Story The Journey of International Teams. Cricket 07. Current Series: (Test) ENG vs. WIN

[OrderDX]

England vs. West Indies: 1st Test, Day Three, Morning Session LIVE!

David Gower: Welcome to this third day of this first npower test match between England and the West Indies at Old Trafford and due to us being on air later this morning we are going to go straight to the middle where the players are just on their way out for day three. Our commentators for the morning session are Michael Atherton but first Sir Ian Botham.

Sir Ian Botham: Thanks David and we are all set for today's play. West Indies are 8/0 and Hoggard is set to bowl the first over of the morning with Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle at the crease for the West Indies.

The first nine overs pass with the West Indies really struggling and the England bowlers really challenging them. The Winidies only score three runs leaving the score at 11/0 after 12 overs.

Michael Atherton: Steve Harmison to continue to bowl well and he is now going to bowl to Wavell Hinds. Great shot that is perfect. He got on the front foot early and punched it through the covers between the fielders for a much needed West Indies Boundary. The score now moves on to 15 without loss.

Hoggard bowls one more over and gets a maiden. Harmison is then taken out of the attack and Freddie Flintoff joins the action.

Sir Ian Botham: Andrew Flintoff is into the attack then and can he make a breakthrough or keep things tight and build even more pressure. Running in and he has bowled him! Hinds went to leave it and it was swinging in and it hits offstump out of the ground! Hinds has gone and Flintoff gets a wicket. The West Indies are 15/1.

Michael Atherton: This is the Windies captain and their best player who averages over fifty it is of course the one and only Brian Lara. England need to get this man out early otherwise the West Indies could post a big total.

Sir Ian Botham: Lara on strike then and he immediately gets off the mark with a leg glance to fine leg for a single which brings Chris Gayle on strike. Gayle facing and he hits a majestic shot for four through the covers and the West Indies at the end of the 15th over are now 21/1.

Michael Atherton: Matthew Hoggard to continue then. Gayle on strike for the first ball and that is short and cut away for another boundary. Hoggard drops that one short and gets punished by the aggressive Gayle. Hoggard now delivering the fifth ball of the over and that one is overpitched and it is another boundary with a wonderful cover drive. Chris Gayle moves on to 18 and the Windies are 29/1.

An over passes with Flintoff conceding just one run.

Sir Ian Botham: Hoggard to continue than and Lara is on strike and hits a brillaint cover drive. That one should be shown to all young kids because that was simply perfect. Lara looks in fine touch which isn't good news for England but they will have to find a way to get the man out.

Flintoff bowls a maiden before Simon Jones is brought on in the 20th over to bowl his first over since the Ashes in 2005.

Michael Atherton: Simon Jones has bowled well here with five dot balls he is looking good on his return for England. Lara is on strike though so anything can happen and that is a great shot just steered through teh slips for a boundary. Jones didn't do anything wrong it was just a very good shot from Lara. Good over for Simon Jones, the West Indies are 38/1.

3 overs pass with the West Indies moving on to 41/1 and Simon Jones about to bowl the 24th over.

Sir Ian Botham: That is a no ball from Jones and Gayle edges it over the slips for a boundary. He heard the call and just went for a smack and it paid off. Unlucky for Jones but at this level you just cannot afford to bowl no balls. West Indies are now 47/1 and this partnership is now building between Lara and Gayle.

Michael Atherton: Flintoff to carry on and Lara is on strike. Good attempt at a yorker from Flintoff there but Lara was up to it. Now Flintoff runs in again and that is four. Wonderful cover drive again from Brain Lara. He is lookin invincible at the minute. The fifty is up for the West Indies. It is 51/1.

Three maidens are bowled building pressure on the West Indies and Flintoff carries on.

Sir Ian Botham: Flintoff runs in then to Brian Lara. Too short and cut away for a boundary from Lara. Flintoff is starting to look frustrated. Runs in again and this time Lara hits one powerfully through teh covers for another boundary. Eight off the over and the West Indies are 59/1.

