England vs. West Indies
1st Test
England -
Andrew Strauss (c)
Alastair Cook
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Matt Prior (w)
Andrew Flintoff
Graeme Swann
Stuart Broad
James Anderson
Steve Harmison
England's 1st Innings -
England won the toss and chose to bat first, which widely seemed the correct decision. The skipper Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook opened the batting for England but the two were finding it difficult to find many scoring opportunities. Struggling to find his feet the skipper Strauss, was trapped LBW for just 10.
In his new position of 3, Kevin Pietersen came to the crease with alot of pressure on his shoulders especially after losing the captaincy. It didn't seen to affect him however as him and Alastair Cook began to build a nice partnership.
However the partnership was broken, Cook departing for 42 with Bravo picking up his second wicket. Kevin Pietersen soon passed 50 but a breezy 17 from Ian Bell was ended when he was trapped in front by Deonarine. Before tea Collingwood joined KP at the crease digging in and taking the scoring opportunities when they came. Looking well set for his hundred the ground went silent when on 97 Taylor's appeal was accepted and the umpire raised his finger to end a fabulous innings from the South African born batsmen.
Stumps at Day 1 left Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 52 and Matt Prior on 30. Day 2 started well with Rampaul getting Prior for the West Indies, but Andrew Flintoff joined Paul Collingwood and the boundaries began to flow. Collingwood managed his century and Flintoff got his half century soon after.
2 wickets feel however quickly after and Flintoff fell for 59 and Collingwood 106. A quick 59 from Swann and 28 from Broad bought England's total to a highly respectable 479.
TOTAL - 479
West Indies 1st Innings -
Taking 16 balls to get off the mark Chris Gayle never looked comfortable at the crease and Jimmy Anderson finally got his man for 11 caught behind. Debutant Richards went for 38 and Chanderpaul 20 as the West Indies top order seemed to be crumbling.
Their middle order were however more resiliant as Sarwan and Deonarine managed a 90+ partnership before both men fell, Swann and Harmison getting the breakthroughs. But Bravo and Pollard picked up from where they left off with the England's bowlers desperate to get them Flintoff got the breakthrough getting Bravo for 64.
Pollard, better known for his one-day ablity to smack sixes got his excellent 100 in fine fashion before Swann bowled him for 122. All out for 419, England had a lead of 60 runs and would be out to bat before lunch on day 4.
TOTAL - 419
England 2nd Innings -
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook this time started their innings more fluently and some nice boundaries got both men their half centuries before Strauss fell for 51. England knew they had to get their runs quickly if they wanted to declare and have a real chance of bowling the Windies out and Kevin Pietersen is exactly the man you want in that position.
The West Indies had a mini fightback getting Cook for 76, Bell 27 and Collingwood 17 in quick succession but Matt Prior came to the crease and looked settled. Rampaul managed to get KP caught behind for 60 but Matt Prior and Flintoff and then later Swann got England up to 335-6. England declared with Prior not out on 51 and Swann not out on 16.
On a pitch that was quickly falling apart England came out to bowl with 1 hour until lunch on day 5 knowing that an early wicket was vital.
TOTAL - 335-6 dec
West Indies 2nd Innings -
Steve Harmison started with the new ball unlike in the first innings when Andrew Flintoff took it and he immediately showed why. Bowling aggressively and fast Gayle was caught in the slips for four, Anderson also got Chanderpaul for 1. Harmison also got Sarwan for 4 and at lunch the Windies were on a precarious position of 25-3.
Pollard, Richards and Ramdin were all bowled by Harmison and it really was grevious bodily harm-ison. The West Indies were all out for 99, Harmison taking an unbelievable 7-21, Broad, Swann and Anderson got one each.
England start the series with a bang, winning by 296 runs.
TOTAL - 99
ENGLAND WIN BY 296 RUNS
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Any thoughts/suggestions etc? Writing or team suggestions, your choice tbh. 
