Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 27 February 2009 /

It was very much England's day yesterday with heavy scoring by centurion Andrew Strauss and opening partner Alastair Cook. KP will try to build on this lead, Strauss will have a good think about when to declare and Ed Hawkins will talk us through it all.

21.31 WI 85-1 CLOSE
England have not made the progress they would have liked. Only one wicket for them but they can at least console themselves that Sarwan and Smith start afresh tomorrow. England are [2.38], the draw is [1.72] and West Indies are [50.00]. We're back from 14.00 tomorrow.

21.15 WI 76-1
Sarwan and Smith playing for tomorrow, as is their wont. England look pretty toothless at the moment. It would be difficult to say they should have played the extra bowler, particularly after Bop-ra's ton but fortunately for us we did say at the start of the show yesterday they needed another. About five overs left tonight

21.00 WI 65-1
The draw is down to [1.77] as Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan begin to look comfy. Maybe it's because the ball has stopped swinging. Slightly surprised to see Smith doing okay, I thought England would have snared him with that early movement. Broad and Swann operating in tandem. The average second-innings score on this ground is 307. West Indies should get past that. Unsurprisingly they are [1.21] to score 325 or more. They are [1.66] for 400 or more

20.49 WI 51-1
I've put the sausages on for dinner. Not just any old sausages mind you. Lamb merguez ones. I know, new feature. Ed's Recipes
Get six Lamb Merguez sausages and over a low heat fry with finely chopped onions, garlic and butter for five minutes. Make 150ml of lamb stock and after the five is up, pour over sausages increasing the heat so that stock reduced by half. Then shove in oven for 20 minutes. With 10 to go add chopped tomatoes and mushrooms. Then put it on a plat and scoff the lot. Do your own potatoes.

20.36 WI 40-1
WI moving along nicely. James Anderson has been excellent but he hasn't had great support from Sidebottom at the other end in terms of swing. Stuart Broad might be a decent bet now. But after that? Well, England have only Graeme Swann.

20.24 WI 25-1
Just a further point on that Gayle dismissal; if we're going to see those sort of decisions overturned sides are going to begin to be shot out for considerably fewer than the histroical averages. That may sound silly considering England made 600, but the old adage 'if in doubt, give not out' never harmed the game. This referral might

20.13 WICKET WI 13-1
Well, stone me. Gayle has been given out by referral. Anderson is the wicket-taker. It pitched on leg stump and would have hit leg stump but really, it is hugely surprising that it has been overturned because we are led to believe that there has to be insurmountable evidence for a decision to be changed. That just did not have it. Never mind. England had to strike with the new ball and Anderson, who has had the ball on a string, has done just that.

REFERRAL BY ENGLAND FOR LEG BEFORE V GAYLE
My verdict: Not out

20.05 WI 9-0
Swing for James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom. Just as well for England because they would be in trouble without it. They must make it count if they are going to oblige at current match odds of [2.26]. Historically, England's problems on the road have been down to two things: an inability to play spin and a bowling attack which has no plan when the ball stops swinging. The first is irrelveant but the second has never been more salient, particularly with Andrew Flintoff missing. His pace and reverse swing added an extra dimension. Even Steve Harmison, with his excruciating demeanour and lack of success, at least had awkward bounce. Without two bowlers of that ilk, England look one-paced and dare I say it, certain to struggle if inroads are not made with the new ball.

19.52 WI 0-0
Shiv Chanderpaul is favourite for top WI runscorer at [3.30] in this innings as James Anderson takes the new ball. Fair enough. He averages 48.1 runs on this ground. Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan are next best at [4.00] respectively. But neither of them have scored a Test century there. I suppose we have to mention Devon Smith, Gayle's opening partner, at [5.30] but I would be surprised if he got big runs because England appear to have his number. He has the worst average in this series of WI top six batsmen.

19.45 WI 0-0
Five times in Test history at Barbados a side has scored more than 550 in first innings. Four of them have had to settle for a draw. Of course, all my statistical musings will look all rather foolish if England pinch a couple of quick ones out now but I stand by the figures. They are the cornerstone of sound, sensible betting.

19.37 Eng 600-6 dec
So let's start suggesting England have already ballsed this up. First up, a stat which condemns England as a team which turn up their noses at the history books. In the last 14 Tests when a side has scored 600 or more in the first innings of a Test, nine of them have had to settle for a draw

19.30 Eng 588-6
England have batted on too long. Forget how long they went for in Antigua, I don't care. I have historical data to prove it, too.I will be revealing it shortly,too but I've just a few more sums to work out. I guess they'll be aiming for 600. Laughable total.

19.22 580-6
Bop-ra out in unsurprising fashion. It was a hook shot and and it was off Edwards with Jerome Taylor finally hanging onto the catch at deep square. 104 for Bop-ra. But still ENgland bat as STuart Broad comes out. There has just been a suggestion that Strauss might wait until Tim Ambrose gets his ton. Surely not. There is no 'I' in team. Ambrose has 70.

