come down to hanging chads.
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
Day Five
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60; and 272, Best 90, Capel 3-56) lead England (322, Capel 71, Walsh 9-89; and 18/2) by 142 runs.
Whodathunkit another delayed start identical to days 2,3, and 4. What are the odds?
When play starts, Gooch and Lamb are very solid and even pick up the scoring rate. This is looking pretty comfortable for England. Lamb does fall just before lunch, but Smith joins his skipper and keeps England steady.
Gooch is taking England to within touching distance, and passes 50 for the first time in the series, form coming at a vital time to steady any nerves. He brings up the half century with a massive six over backward square leg after Bishop's line strayed.
Captain's knock...
England being England, they had to have a minor wobble, losing Gooch (60), Smith (28) and Capel (1) in short succession. But Hussain hit a brisk 23 from just 14 balls to ensure that even when he fell, Russell and Small could take England to a sensational and historic victory - their first in the Caribbean for a generation.
Never in doubt.
Capel man of the match for a fine performance with bat and ball. We head to Trinidad all square.
West Indies (210, Haynes 90, Capel 4-60; and 272, Best 90, Capel 3-56) lead England (322, Capel 71, Walsh 9-89; and 18/2) by 142 runs.
Whodathunkit another delayed start identical to days 2,3, and 4. What are the odds?
When play starts, Gooch and Lamb are very solid and even pick up the scoring rate. This is looking pretty comfortable for England. Lamb does fall just before lunch, but Smith joins his skipper and keeps England steady.
Gooch is taking England to within touching distance, and passes 50 for the first time in the series, form coming at a vital time to steady any nerves. He brings up the half century with a massive six over backward square leg after Bishop's line strayed.
Captain's knock...
Never in doubt.
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blockerdave
ICC Chairman
That passage of play with the new ball, Small to Best.
Only 4 balls but easily the best passage of play I've had across the 4 games to date, absolutely leapt out of my seat and cheered.
Only 4 balls but easily the best passage of play I've had across the 4 games to date, absolutely leapt out of my seat and cheered.
Ed Smith
Gaffer
That 2nd LBW decision was a shocker! You got 3 matches left before going home?