Michael Atherton: Two overs left until luch then and Simon Jones is to continue, he has looked good so far. Bowling to Chris Gayle now and that has gone straight down the throat of Ian Bell at cover and Chris Gayle is deceived by a vrilliant Simon Jones slower ball and he deserves that wicket. A blow for the West Indies they are now 59/2 and Gayle must go for a good 23.

Sir Ian Botham: The new batsman for the West Indies is the resilient Shiv Chanderpaul who England have really struggled to get out in the past. He won't be on strike though because that was the last abll of the over so Lara will face the last over before lunch from Monty Panesar.

Panesar bowls a maiden to finish off a very good session from England. Lunch is called and the players go off to applause from the crowd.

Michael Atherton: Right then at lunch the story is that England are on top with the West Indies 59/2. Hinds was bowled by Andrew Flintoff for 9 when he didn't read an inswinging one correctly and just two overs before lunch Chris Gayle chipped a Simon Jones slower ball to Ian Bell at cover to give England a bonus. Lara is 24 not out and looking good and Chanderpaul is at the crease but he hasn't faced a ball.

Sir Ian Botham: As for the England bowlers every one of them has bowled superbly. They have challenged the batsmen and have been consistent in their lines and lengths. They have all been economical and the wickets have so far gone to Flintoff and Jones. Also this sessionn the run rate was just 1.82. The West Indies really need to improve this because at the minute England are dominating.

Michael Atherton: That is the story this morning then and join us after the break when David Gower will get to talk to legendary West Indies player Sir Viv Richards. Make sure you join us.​

 

[Griffo]

cmon windies!!! still brilliant pres

 

[Pakistani Army]

Windies going pretty slow but that's what a test match is usually like though...Great pres DX

 

[Will_NA]

Great summary. i will read into it more later

keep it up

 

[OrderDX]

LUNCH INTERVAL, Day 3

David Gower: Welcome back to Old Trafford where at lunch it is 59/2 for the West Indies and England are firmly on top. We now have a treat for all of you cricket fans out there because we have a live interview with Sir Viv Richards to be conducted by his good friend Sir Ian Botham. We can now cross live to the stadium where the two are sitting and ready for this historic inereview.

Sir Ian Botham: Thanks David yes i am with Viv and we are going to talk about todays West Indies and what the young team lack. Sir Viv what do you see in the West Indies team at the minute?

Sir Viv Richards: Well i see that a lot of the talents are raw and need developing into the cricketers they can be but a major problem is that the selectors are not even picking these. Dwayne Bravo for example has been left out and there are other talents that didn't even make the squad such as Renako Morton and Dinesh Ramdin. However i do see a good combination of youth and experience. You have players like Lara, Gayle, Chanderpaul and Sarwan who hold the innings together and Collymore for the bowlers.

Sir Ian Botham: Interesting the West Indies are struggling in this test match what do they have to do to get into it and make England work harder for a victory?

Sir Viv Richards: Well i think they need a partnership basically. Lara and Chanderpaul may be the two batsmen to help the Windies post a challenging total but at the minute you have to say that the England bowlers are restricting the batsmen and making it very hard to score.

Sir Ian Botham: Right, now the West Indies have gone through a rough time as of late what has changed sinc eyou played for example?

Sir Viv Richards: I think the mentality of cricketers has changed the game is now so important and so serious. When we used to play we just enjoyed it and played the best we could. We were naturally talented and didn't really need much development unlike the team and also we were determined where as some of the players today don't actually seem to care too much and are in it simply for the money.

Sir Ian Botham: Thanks for giving us an insight Sir Viv and we look forward to see what the West Indies can do in the rest of this test match and indeed the rest of the series.

David Gower: Right we will be back after the break when the afternoon session will begin. Can the West Indies build a partnership or will England carry on their domination? Join us after the break!​

 

[Pakistani Army]

Excellent interview with Sir Vivian Richards...Great presentation DX!

 

[OrderDX]

England vs. West Indies: 1st Test, Day Three, Afternoon Session LIVE!

