Cook starts summer in style
England laid a solid base for a substantial first innings total by reaching 200-3 on the opening day against West Indies at Lord's.
Player of the Day
Alastair Cook is still only 22, but . This was a typical innings by the tall left-hander - patient, unfussy and uncomplicated - and he was particularly severe on the West Indian bowlers when they dropped short.
There will be a lot of pressure on places in England鈥檚 batting line up when Michael Vaughan and, hopefully, Marcus Trescothick return sometime this summer, and Cook has made sure that his, at least, will not be open for debate.
Key moment
With cloudy skies and a sweating, grassy pitch, this was a brilliant toss to win. Andrew Strauss would have given his eye teeth to let his bowlers loose on the rusty West Indians, but called correctly, and then crossed his fingers in the hope that his bowlers would put the ball in the right place.
Overall, they were not nearly consistent enough and wasted the opportunity.
I can鈥檛 help but feel that Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Liam Plunkett would have made much better use of the conditions, not least because they have some overs in their legs, while the West Indians are dreadfully short of preparation.
Talking point
Bad light is always unsatisfactory and there are inevitably grumbles when the batsmen accept the offer from the umpires and set off for the dressing room. To be fair, it is a decision that the umpires dread making themselves and it is always a tough call.
These days, with light meters, they can at least set a benchmark for the match so it is not so open to criticism. But England鈥檚 decision to go off with more than an hour of play remaining was disappointing and negative.
It was not especially gloomy, and Cook and Paul Collingwood did not seem to be in any trouble. As Geoffrey Boycott would say: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 score runs in the pavilion.鈥 It is always tough on a first day crowd because the players know that time lost on that day can be made up on the next.
Day two prospects
There will always be some moisture in this strip, so seam bowlers should remain dangerous throughout the game. That鈥檚 the message Sarwan will deliver before play resumes, but England have a platform from which to build a large total and I am looking forward to seeing Matt Prior attempting to make his mark with the bat in his first Test.
A good post as always jonathan, but about bad light, im sure mr Boycott would have taken the light if it was offered to him, 200-3 finishing an hour early is better than 250-5 due to two lost wickets due to the gloomy conditions if you carry on batting. You all say that it is very hard to pick the ball up at lords in good conditions, let alone inthe dark...
Complain about this postwell played cooky-he looks in superb nick. i think he could go on to get a massive score if he carries on. i think that laras record score may be under threat. how fitting would it be for him to get agenst the side lara used to play for.
Complain about this postBad light is bad light and will always frustrate the crowd, but what annoys me more is when the umpires decide halfway through the over that the light is bad and decide to have a conference about it!
Over rates are slow enough as it is, and it's not like the light is going to deteriorate so quickly that it can't wait until the end of the over! Stop these mid-over wastes of time!
Complain about this postWhat a Start!! Cook is obviously going to be the next Marcus Trescothick. I saw much of his ton and it was definatly well deserved and I hope he can go on to make another 50 of 100 tomorrow, as he is more than capable.
Complain about this postHowever I do not think that we should celebrate to soon; beyond bell at number six we are very weak so Moores has left a huge weight on the shoulders of the top order batsmen.
Agree, with Peter, if they'd have stayed on and lost a couple of wickets no doubt Aggers would have been saying they should have taken the light.
I agree with Aggers in that our bowlers would have made better use and I dare say if we'd have won the toss the match could well be in to the second innings already.
The truth is that the lost time will mean nothing as we will wrap up the game and series very convincingly and the Ashes debacle will soon be forgotten by everyone except me who still gets very angry at the thought of being sat there in the MCG and SCG and witnessing the fightless and whimpering batting collapses.
Complain about this post"However I do not think that we should celebrate to soon; beyond bell at number six we are very weak so Moores has left a huge weight on the shoulders of the top order batsmen."
What utter rubbish...that's what the top 6 batsmen are in the team for...they should be scoring most of the runs. any you get from the tail should be a bonus
You might as well say that the top 6 batsmen can't bowl so it's a huge weight on the 5 bowlers.
batsmen - score runs
Complain about this postbowlers - take wickets
I think the main talking point about the day wasn't the poor light conditions, it was about how, yet again Kevin Pietersen lost his wicket cheaply. Ok people have a bad day but why do his always seem to come when its against, what he feels are lesser teams. Shouldnt he go into every game never losing his concentration?
Complain about this postTOMMOROW WELL COOK 150 COLLY 50 BELL 50 AND PRIOR 50 WE`LL BE 400-450 WEST INDIES WE`L BOWL TEM OURT FOR 250
Complain about this postWhy were the slips standing so far back?
