Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 09 March 2009 /

Ed Hawkins is watching Monty twirl them down all day in Trinidad as England seek a series-levelling victory. Can they do it? Stay in touch with the action courtesy of betting expert Ed's updates.

21.34 Eng 80-3
Don't, whatever you do, miss the action from Port of Spain tomorrow. Okay, there is some racing on but this is going to be absolutely thrilling. England lead by 82. There are 90 overs left and you can guarantee that England will declare. What will England set WI? How many overs will they leave themselves to take 10 wickets? The draw is [1.24], West Indies are [6.80] and England are [18.50].

21.25 Eng 72-3
Collingwood survives. Two correct decisions from the last two referrals according to the rules. No evidence to suggest the ump was wrong on either occasion

21.24 WICKET Eng 72-3
Cook should have an extra consonant inserted just before the k. He has referred a caught behind when given out to Hinds and wasted about three or four minutes of England's batting time to have it confirmed. He has also wasted a referral which someone far more important - like KP - to England's cause could use. Anyway, he's out now and that is a bonus for England. Collingwood, who can give it a good biff, is in. And immediately WI reckon they have him leg before. Not out says the ump. WI refer.

21.10 Eng 67-2
Alastair Cook's strike rate is 66. KP's is 118. Indeed, Pietersen is the key for England. He already has 19. Make that 25 and a strike rate of 144 as he sweeps Hinds for a whopper of a six. Great stuff. England will definitely throw down the gauntlet tomorrow

20.55 Eng 41-2
England's run rate is 4.80. That is what they need. KP is at the crease and looking surprisingly fluent. There are 10 overs left tonight. If they go at five an over for the next 40overs they would set West Indies 240 in about 50 overs. That would not interest the hosts, I would have thought. England will have to score even quicker tomorrow morning

20.42 WICKET Eng 27-2
Shah gone now. WI are [4.10]. Not what England needed.

20.39 WICKET Eng 27-1
Strauss has gone this time. Caught and bowled by Chris Gayle. But look at the market! West Indies are [6.00],England [13.00] and the draw [1.27]. The first two prices will continue to dip, folks. When England really put their foot down,more and more punters will wise up. We called this situation at 14.39.

20.32 Eng 19-0
More referral controversy. Andrew Strauss appeared to give a big edge to the keeper off Baker. Harper said not out. WI referred. The replay revealed a huge noise and the ball dipping after it passed the edge. The third umpire had obviously seen 'no conclusive evidence to change the decision'. But what about the ruddy great noise on the stump mic? "What else could it have been?" said David Gower. Maybe Strauss had beans for tea.

20.21 Eng 6-0
England are [2.31] for 250 or more. I reckon that would be too many. Alas, no cash on that score to lay yet but we'll keep an eye out. For top second-innings bat, Strauss and Cook are [2.50] respectively. We're in one-day mode now so with the lefties likely to get most overs, it is not surprising they head the market. KP is [3.30] but we should rule him out because the slow nature of the surface didn't suit him first dig. What about Matt Prior in the guise of Any Other at [7.20]? He could be shunted up the order.

20.15 Eng 0-0
In the Sky studio Alec Stewart reckons England will set 220 in 70 overs. Bob Willis goes for 180 in 60. I disagree with both. For Stewart to be right England will have to go at six an over. Bob seems to think England are desperate to lose. David Gower reckons they won't dawdle tonight and will only push on tomorrow. Anyway, England are about to begin. The immediate negative is that slow coach Cook is out there. It has suddenly dawned on bettors that WI have a great chance, and their price has collapsed to [8.40]

20.02 WI 544
Farce. Lionel Baker was given leg before, asked for a referral and was clearly not out, hit outside the line. But the decision was upheld. Anyway, England lead by two. For some time we have been presuming that England must set West Indies a target. After all, it doesn't matter whether they win 1-0 or 2-0. That is the logical way of thinking but we can never be really sure what is going on in the dressing room. There are probably 18 overs left tonight. There are 90 tomorrow. If England went at five an over for 48 or so overs, they would set West Indies 240. The teams would have 60 overs to win it. Crucially, England must ensure West Indies are tempted by the chase. It cannot be a tough ask, otherwise they will shut up shop.

19.51 WICKET WI 543-9
Fidel Edwards has gone, caught behind off Broad. Good, good. Come on, let's get this last one now England. Then we could see some fireworks. WI are [15.00] and England are [40.00]. If you're not a draw layer have a nibble on both because I'm telling you, we could have some carnage.

19.47 WI 543-8
England still haven't taken the new ball by the way. They should get on with it. This partnership between Shiv and Fidel Edwards is worth 16 and is threatening to scupper our hopes of a last-dicth attempt by England to engineer a result.

19.32 WI 538-8
"Nothing to lose," says Sirloin of Beef of England's chances. He is absolutely right. We may as well lay the draw now at [1.11]. We are waiting for England to take these last two wickets but as soon as England bat, and it becomes clear that they are going to set a target, then the market will go into overdirve. WI are [13.50] and England [30.00]

19.22 WI 528-8
Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain have just been discussing something that we mentioned on here hours ago. It was the possibility, nay probablity, of England having to set West Indies a target. Hussain reckons England knock up 200 and then give the hosts 60 overs. Atherton said "that's about the size of it". Cue chaos on the market. West Indies into [13.00] from [18.00].