David Gower: We are back and ready for the afternoon session of this test match between England and the West Indies and to take you through this session of play are Michael Holding and Nasser Hussain.

The first over passes with Simon Jones bowling a maiden challenging Chanderpaul to play outside his off stump. Monty is bowling to Lara in the next over.

Nasser Hussain: Here is Monty to Brian Lara then this promices to be a great contest. Monty bowls then and that is four! Lara performs a sweep and it goes behind fine leg who is up in the circle. Lara has looked in fine form for the West Indies and they really need him to go on and get a mssive score for the struggling side.

4 overs pass with not a run being scored. Panesar and Jones bowl immaculate lengths and give nothing away to their opponents.

Michael Holding: Simon Jones to continue and he runs in to Chanderpaul and that is hammered away to the fence. That was too short from Jones and Chanderpaul had the width to cut it away for an easy boundary and it relieves the pressure that had been built up over the past few overs.

Nasser Hussain: Here is Panesar to Lara then. Lara advances down the wicket and he hammers that between the two men on the leg side for an impressive boundary. Lara is now in teh thirties and England really do need to get him out here or their could be a lot of runs for the Windies this afternoon.

Another four overs pass and the West Indies cannot score leaving the score on 71/2 and Harmison bowls the next over conceding two runs. Panesar continues to bowl to Lara.

Michael Holding: Panesar to Lara then and he runs in and that is caught at fine leg in the circle. Lara was trying to whip that one away for a boundary but it has gone straight to the man and the man who look set has given his wicket away and Panesar is jubilant! The West Indies are now 73/3 with Lara gone for a start but nothing more.

Nasser Hussain: The new batsman for the West Indies is Sarwan and he can bat. He averages nearly fourty and can easily turn this game around if he plays to his potential.

Michael Holding: Harmison to bowl to Chanderpaul and that is another boundary. It is short and wide and any decent batsman will punish the bowler for that sort of delivery. Chanderpaul is looking resilient as ever and England look to be a little frustrated here.

3 Maidens pass and Harmison continues.

Nasser Hussain: Here is Chanderpaul and what a beautiful square drive that is and it has gone all the way to the fence for four. Chanderpaul is looking to be in fine form here and he just simply loves batting. Harmison is getting his lines right generally but then dropping them too short and sometimes wide.

Another 3 maidens pass and Andrew Flintoff is into the attack to try and get England a wicket. Harmison is still bowling.

Michael Holding: Harmison and that is far too short and Sarwan gets a boundary. He plays it down to the vacant third man area over the slips. Great shot and Harmison needs to come out of the attack in my opinion. Vaughan has given him one too many overs and they would be better of with someone fresh in the attack.

Flintoff bowls a maiden and Hoggard is into the attack as Holding predicted. He gives away a no ball in his first over and Flintoff is getting ready to bowl the 57th over just one more after it until tea.

Nasser Hussain: Chanderpaul on strike and that is hit very hard and it beats bacward point easily. Another cut shot from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and he looks unstoppable. He now moves onto 17 off a staggering 70 balls. He doesn't seem to want to bat quickly that is for sure.

The final over of the session is a maiden from Hoggard. The umpires call tea and the crowd seem disappointed. One wicket and not many runs. One of the teams has to take the initiative in the next session of play.

Michael Holding: The West Indies at tea are 93 for the loss of three wickets. Hinds has gone bowled by Flintoff for nine, Gayle chipped one to cover of a Simon Jones slower ball outside off stump and this session the only wicket to fall was Lara caught by Flintoff and bowled by Monty Panesar the England favourite. Overall the Windies aren't scoring many runs but they are frustrating the England bowlers.

Nasser Hussain: As for the England bowlers they have all been economical and three of them have picked up wickets. One for Monty, one for Freddie and one for the returning Simon Jones. Join us after the break when we will have the final session of play! Will one of the teams gain an advantage? Find out after the break!

 

[Pakistani Army]

Panesar very very economical...Great presentation DX!

