Cheap Total

England 258 all out
v West Indies 19 for 1
close on Day 1

2nd Test

Played at Headingley

Friday 25 August 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Pint
Black Sheep
Best Bitter
Cask
3.8%
Nowt else available

(save for Lager, Diaego Black, Keg Bitter & generic apple stuff)
I don’t know how Yorkshire/Headingley have got themselves into this situation. But, they have. It was a nice pint. It wouldn’t surprise me if I had it tomorrow. Repeat. To. Fade.

That was quite an interesting day’s cricket. West Indies widely written off beforehand. And, this is in a game involving bat n ball !  England were reeling at 71-4 when Malan went. Root was dropped in the slips. A sitter. Not difficult. Stokes was dropped (on 98) at mid on. A sitter. Not difficult. It was good to see West Indies fightback from a mauling in the last Test. It was poor to see them shelling chances. And, an interesting day of cricket or not, I feel some England players have forgotten how to play Test cricket. And, some never knew & maybe never will.  You’ve got to stay there. That’s how it works. 258 on what seems like a perfectly decent pitch is CHEAP.

Root tries to lap the leggie. To one way outside off. Turning wider. Unless it was the wrong ‘un. (It wasn’t). Caught at slip. Ridiculous. Ok. He’s got 59 off 98 at that stage. But, he’s England Captain. Don’t want to be doing that. Stoneman. Westley. Malan. Who knows? 47 balls. 11 balls. 39 balls. Bairstow lasts 9 balls. OK. I’m diving right in. But, those are not the stats of a Top Test Team.

Stokes. Irresistible though.

West Indies showed some resilience in the difficult dozen overs they faced. Dug in for just 19 runs. Lost Powell. But, sent the Nightwatchman in. He’s (Bishoo) took 17 balls - for one immaterial run. Knows his job, the fella. One of few.

522/1102