19.19 Eng 580-5
A century for Bop-ra. And a good one, too. That is his first Test century and there should be many more to come. England have used up 150 overs now and they don't really need to still be batting now Bop's got his ton.

19.08 Eng 563-5
The Andrew Flintoff debate. Shane Warne has joined in so why haven't you? Okay, he was talking about Fred on Sky Sports but if he had known the email address I'm sure he'd have been in contact. He says that England won't win the Ashes without a fit Fred.

19.03 Eng 553-5
Right. Get on with it England if you want to win this Test. If they bat on for more than 10 overs I'm writing a strongly-worded letter to the ECB. Bop-ra needs 12 for his ton.

18.42 Eng 553-5 TEA
England still batting. They have used up 145 overs. Really there is no point batting on once Bop-ra has his century. He has 12 runs. May as well lay the draw now because I'm sure the declaration is imminent.

18.35 Eng 543-5
Ambrose has decided to go against my advice of producing something abhorrent. Instead he has scored 50 off 65 balls. We're watching the draw price carefully. It will shoot up as soon as England declare. Mike Atherton reckoned England would bat on until 600 but more likely we need to look at overs used. I don't think they'll bat for more than another 10. The draw is [1.81] to lay

18.30 Eng 532-5
England's run rate in the last four overs is 7.25. Their run rate overall is 3.71 from 143 overs. In the first-innings in Antigua they batted for 165 overs at a rate of 3.42. Really the amount of runs England get is irrelevant. It is the amount of overs they use up. They are motoring so they really shouldn't use up as many as they did in the third Test. If they do I will be flabbergasted

18.16 Eng 516-5
The Andrew Flintoff debate. England's win percentage without Flintoff (taken from March 2002 when the big man established himself as an international class player) is actually higher than when he is in the team. England win 48% of the time when Freddie is on the sidelines and 42% when he is not.

18.07 Eng 493-5
Ravi 'Bop-ra' Bopara has 72. Almost certainly England will bat until he gets his century. So that could easily be at least 50 runs away which would take England to around the 540 mark. You can lay 550 runs at [1.50].

18.01 Eng 480-5
The Andrew Flintoff debate. Stumper says: "Why the fuss over Flintoff getting fit in West Indies or at home? He is only injured because he bowled himself into the ground in Antigua. Some people have short memories. On Sky they were speculating whether England would be better off without him? I nearly fell off the sofa!" Join in at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

17.48 Eng 474-5
I know what you're thinking. Has Paul Collingwood ever scored Test centuries in consecutive matches? No. Not even close until before today when he was four runs short. He got 186 v Pakistan at Lord's in 2006 and in the next game at Old Trafford he scored 48. So not even within a squeak.

17.38 Eng 472-5
Tim Ambrose has apparently been told that no matter what happens, Matt Prior will return for the fifth Test. It is an interesting motivation tactic to say the least. Essentially he has been told 'don't bother playing well'. It would be nice if he got a 50-ball ton, took eight catches, two stumpings (both off his own bowling) and then saved the life of a team-mate who swallowed the ball. But it's not going to happen. If I was him I would go the other way. If it doesn't matter what I do, I would absolutely disgrace myself. Perhaps take a poo on a length just after tea. Too much? Yeah, probably.

17.32 WICKET Eng 467-5
Paul Collingwood out. Ian Bishop reckons Colly will be holding back tears after falling for 96. Come on, Bish he's made of sterner stuff than that. He threw the dishwasher at a Fidel Edwards ball and got a thick edge to deep backward point where Brendan Nash snared a smart catch.

17.15 Eng 454-4
You can lay England runs at 525 at [1.11] at the moment. I just wonder if that might be worth something. Let us remeber that there are seeds of doubt in Andrew Strauss' head because he batted on too long in Antigua. He also has no Andrew Flintoff so presumably he reckons this bowling attack will need more time. Also there is a spot of weather around in Barbados at the moment. On the other side of the coin England's run rate in the last 10 is 4.4. At that speed they could probbaly afford to bat on to 550. You can lay that mark at [1.67]

17.06 Eng 435-4
A first Test 50 for Ravi Bop-ra (or Bopra if you prefer accuracy). Good for him, I say. He had to endure a torrid debut in Sri Lanka, which is probably the toughest place to start a Test career and the selectors are fortunate that the experience didn't ruin him. Ever since he scored that double ton in a one-day game he has been in the notebook as a player of international class so it is good to see him living up to the billing.

16.51 Eng 418-4
Nasser Hussain has just reminded us off the difference between how players and supporters think. He reckons Collingwood and Bop-ra will have been told to 'keep going', in contrast to those in the bleachers who reckon, like me, that they should go head for leather. Daren Powell is helping England do the latter as Colly strikes him for two consecutive fours.