 

[OrderDX]

cheers barmy army i think u mite be the only one who is actually following my story though lol

 

[tonka998]

HEY! im following your story - its just im not posting anything ... cos i cant be bothered!! (sorry lol!). But its really good to read. Harmison is being straighter than he usually is! I would usually expect a few wides from him! Great story!!

 

[OrderDX]

England vs. West Indies: 1st Test, Day Three, Evening Session LIVE!

David Gower: We are back and now it is time for the final session of the third day of this first npower test match between England and the West Indies and to take you through this final session of play are David Lloyd and Michael Atherton.

David Lloyd: Thank you David and the first over after tea is to be bowled by Andrew Flintoff. He runs into Sarwan and it will be the first boundary after lunch with a beautiful cover drive. Moved his feet early and placed it perfectly. Great shot! Sarwan could really hurt England if he bats well this evening and the Windies will look for that from him.

Michael Atherton: Flintoff now into the attack and Shiv Chanderpaul on strike. Edged and well held by Matt Prior. That is a big blow for the West Indian team because Chanderpaul had troubled England in the past. Chanderpaul goes for a slow eighteen and Flintoff is ecstatic!

David Lloyd: Chanderpaul is gone for the West Indies then and the inexperienced Marlon Samuels come to the crease. What can he produce for them. They need a spark from someone because at the minute they are 97/4.

4 overs pass and the West Indies move the score onto 102/4 by scoring singles and the bowlers bowling a no ball or two. Simon Jones is now brought back into the attack.

Michael Atherton: Ramnaresh Sarwan on strike again for the West Indies and Simon Jones running in and bowling pretty well. What a shot! Sarwan hits another perfectly executed cover drive for a boundary. The West Indies are now 107/4 and Sarwan looks in fine form.

4 overs pass with the England bowlers keeping it tight and restricting to the West Indies to 7 runs and moving to 114/4. Panesar is now into the attack.

David Lloyd: Monty is into the attack and this crowd really like him. Panesar runs in then and Samuels advances to him and plays a beautiful controlled square drive to the fence for four. Samuels is loooking to be aggressive here and that is something the Windies have needed, they simply have been scoring far too slowly.

4 overs pass with three of them being good maidens and only two runs coming off the other over. Jones is set to continue.

Michael Atherton: Sarwan on strike to Jones and that is a lovely shot and that is hard to do. A wonderful on drive straight along the floor from Sarwan. England you sense are just losing some of the control of this innings they need a wicket.

David Lloyd: Panesar to continue and he has looked very good today. Hardly any runs against him and he has challenged all of the batsman. Panesar in then and Samuels advances again but he has missed it and Prior gathers and stumps Samuels. Good bowling from Panesar he saw Samuels coming so he dropped it wide and short to make it hard for him to get. The fifth West Indies wicket bites the dust and they are in all sorts of trouble at 126/5.

Michael Atherton: The new batsman for the West Indies is the wicket keeper, Carlton Baugh. Can he increase his average with a good knock for the Windies here?

David Lloyd: Steve Harmison is into the attack and what a shot that is from Ramnaresh Sarwan. That was swinging away and he has just brilliantly chipped it over the infield through the covers for a one bounce four. He is obviously looking to take the initiative now the West Indies are in a spot of bother.

3 overs pass with Sarwan hitting two more boundaries and looking in supreme form. Harmison continues and so far he has bowled five dot balls in the 82nd over. He is about to bowl to Carlton Baugh.

Michael Atherton: Harmison steaming in then and that is full and straight and it hits Baugh on the pad and the umpire raises his finger that is plum out. Carlton Baugh goes lbw and Harmison has his first wicket of the match. West Indies are now in big trouble. They are 139/6. The tail is now exposed as well.

David Lloyd: The new batsman is the first of the four West Indian tail enders, Ian Bradshaw. He has got some ability though so this could be very interesting.

One over passes and Monty bowls a maiden putting pressure on the West Indies. Harmison is about to bowl to Sarwan after Bradshaw just got a single off the third ball of the over.

