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Sombre atmosphere as England hunt series
The one-day series continues at The Oval today, overshadowed by the death of Tom Maynard,
Chris Gayle
the Surrey batsman, yesterday. Maynard had been tipped to appear at full England level and many of the current squad expressed their dismay at the news. Jade Dernbach, the Surrey pace bowler, has been given compassionate leave from the squad with Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes added as cover.
England, though, are unlikely to feel the need to make any changes after a comprehensive 114-run victory to start the series. Ian Bell’s comeback century was the headline performance of the match, while the tactic of picking five specialist bowlers paid dividends as they removed West Indies for 172 after the visitors made a promising start to their chase.
After being built up as favourites for the series it was a hugely disappointing performance from West Indies, which steadily went downhill following the early success of removing Alastair Cook for a duck. The bowling attack did not trouble England and, apart from Dwayne Smith, the power-packed batting order failed to live up to their billing. Fingers will be crossed that Chris Gayle is fit to return.
Eoin Morgan’s first innings for England since the Twenty20 series against Pakistan in February suggested that he is getting his form back on track. He scooted along at a run-a-ball during a brisk partnership with Bell and appeared to have worked on reducing his pronounced dip in his stance. He is the key to England’s middle order, both in his ability to clear the ropes and his skill at pacing a run chase.
Marlon Samuels remains the man in form for West Indies and eased to 30 with a strike-rate of 100 in the first match of the series until falling to his good friend James Anderson. Given how he is playing it was strange that he was not promoted after Darren Bravo’s injury; West Indies need to make best use of his form. He was useful with the ball, too, taking a couple of wickets to hold England in the middle of the innings.
It is likely that only a late injury will lead to England tinkering with their team, although there may be a temptation to fit Samit Patel in the team on a surface that can help the spinners.
Eoin Morgan’s first innings for England since the Twenty20 series against Pakistan in February suggested that he is getting his form back on track. He scooted along at a run-a-ball during a brisk partnership with Bell and appeared to have worked on reducing his pronounced dip in his stance. He is the key to England’s middle order, both in his ability to clear the ropes and his skill at pacing a run chase.
Marlon Samuels remains the man in form for West Indies and eased to 30 with a strike-rate of 100 in the first match of the series until falling to his good friend James Anderson. Given how he is playing it was strange that he was not promoted after Darren Bravo’s injury; West Indies need to make best use of his form. He was useful with the ball, too, taking a couple of wickets to hold England in the middle of the innings.
It is likely that only a late injury will lead to England tinkering with their team, although there may be a temptation to fit Samit Patel in the team on a surface that can help the spinners.
England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter, 7 Tim Bresnan, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.
West Indies were awaiting the results of scans on both Gayle and Andre Russell, with the former desperately needed now Darren Bravo has left the tour with a groin injury. The bowling attack needs a shake up so Russell could be dropped even if fit to allow Tino Best or Fidel Edwards a game.
West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Marlon Samuels, 4 Dwayne Smith, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Kieran Pollard, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy (capt), 9 Tino Best, 10 Ravi Rampaul, 11 Sunil Narine. (Cricinfo)
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