The drop of Cook by the wicketkeeper was amazing - diving right in front of second and third slips - you could have caught a bus in the time it took to carry.
Hopefully tomorrow we won't see so many fundamental errors and the game will be a bit less one-sided. I dont want England to lose and I am very pleased that Cook is showing good form, as we know he is one of our brightest prospects, but I don't want this to be a push-over.
Our players need keen competition to hone their skills before India come over. A walk in the park against under-practiced bowlers and fielders is not the way to do that.
Complain about this postI am disappointed that Owais Shah didn't make a bigger contribution. Did he not retire hurt in his first match because he had cramp in his hands from holding the bat too tight?
It was rather fitting that Ramprakash made another monster today - the comparisons between the 2 have already been going on long enough, and no doubt a lazy journalist or two will make more predictable comparisons in the morning rags.
Here's hoping for an uninterrupted day tomorrow and we can put the Windies in tomorrow evening for 10 overs of Harmy/Hoggy carnage.
Complain about this postGood article and great also to hear Geoff Boycott back on the radio today, he certainly talks alot of sense.
A good start, but there's no doubt the West Indies are short of match practice. We need to force it home in this test, weather permitting - it's like we had April in May and now are getting the April showers.
Separately I'm not keen to Michael Vaughan's comments elsewhere on beeb website
'.."I'm basically here to monitor the situation with the new coach this week - get a feel for how it works."
"But more importantly work on my fitness and get ready for next week."
And he dismissed suggestions he is considering stepping down from one-day cricket to allow England a split-captaincy approach.
"The one-day situation is something me and Peter have talked about," he said.
"We've tried a split captaincy before and it doesn't work. The best thing is to get Michael Vaughan fit and playing well." ...'
So it looks like Vaughan's going to walk straight back into the test team next week without having a decent proper innings and he's taken it for granted that he's going to be ODI team too.
The former's arguable, when was his last test match? and his equally importantly when did he last make some runs?
The latter's laughable, his ODI record is very poor and he shouldn't be in the team. The captain needs to be in the team on merit, not simply because he's the captain, no international team should be carrying players.
Boyc's said as much on Radio 5 tonight and he's right.
Complain about this postGreat performance from Cook, knew it was gonna happen the guys gonna be a sensation in a few years.
What I don't understand though, is why Bell has been moved down the order from 3? everyone knows that come the tests, Bell is a different batsman, and maybe we'd be looking at 220-1/2 now if he'd been at 3 and Shah at 6 instead.
Complain about this postI never understood why Alistair Cook isn't an opener for England on a regular basis in both versions of the game, when it is obvious to all that he is the best batsman to emerge from the English system since David Gower all those years ago. I do not mean any disrespect to those who have served England inbetween, including Marcus Trescothick, but this lad is the full monty, as far as a batting package goes.
Complain about this postthe reason cook has not been picked for one dayers is because hes had two innings and both of which he made decent scores (about 35 each game at nearly a run a ball) and looked like a genuine asset to the side
why have people still not worked out englands ODI selection policy?
as for trescothick and vaughan and flintoff, they have to return, does that mean strauss has to go? i can't see any other way of fitting everyone in
Complain about this postKieran, thank you. At last, somebody who would pick batsmen to bat and bowlers to bowl. I get fed up with selections of 'jack of all trades' players. Remember those 'good old days' with Richard Illingworth at no11? The who'll team had scored a first class century. How well did they all bat in a test match?
Personally, I think its good to have a bit of pressure on the batsmen. No good them thinking its ok to fail a bit because the next guy coming in can swing the bat a bit.
At the risk of sounding to much like Boycs, every batsman should want to be there at the declaration.
Well done Kieran and Come on England!!!!!!1
Complain about this postKieron, you are a genius.
Complain about this postGot to say i had a good laugh at james' comment up the top there. Im not sure if england are in fact heading for the 800+ score that would be required for that record to be broken. Also i doubt the track at lords is flat enough to allow all the other batsmen to stay in with cook. Good innings though and im sure we will be seeing more of the same over the next decade or so. Also as for cook being the "next trescothick" he could not be a different style of opener if he tried. He is an accumulating batsman compared to marcus who is more of a strokeplayer. Would love to see england bowled out for around 300 ish and the windies make a real fight of this. Would be good for all concerned especially the english as it will show them that a little hard work and application can produce results. As surely this england team is superior to a really underdone west indian one.
I myself am a windies supporter but am not looking for anything more than a good fight in this series i do not seriously expect the windies to win, but am just hoping for more of the matches like that at the world cup. Just spread over 5 days.
Complain about this postAggers,
Just a quick question: do you read these replies to your blog? You never seem to reply.