16.45 Eng 407-4
Back after the break. The next landmark on the horizon is Bop-ra's 50. He needs just four. The Andrew Flintoff debate will continue in this session so keep your emails coming to hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

16.04 Eng 405-4 LUNCH
England have added 104 for the loss of one wicket in that session. That has gone as they would have hoped one would imagine. After lunch they should really punch on to get up to that 550 mark as quickly as possible. Their run rate is 3.52 and over the last 10 it is 3.6 so really they should be capable of going at 4.5. England are [2.36] with the draw [1.78] and West Indies [36.00]

15.53 Eng 402-4
50 for Collingwood. Solid as ever from him. Not particularly entertaining but we don't expect him to be. He is from the north east. He is supposed to be dour.

15.38 Eng 382-4
The Flintoff debate. Captain_S says: "The problem Flintoff has is that he has been perceived as putting money before England in signing an IPL contract in an Ahses year when he knows he has fitness issues." Agreed. Public perception is the key there. Few men on the street are aware that Flintoff busts a gut for his country and if push came to shove, would never jeopardise England for IPL riches. Public perception also shapes the way selectors think.

15.23 Eng 368-4
Edwards has continued to test Bop-ra with the short ball and it has paid off, in a way. He has bopped him on the grill, leaving a rather nasty-looking bump under his right eye.

15.15 Eng 365-4
A frustrated Fidel Edwards has put a flea in Bop-ra's ear. Not sure why. He has Bop-ra playing how he wants him to, taking on the short ball in an unconvincing manner. First time he just cleared the man on the rope for six, second time it dropped in acres. Keep trying to get him that way if I was you Fidel

15.11 Eng 365-4
Shall I tell you what gets on my nerves? That Peugeot advert where the bloke is singing Elvis' Caught In A Trap to a woman driver on the other side of the carriageway. Aside from the fact they appear to be travelling in opposite directions, thus rendering the ad pathetically inaccurate, why is he NOT looking at the road? It's a tremendously poor example to encourage. You'll be worse off than caught in a trap, pal when a child walks out in the road and you're gurning at the blond bird in the other car. You'll be in prison. And you won't be singing when big Lenny makes you his bitch. Rant over. Bop-ra's batting nicely.

15.00 Eng 354-4
A leg slip in place for Bop-ra. That is a fielding position that has been in vogue during this series. Andrew Strauss employed one when Sulieman Benn was batting in the final innings in Antigua. Benn himself fielded there yesterday when Strauss and Cook were ensconced. Seems to be a bit of a waste if you ask me. I'm trying to think of times when I've seen a leg slip work. The only time that springs to mind was when Michael Vaughan caught Ricky Ponting off Ashley Giles at Edgbaston in 2005.

14.43 Eng 339-4
Bop-ra has just been dropped by Taylor off Edwards. It was similar to Pietersen's chance to the same fidelr off the same bowler last night.

14.31 Eng 325-4
That little flurry of excitement rather stopped our Andrew Flintoff debate in its tracks before it had begun. Have a look at 14.21 and join in at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk. It's going to be great. Meanwhile Ravi Bopara is the new man at the crease. I like to call him Bop-ra. It just sounds better. Class act this chap if you ask me. Has a ton in a warm-up ahead of this game.

14.24 WICKET Eng 318-4
KP was absolutely plum to Fidel Edwards so goodness knows why he referred it. It begs the question: do the players understand the rules regarding these referrals? I day players, let's not tar them all with the same stupid brush. Just Pietersen then. It has to be crystal that you were not out KP otherwise you have just wasted one of the team's referrals. Do you understand? Arrogantly strut off for yes, shake your head for no.

14.22 REFERRAL
KP has been given leg before but he disgagrees. Good to have the excitement of these referrals back.

14.21 Eng 318-3
The big news of the day - rarely does one pass without that phrase being uttered when the England cricket team is involved - is that Andrew Flintoff has returned to England to recuperate from a hip injury. Odd that he has gone now rather than when the results of a scan ruled him out of this Test. Odder still that he will be back in the Caribbean on March 10 for the one-day series. I would love to know your thoughts on all things relating to Flintoff. Should he have gone home earlier? Should England look to plan long-term to be without their talisman? Should he play in the IPL? Emailme at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

14.11 Eng 310-3
So how many will England score? It's a poser for sure. Assuming West Indies do not buck the trend of this being a batting surface, not to mention holoding their catches, then Andrew Strauss will be thinking of a declaration. In Antigua, he was happy with 566. The sensible thing to do would be to declare earlier given he did not give his bowlers enough time in that game. Throughout Test history, a team in first innings averages 544 when they have 300 or more on the board for three wickets. England are [2.00] for 550 runs or more on the first-innings runs market.

14.00 Eng 301-3
Morning from a sunny west London. For possibly the first time in history at this time of the year, the weather is better here than in Barbados. There's been a bit of rain around this morning but we will start on time. Expect England to consolidate for an hour, and then they should look to push on.

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