Michael Atherton: Here we go then Harmison running in and Sarwan on strike. Goes for the chip over the infield again but this time he hasn't timed it and it has gone straight down the throat of Ian Bell in the covers. Sarwan separts and now the tail is truly exposed. The West Indies are 140/7 and Sarwan goes for 39.

David Lloyd: The new batsman for the Windies is Dillon and he really marks the start of the proper tail. England will now be looking to finish this innings off tonight.

Michael Atherton: Two overs to go until the end of the play then and Monty Panesar is set to bowl his last over of the day. He has got wickets and been very economical so far can he continue? Gone! Ian Bradshaw is caught at forward short leg from Ian Bell who has now taken three catches and scored a century in the match. Panesar is jubilant and the West Indies are crumbling here. They are 140/8.

David Lloyd: The new batsman is Pedro Collins the man who got three wickets bowling for the West Indies. I am not sure he is going to be able to mange three runs though.

Michael Atherton: Panesar to continue then and that is pushed into the covers from Collins. They have gone for a quick single and it is thrown from the overs. It is a direct hit and we have got a third umpires decsion here. He is out by about 5 centimetres. Great fielding from England and the West Indies are now 140/9. They have lost 4 wickets within two runs!

David Lloyd: The new batsman is the last man, Corey Collymore who will just try and get through today for the West Indies so they can annoy England slightly.

The last over of the day is bowled by Harmison and it is a maiden. England look very happy at stumps on day three.

Michael Atherton: The West Indies batting today and this evening has been disastrous. Tongiht they have lost six wickets for just 47 runs with another poor run rate of 1.68. The only men to trouble the England bowlers were Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara but the other senior men, Chris Gayle and Shiv Chanderpaul were out cheaply and the inexperienced West Indies batsmen didn't trouble the bowlers at all. The West Indies after 86 overs are 140/9.

David Lloyd: As for the England bowlers Panesar bowled quite brilliantly getting three wickets and cauising a run out, Harmison bowled well to get two wickets and Flintoff bowled well as well for his two wickets. The other wicket was picked up by Simon Jones on his return to the side. Overall no doubt that England are the team on top.

Michael Atherton: Join us tomorrow morning when England will try and get the last West Indies wicket and make the team follow on and England will try to rap up the first npower test match at Old Trafford.​

 

[Pakistani Army]

Panesar destroying the Windies batting line-up...England will try and wrap it up by getting the last wicket...Excellent presentation DX!

 

[Highlander999]

Lovely pres. England bowlers destroying Windies. Reps for your hard work

 

[OrderDX]

Analysis Of Day Three

David Gower: Welcome back to Old Trafford where England are dominating and making the West Indies team look very mediocre indeed. The story of the day was that in the morning and afternoon England struggled to take wickets but then they took six this evening to leave the Windies 140/9. They are still 229 runs behind and they will no doubt have to follow on. The star of the day from England's point of view was Monty Panesar who took three wickets. He is now downstairs with Sir Ian Botham.

Sir Ian Botham: Great bowling today Monty. England are in a very strong position and you have been a major part of getting them into this position. How do you see your performance and what do England have to do tomorrow?

Monty Panesar: I think i bowled well today but not my best. To be fair i got Lara because he played a bad shot but i was very pleased with the stumping of Marlon Samuels. That was a great partnership between myself and Matt Prior in the field. He really understood what i was trying to do. Tomorrow we have to do it all again and hopefully go one up in the series.

David Gower: Now lets get some reaction from the West Indies camp where Michael Holding is with Brian Lara the captain.

Michael Holding: The West Indies collapsed today and only two players really put up a fight. Yourself and Ramnaresh Sarwan so can you stop England from wrapping this up comfortably tomorrow?

Brian Lara: Maybe but the one thing we can do even if we do lose this test match is show what we are capable of. We have to give a massively improved performance than what we gave today and that means at least two half centurioes and a century if possible. It is now time for the team to stand up and prove what they have got because we simply were not good enough today.

David Gower: Well that is the reaction from both camps we will see you all tomorrow for the fourth day of this 1st npower test match. Goodbye!​

 

[Pakistani Army]

Excellent analysis DX! Great pres