Anyway, I agree with your comments though, but I think the matter of light is offered to readily by the umpires themselves. Of course in 90% of situations the batsmen are going to come off, unless they are going to gain a clear advantage by not doing so. However, today along with a number of other occassions, the umpires should never have offered the light in the first place
Complain about this postgreat little knock by cook, he could, and really considering his obvious talent/test record up to now, should, join the great english batsmen one day.
to be honest, shah, a decent player, but why do we hate ramps? hes been scoring HATFULS for surrey, but still no place, even in the squad? the selection is bizarre. i would like shah+prior to prove me wrong, but if you cant perform against the windies at the moment, what proper test nation can you perform against!
Complain about this postIt's disappointing to see fans still whining away about Pietersen "yet again giving away his wicket cheaply".
To Nick - Don't let the truth get in the way of your prejudices, will you?
The man has an average of over 50 against some of the hardest bowling in world cricket - that is one of the highest by an English player ever. He does not give his wicket away cheaply otherwise he wouldn't have such a high average.
The facts undermine your biased viewpoint.
And incidentally it is not the talking point, as you claim - there are only two issues to discuss on the first day. Alistair Cook's superb century and the Windies poor use of the pitch first up contrasting with their vastly improved use of it later on.
The issue of Pietersen is only important if you are constantly looking for something to criticise him for - as obviously applies to you.
Complain about this postEd Whyatt-
Shah got cramp vs India because he sweats so much when he bats and he needs tablets to combat the loss of salt his body suffers during a long innings. On that day he was called up at the last moment and had not taken his salt tablets to the ground, thinking he wouldn't be needed to play. Not sure how the loss of salt translates into cramp, but that's what happened.
I'm glad not many people are on his back about his failure today- the guy has been a runs machine for Middlesex recently and he deserves his chance.
Complain about this postPretty good article but I do have to comment on the light. The forecast is good today (compared to the last 10 days-still good for bowling).
Cook and Colly would have had that in mind and the lost hour can be made back up and hopefully when the Windies are batting.
I think the swing bowlers will demolish the Windies, and we should have been in these conditons but Cook and co got their heads down and played a belter! So - I suggest we bat 75/90 overs in the day if possible and bowl at the Windies during the extra hour of play! Then by the end of the day the scores will be ENG 470-9dec., WI 40odd-2.
Complain about this postVery fair post and some very sensible and well thought out points made.
While i agree with the fact that cook played wonderful innings and that he batted in a patient and very potent manner. I must disagree with the comment that the england seamers would have made better use of the conditions.
Harmison just said that he has nothing prove. If the world cup is anything to go by, then everyone else must be going through a worldwide slump in form and he must be on cloud #700 as his bowling during that competition was mediocre... at best.
Not to be too harsh on him... but there were MANY bowlers who out classed him during the world cup. Infact every regularly used austrailian bowler outclassed him, and lets not even begin to speak about the searing sri lankans bowling attack, im sure everyone gets my point.
Do i think he has the ability to fix this? Yes, he is in the team because people know what he is capable of and we are all humans and most likely his lapse in form will pass. Will he fix it against the Windies? No, as the world cup has just passed not too long ago and form takes time to regain. Furthermore he is spending too much time gloating and not enough time realizing that he has plenty to prove and he should be in the nets practising to prove it.
Hoggard and Plunkett, had mixed fortunes during the world cup...and they seem to be level headed men. But if you take one seamer out of the equation... namely harmison, then you are left with less options. And what if either hoggard or plunkett have an off day as well? You can see where im going with this as it then means that two bowlers are being cannoned all over the place by the windies top order, which even without lara, is still a fairly formidable task to handle
By the way, just because the windies are 200-3, do not count them out as i saw four wicketts in four balls in the world cup... and now i believe pigs can fly and im sure the fat lady has been singing her heart out since that day.
Lastly, to whoever made the comment that Cook could possibly take lara's record. He has the ability, but raw talent doesnt create or break records. Lara's record will stand at least this match because it took both raw talent and maturity to create. Neither of these things are easily come by.
By the way, plesae do not be offended by my comments on this match. I am not trying to lambast the england players in any way. I highly rate this team and i think that this england team are a decent coach away from becoming a great side. But it is only fair to look at this match from both points of view and point out some things that may have been overlooked.
Thank you
Complain about this posthe has kept our batting order 2gether nearly every game. he just has this adult head on young shoulders
Complain about this posthe has kept our batting order 2gether nearly every game. he just has this adult head on young shoulders
Complain about this posthe has kept our batting order 2gether nearly every game. he just has this adult head on young shoulders
Complain about this postOmar Johnson's post is a silly one.
