West Indies v England 1st ODI at North Sound

A couple of new faces today with Moeen Ali and Michael Lumb handed caps.

A feel of a ODI/T20 combo with Bangladesh in mind.

England wanted to try and change their formulaic style of recent times. Let's see how far they are willing to go.

Broad wins the toss and Eng will bowl.

Hales, Morgan with slight niggles so Ali and Lumb get debuts.

Really looking forward to seeing whether Sunil Narine's made any changes to the lengths he bowls.

Undoubtedly, Narine, is a exceptional talent. But has been pretty disappointing in ODI cricket in recent times.

His economy in the West Indian regional competition was fantastic though. Going at under 2 RPO.

England 1 Michael Lumb, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 Luke Wright, 4 Joe Root, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Ravi Bopara, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Tredwell


The bowling could get tanked but at least no JD 



West Indies 1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Kirk Edwards, 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Lendl Simmons, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Dinesh Ramdin, 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Jason Holder, 10 Sunil Narine, 11 Ravi Rampaul

First time for me to see the much talked about Holder.

is that team from Cricinfo skyeman?

at work so just looking on there, the commentry shows tredwell but the scorecard JD  

so England pick what must be a record 8 guys who could (in some cases a little loosely) described as all-rounders (plus Tredwell - no mug with the bat -, Lumb - who's bowled a bit in the past? - and Buttler). Excellent

and England open the bowling with Joe Root. Hmm

looks a beautiful pitch to bat on this so far. Smith just caressing that one through the covers for four. Bresnan then fails to pick up the ball for what should have been a run-out (of Powell), and Smith clatters Root back over his head for 6 a couple of balls later. Good start for the WI.

SRdean88 wrote:is that team from Cricinfo skyeman?

at work so just looking on there, the commentry shows tredwell but the scorecard JD  

Thank heavens no JD.

there's the breakthrough. England string a couple of maidens and eventually the pressure tells. Powell looks to drive Root on the up through the covers but hits it a little bit uppishly and Jordan springs low down to his right at short cover to take a very fine catch

WI 19/1 in the 7th over.

Yes, an excellent catch from Jordan. He was always a fine fielder in his Surrey days but I don't recall him then being positioned so close to the wicket.

That looked plumb. TV not showing it again. Maybe Broad did not want to risk the early review.

Ump missed a big inside edge and Eng istantly review, just as well they still had it  

WI 38/2 Both to spin.

Broad with a good review

Tredwell replaces Root, and finds some turn and bounce to Smith, who gets an inside-edge onto his pad which loops up and Buttler makes good ground towards short-leg to take a diving catch. Given not out, but England review immediately and the first replay shows a big inside-edge, Smith on his way.

Looks a good pitch for spinners this one, Narine will have to be on top of his game to give WI a chance you feel. Expect Moeen Ali to be given a few overs later on?

skyeman wrote:That looked plumb. TV not showing it again. Maybe Broad did not want to risk the early review.

replays had it umpires call on impact so (in hindsight) a good call.

that was coming. Not sure why WI persist with Edwards who clearly has an issue with playing around his front pad, and he's played all around that one from Bresnan, which is full, straight, and cleans him up. Unconvincing knock from Edwards, WI in deep trouble.

West Indies in serious early trouble at 40-3.

Tredwell bowling very nicely.

WI clearly missing their better batsmen: Gayle is injured, not sure what's happened to Samuels.

Here's Moeen Ali, not unexpected.

Not sure if Tredwell and Root are going to BD. But if they are, they could be useful back-ups.

WI only have one spin option in Narine. Suspect if the target isn't too huge England will look to just see him off (even 0-20 or so) and get the runs off the medium-pacers...

Ajmal taught Ali the doosra, i just heard 

and another one. Braco reviews but I don't give him much hope...

Congrats Moeen Ali. 1st international wicket.

yup, plumb. Bravo goes a long way across there, leg stump showing and live it looked like it straightened a bit. Replays confirm, ball hitting middle-and-leg, no doubts about that, lovely moment for Moeen Ali, and credit to Broad for recognising the job the spinners are doing and getting him into the attack.

also, at the risk of fueling the fire somewhat, does anyone think England look a happier team out there today than they did in the Ashes? Certainly a lot more energy in the field to my eyes...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:also, at the risk of fueling the fire somewhat, does anyone think England look a happier team out there today than they did in the Ashes? Certainly a lot more energy in the field to my eyes...

Aye, but several of these players did not have to go through it. New caps brings a new energy too.

6 maiden overs (out of 18) confirms what I've suspected: just not enough ones and twos to get the board ticking over for the WI.

Jordan, Bops and Stokes still not needed yet. Plenty of options now for Eng. Eight bowlers and MfC says Lumb has bowled too in the past.

Oops Wright too 

WI's making Tredwell, Root and Ali look like they are Ajmal, Warne and Murali. Zero intent.

to be fair these two are stageing a decent recovery at the moment, it's just that they've been left with a huge amount of work to do by the ineptitude of the top order.

MOEEN

After putting together a good partnership with captain Bravo, Lendl Simmons goes for 65.

WI's with a shot at 230 ish. Fair fightback. Broad and Jordan going for most runs today.

At least it would make it a competitive game.

Three wides on the trot from Jordan 

Jordan's lost the plot

Root excellent still. The batsman just can't hit him.

Agree with Bumble, Bops should have had a few of Jordans/Broads overs. This pitch is better with pace off the ball.

Saw the first four wickets, but it seems that the West Indies have mounted a comeback of sorts.

Interesting captaincy from Broad I must say, and it's a very bits and pieces team isn't it for England - lots of all-rounders!

Erasmus giving wides despite the ball missing the edge of Bravo's bat half way up it #headsgone

Root getting tonked now 4, 1, 6, 6, 2,4  ruins his figures

250 could be on.

skyeman wrote:Root excellent still. The batsman just can't hit him.

Just as you say that!

real damage here for england, Broad petulance with the umpires again!! They are legit wides!

Olly wrote:Erasmus giving wides despite the ball missing the edge of Bravo's bat half way up it #headsgone

agreed. awful umpiring, forcing England to change their plans through his poor understanding of what the lines are there for (ie as a guideline, not an absolute), and has really through those decisions changed the course of this game for me. Poor.

Keep it below 250 lads...

root has defo been over-bowled.. i know he bowled well 1st spell, but was too risky to bowl him at this stage of the innings..ravi's cutters would have been a better option IMO

CF wrote:real damage here for england, Broad petulance with the umpires again!! They are legit wides!

they really aren't. It's there as a guideline, not an absolute. If the batsman has wandered two feet outside off and the ball is a couple of inches outside the line there's no way it should be called a wide. Even worse communication from the umpire who just tells Broad to shut. Surely it's within the captain's remit to ask for clarification on what the umpire's going to let go (particularly if his interpretation is not what most people would call sane)?!?!?!

Sammy you lucky scamp....

Jordan has been really poor today I'm afraid, no control whatsoever.

What's the consensus on Jordan.. Never seen him before?

Jordan has surely played himself out of the England team for the forseeable future, really really poor display.