England v West Indies, 2nd Test - Trent Bridge

England unchanged. Rampaul and Shillingford in for the Windies.

Windies win the toss and will bat. A great toss to win - runs galore today.

If Jimmy gets it swinging, could be havoc

Fidel Edwards dropped, Gabriel injured of course.

TEAMS
England: A Strauss (capt), A Cook, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, J Bairstow, M Prior (wk), T Bresnan, S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson.

West Indies: A Barath, K Powell, K Edwards, D Bravo, S Chanderpaul, M Samuels, D Ramdin (wk), D Sammy (capt), K Roach, R Rampaul, S Shillingford.

Didn't think they'd drop Bresnan. Conditions suit him here.

Bresnan better option at Trent Bridge.

If it doesn't swing then I can tell you now he won't be the better option.

It always swings at TB.

It did before the new stand, and it does even more now its there.

Jimmy has 25 wickets at an average of 12 in his last 3 games there.

More to the point Bresnan also offers control

Can't argue against Bresnan even though I really want Finn to play. If England win this test I would be slightly tempted to give Anderson and Broad and at least one of them the 3rd test off and bring in Finn and Onions or just Finn to keep competitions for places and give them a run out before the SA series.

Fists of Fury wrote:If it doesn't swing then I can tell you now he won't be the better option.

It always swing at TB regardless of the overhead weather. I do think Finn should be picked at Edgbaston though and against the Saffers.

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:It always swings at TB.

It did before the new stand, and it does even more now its there.

Jimmy has 25 wickets at an average of 12 in his last 3 games there.

More to the point Bresnan also offers control

So does Finn tbh and dare I say, more control than Bresnan. But at TB, I am fine with Bres.

Slightly dissapointed Tino hasn't been given a go just for his enthusiasm. Hopefully I'll get to see a good afternoon of cricket after work.

Thanks. Comes of just having radio commentary. Thought Jimmy had c&b.

Not a great deal of swing.

It was Broad who struck, Anderson took the catch.

Great stuff for Broad, continuing where he left off

Another chance, England looking good, just enough movement to cause a bit of trouble, need at least 3 wickets before 50 to restrict the WI with it a glorious pitch for batting and with the weather set fair for the next few days.

I say England to win this inside three days

#bold

Get the feeling here that Jimmy is going to take a few wickets here today. That was a difficult chance for Bresnan but he could have caught it.

Have the impression that Barath rather gave it away, and there seem to be a lot of references to the ball going to leg. Are they a bit off line, or looking for swing that isn't there?

Finn looking very glum on the balcony.

He could have left it cowshot but they are the wickets you get early in an innings. There are definitely runs in this pitch.

Vic Marks noting that Alim Dar is an Umpiring phenomenon, never seems to make a mistake. Good point. Given the trouble with Umpires in the last few years it's good to have a really top notch one around - especially one from Pakistan.

...cue several howlers!

eirebilly: Thanks.

Oh! Clean bowled!

Which yet again is why Finn should have played. On a good deck you need that little bit extra in terms of pace.

However, fantastic start by England.

On the money Jimmy

Well done Jimmy, massive seam movement there, Finn would have loved it..

Jimmy exploiting a weakness in technique, by the sound of it. Did he see the weakness and deliberately exploit it, or just find it out by chance with a good ball? Not much experience in this West Indies side.

Can see Shiv being a real limpet in these conditions. Doubt he'll just throw it away.

Edwards was all over the show cowshot, Jimmy had him guessing constantly. It was a great build up to the wicket and the ball that took it was excellent. A true bowlers wicket.

Jaysus, Jimmy nearly gets Powell to play on, that was close.

Oh good. Great news that Jimmy is bowling so well with his brain. Sign of a bowler in great form. Sign of a great bowler.

not much shape for Bresnan

Bresnan keeps the pressure on with a maiden. Good stuff.

Bresnan rarely gets much shape. Not sure where this notion that he swings it loads has come from. He gets a little bit of away movement, not much more.

44 wickets in 13 matches says that he does do something right though?

Bresnan often gets bowlers to play loose shots but in the right conditions can swing the ball well.

I'm not trying to run him down, he is a very good cricketer, but just trying to put things in perspective. He has never been a huge swinger of the ball, but what he does do has proved very effective. It is just nothing different to Anderson and Broad, though, hence my calls for Finn to play.

Great stuff Jimmy, the Windies are need a big partnership here. Powell and Shiv can do that.

Morning all.

Good start from eng. three down.

Is it time for the great wall of chanders?

I would imagine Bresnan bowls a heavy ball. He's got the shoulders for it.

Jimmy sounds as though he's bowling almost forensically. Should we start calling him the Surgeon?

Oh, i dont think you are running him down fists, not at all. I am just saying that i also dont see anything that special in his bowling but for some reason he is very effective.

martyr_94 wrote:Another chance, England looking good, just enough movement to cause a bit of trouble, need at least 3 wickets before 50 to restrict the WI with it a glorious pitch for batting and with the weather set fair for the next few days.

There you go! How will 42 for 3 do you? Bravo caught at second slip off Jimmy.

Shiv's gonna fail today, got a feeling.

Jimmy - masterful.

And as we so often see the great wall gets off the mark with a bit of luck. .oh, byes actually.

Then he settles in forever.

Great first hour for England.

Pitch OK for batting but Jimmy and Broad just too good.

Powell has looked good but a lot up to Shiv again ...

Powell looking well set. How can him and chanders ever fail? How I ask thee?

It can't happen.

And the great wall is off, the first of his 500 not out this match.

The Windies really need these two to calm things down. I would almost be tempted to throw the ball to Swann for a few.

Jimmy trying Shiv with a few short balls. Trying to set him up for something?

Oooh. Damn near worked! Jimmy at his best.,

Swanny for a couple before lunch, I'd say.

A mate of mine mailed me that he put 20 on that 13 wickets would fall today for 220-250 runs. Could be a very good call.

eirebilly wrote:The Windies really need these two to calm things down. I would almost be tempted to throw the ball to Swann for a few.

Warne was suggesting just that for when Chanderpaul came in , before the match. Obviously great (cricket) minds think alike , billy

Having said that , jimmy so nearly got him then...

But Jimmy has bowled nine now , has to rest soon , unfortunately .

Sme poor fielding. Tough chance but someone could have got there to have a go.

Chanders getting lucky out there. Need those to go our way early doors or he is in for the duration.