Complain about this postHoggard didn't go to the World Cup so I can see how you thought he had a mixed bag - no wickets, runs or catches!
Secondly, Harmison is well known for having wild swings of form - last year against Pakistan being a case in point, useless until playing a blinder.
Lastly, if your two main fast bowlers don't play well then any team would be in trouble. Similarly if you top 3 batsmen were all out for ducks. It seems a banal statement really.
Omar Johnson - What universe do you live in?
Neither Hoggard nor Harmison was in England's WC squad, so it's difficult to say they were poor!
Complain about this postOmar - were you watching the world cup? Harmison wasn't there if I recall...
And as for those comments about Cook reaching Lara's record, and becoming the next Trescothick, I agree completely with Icecold. Just no...
Complain about this postGreat post aggers. Saw the highlights last night and i just felt that KP and strauss played loose shoots, when well set, which was one of the problems that we had in the winter against australia. hopefully cook will go on to get a big hundred, and people like collingwood, bell nad prior will chip in with a few runs, against a average bowling attack.
Complain about this postI was at the match yesterday and sat in the Warner stand.
Complain about this postWhy oh why does it take 10 minutes for the teams to get back on the pitch after a light interruption and then why having spent 40 minutes in the dressing rooms do you need a huddle after every interruption?
I felt cheated yesterday by both teams
Harmison just said that he has nothing prove. If the world cup is anything to go by, then everyone else must be going through a worldwide slump in form and he must be on cloud #700 as his bowling during that competition was mediocre... at best.
Complain about this post-------------------------------------------------------
Indeed, Harmison did look a bit out of sorts at the World Cup, considering he had his feet up at home with a nice cup of tea and a biccie!!
Omar - Harmison didn't go to the World Cup.
Complain about this postI have listened to the test match special 'podcast.' All very interesting; I could not agree more with Mr Boycott - people spend alot of money, take a day off, and the cricketers go off in perfectly decent light. What is wrong with that umpire Rudi Koertzon (sp?.) he cannot get anything right! Poor decisions everywhere.
Complain about this postCook is on top form, but I am slightly dissapointed by Owais Shah's performance. Was quite excited about him. Looking forward to Bell and Prior filling their boots.
Omar - neither Hoggard nor Harmison went to the World Cup, so as others have rightly pointed out, it is difficult to take wickets.
Secondly - ENGLAND are 200-3, not the Windies.
Complain about this postWell said Jonathan, the light issue is hard on Spectaors at 拢50 per ticket however, well done to the groundstaff for allowing play to start at 1130. Would flood lights help?
Complain about this postThat was a wonderful and patient innings from Cook. This lad has so much potential he reminds me very much of a player called Mark Richardson who finished his career as a very prolific run scorer as an opening batsman for New Zealand. Cook never worries if the runs aint coming he aint frightened to leave balls outside off stump. He dont care how long it takes to make a score. Like Geoff Boycott says you cant make runs if your not at the wicket. To get Cook out you know you have to work hard for his wicket. In my book Cook already has an advantage over the bowlers in that sense they know they have to make the new ball tell. Cook took advantage of a very poor West Indies bowling attack. So hats off to Cooky well batted long may your form continue. The other wickets to go well Shah looked very nervous to me but lets not take away from the bowler that was a very good line and length ball. Strauss played a very loose shot and im sure he will be disappointed having got himself in and then got out like he has done so often of late. Andrew Strauss must be sick and tired of giving himself the what ifs. Strauss should take a leaf out of Cooks book and leave a wide ball now and again. Then Kevin Pietersen well what can you say about his shot just Kevin Pietersen played a loose shot but you have to expect that now and again. Im sure Kev will have looked at that and gone 9 times out of 10 a would have hit that for 4. All in all a good days play for England against a West Indies team which is weakest it has ever been. A fancy Collingwood and Bell to make more runs for us. So a score off 500 is well on and England will win this test match rain regarding convincingly by at least 8 wickets.
Complain about this postonce upon a time England used to, where ever possible, open with a left right combination on the theory that it put bowlers off their line. Why don't we do that now? Bell's down at 6, which is way to low, give him the chance to open with Cooke, Strauss at 3, KP 4, Shah or Collingwood at 5 and 6.
Complain about this postGreat knock from Cook again. Strauss and KP loose shots again.
Complain about this postI don't think Tresser should come back, because I don't think he'll ever tour again. He appears to be in great form, yet he's not screaming for his place?
Freddie when he's fit for Shah, no problem. Improves the balance of the side. Vaughn for? now thats a problem. He can only come in for Strauss surely? Maybe Vaughnie needs to work on his wicket keeping?
Well done to Mr Cook for a fine days work. A very impressive performance. What really impressed me was the concentration Cook showed thoughout his innings. Always looked 100% in control, and for a young lad still finding his footing in international cricket, 5 hundreds in 16 tests in a fantastic return.
What a selection dilemma England will have if Marcus Trescothick declears himself available in the near future.
On the light debate, I think they did the right thing. Moisture in the strip, added to the visability issue that Lords presents at the best of times, leaves England with a better footing on 200 for three than having a mini collapse due to conditions. We would all be criticising Cook and Collingwood if we were now 220 for 6 due to three quick wickets in the shade. While it may not be the best thing from a obversers point of view, England must think about winning test matches and not full on entertainment. I can assure you Ponting, Dravid or Fleming would all be calling their boys in in simular circumstances.
Complain about this postCan people please stop calling for Ramps to come back. We have younger guys in CC looking for an opportunity who are the future. Its my opinion Ramps was treated harshly 5-10 years ago but unfortunately his time has passed.
Also, Graeme Hick has started this season well!!
Full strength side
Tres
Cook
Vaughan
Strauss
KP
Colly
Fred
Prior
Hoggy
Harmy
Panesar
No room for S Jones imho anymore purely because Fred cant cut it with the bat at the moment.
Complain about this postOmar - good to see you're paying attention!
Hoggy and Harmy weren't at the WC, so how you can come out with such definitive statements really shows some extra special insight!
Also - England are 200-3, not the Windies.... :)
Complain about this postthe england team is damn good.
cook and bell should open though. bell proved he's got the bottle and the left right partnership is good. strauss at three (no more vaughn) takes a bit of pressure off and he IS good enough. pieterson four to be run greedy and wonderful fun to watch. shah at five to be explosive and play his brilliant natural game. colly at 6 to bat with the lower middle order of prior and flintoff, which he does very well.
seeyalater vaughny, tres.....thanks for the ashes (a few years ago) and that, but gotta move on...
Complain about this postJust listening to Henry, floodlights are not needed at Lords, but common sense. When players are offered the light fine come off if it is dangerous, but come back on if the light returns to the level to just before it was offered come back on, don't wait for the light to become "perfect" before coming back on.
Complain about this postA great day for England but why do players advertise the game so badly with these ridiculous decisions to go off in "bad light". If the light on earth had never been brighter than that yesterday afternoon are we saying the game of cricket would never have been invented?
Complain about this postI agree with Jonathan wholeheartedly regarding bad light. I was at Lords yesterday and could not believe the Batsmen accepted the light when totaaly on top of the bowling. They must remember they have a duty to the thousands of fans who had paid 拢60 upwards to watch them. What was more galling was that when play was abandoned for the day at 18.50 a number of England players went to the nets at the nursery end for some practice. Ian Bell did not appear to be in any difficulty seeing Liam Plunkett at full pace without the aid of a sightscreen. This is what really annoys us paying spectators.
Complain about this postI personally don't think the players have any responsibility towards the paying public. I'ts our choice to pay to watch cricket and we know the rules. The players only responsibility in my mind is to win cricket matches.
What worries me most is, if the players were comfortable in the middle, then no, they shouldn't have come off (remember hayden and langer at the oval?) But to think that professional sportsmen (who's job it is to win), should consider anything else is ridiculous.
Complain about this postTwo excellent dismissals in the County games yesterday:
The nearly perfect Troughton c. Mustard b.Onions 1 in the Warwickshire v. Durham match, and
Silence b. Chapple 0 in the Lancashire v. Worcestershire game.
The next time New Zealand tour, maybe someone could organize a Charity Match so that we could have the ultimate:
H. Blofeld c. Fleming b. Bond 49
Is there a decent cricketer with the surname of Sausage!
Can we have limited appeals to the third umpire and hawkeye asap?
Cheers
Complain about this postThe West Indies maybe the worse team in the world at the moment. Their bowling attack is not even up to county standards. If England does not achieve a total Whitewash then English cricket is in deep trouble.
Complain about this postNot yet mentioned would be the extra, wonderful, complication we would have when we get a fit Simon Jones.
We would then have the embaras de riches of the '60's again!
When is Jonesey due back?
Complain about this postWest Indies have done it again. They failed to impress even die hards of the die hard fans.
Complain about this postFurther more,The selection process Is not willing to experiment with a spinner shows a flaw even at the top.
West Indies have done it again. They failed to impress even die hards of the die hard fans.
Complain about this postFurther more,The selection process Is not willing to experiment with a spinner shows a flaw even at the top.