19.12 WICKET WI 526-8
Isn'tlife just a massive kick in the balls? Gayle, who had the potential to pay for a holiday for me to the Seychelles, has smashed one at STrauss, who has somehow held on one-handed, thuns ending my dreams of a big-priced winner. Oh well, it least something is happening. West Indies trail by 20 runs. there are 30 overs left. If England can take these last two wickets within 10 overs, then we might yet have a thrilling finish.

19.01 WI 519-7
Chris Gayle, accompanied by a runner, is out in the middle. Tremendous. We could have some fun here. Remember I backed him at [20.00] for top bat honours? I'm in with a shout. He is available at [5.10] and is 31 behind.

18.39 WICKET WI 519-7
Denesh ramdin has fallen leg before to Anderson, who has bowled with tremendous heart.It was reverse swing which did it. Andrew Strauss and co will wander off at tea still 27 to the good to ponder whether to take the new ball after the break.

18.32 WI 519-6
It is all beginning to look rather futile. And we've still got a day to go. We can but hope of some excitement. England batting for 40 overs at five an over and then declaring, giving West Indies more than just a sniff so they would be unable to turn their noses? West Indies bowling out a demoralised England? Nasser Hussain keeping to his word that he would streak if West Indies made 500?

18.11 WI 507-6
I take it from the silence that no-one can give me a good reason why we need referrals. Since the introduction of the Elite Umpires Panel it's not as if a cricket team has ever won a series or tournament because of an umpriing rick is it? It is the same argument I present with football, a sport which gets its knickers in a twist on a far more regular basis over the use of technology. The side who wins the Premier League this season will do so because over the course of a season they are the best team. The team that wins a Test series will do so because over the hours and hours of action, they played better. I'll ask again: why do we need referrals?

18.04 WI 500-6
I don't think enough has been seen of the Digicel girls today. They have been in terrific form in this Test and have outshone the previous Test venue dolly birds. We had one tremendous camera shot early on today of one young lovely jiggling but since then, nothing. So I've had a scan around and found this https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7932597.stm

17.48 WI 488-6
I'm coming back to the referral debate. Remember when it was trialled in county cricket? In the C&G Trophy I believe last summer. Well, not a single decision was overturned because the third umpires claimed there was never 'clear evidence' an on-field umpire got it wrong. Who reckons we need this technology anyway? The players don't like it that's for sure. The supporters? They're not relevant to the argument. I'd love someone to email me to give me a reason why we need referrals, hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

17.36 WICKET WI 484-6
Beanz Meanz Hinds. That has no relevance, I just felt like saying it. He has gone stumped off Swann. Wish it would have been Shiv.

17.28 WI 473-5
Chanderpaul has just gone to his 21st Test ton. Typically obdurate innings from the left-hander. He does exactly what he says on the tin.

17.25 WI 461-5
So let's have a chat about these referrals.It is ironic that a system brought in to make the game faiere, is making it more open to abuse. Shiv Chanderpaul, if we are going to be harsh, has effectively cheated twice. First when he didn't walk when he edged it. Second when he asked for the referral. He is quite within his rights, of course but he referred knowing that the people who operate it don't know the rules and that he might get away with it. He must have known that he hit it. This is not to castigate Shiv at all, just merely highlighting the referral's flaws.

17.10 WI 453-5
I'll tell you something else I'm confused about: this world byes record. I thought it was Dinesh Karthik, but it isn't. It was actually Frank Woolley. Here is the scorecard https://content.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62623.html from the game which had the innings with the most byes conceded. Wooley had to take over behind the stumps because Les Ames was absent hurt. I reckon Prior's effort is the worst, however, because he at least claims to be a keeper.

17.03 451-5
I'm annoyed about that referral of the Shiv decision simply because I backed Gayle at [20.00] for top WI bat when it was in motion. Shiv needs four for a ton but is living dangerously; top-edging a sweep and then almost edging one to Prior off Swann. Mind you, he would probably have referred it and survived.

16.58 WI 439-5
More controversy. The decision to give Chanderpaul out has been reversed. Not sure why. The rules with these referrals state that the third umpire can only overturn a decision if there is clear evidence that the on-field umpire has got it wrong. That was not the case. It should have been given out. Ho hum.

REFERRAL
Shiv says he has not edged a catch behind off Swann. Surely he knows that he hasn't hit it?

16.47 WICKET WI 437-5
Nash gone.He drove loosely outside off to a ball from Broad which deviated slightly.Collingwood snaffled the catch at slip. Nash made 109 and with Chanderpaul on 90, we have West Indies top bat fascination again. Shiv is [1.10] with Nas [1.30]. Chris Gayle,who may or may not resume on 100, is [20.00]. England lead by 109.

16.40 WI 437-4
England must bowl out West Indies in this session if they are to level the series. That isn't going to happen, though because the pitch is faultless. Expect to see an increasingly dispirited England effort as the day goes on.

16.02 WI 433-4
Nash and Chanderpaul are killing England. Their partnership, worth 230, has now spanned two sessions. When was the last time England failed in consecutive sessions to claim a wicket? Probably not that long ago, actually given how toothless they have been recently. Back after the break

15.49 WI 427-4
James Anderson is getting decent shape. He is hiding the ball as he runs in, to try to stop the batsman working out which way the ball will reverse. He deserves a wicket for the skill he is bowling with here.

15.37 WI 419-4
Jez has taken issue with my criticism of the Matt Prior selection. "What's wrong with you? He got an unbeaten century in the first-innings." Oh, come on Jez, your nan could have got a ton on that wicket against a bowling attack comprising of only three full-time pacemen. To strengthen my argument, Prior is two byes away from conceding the most in Test history. Dinesh Karthik conceded 35 for India against Pakistan at Bangalore in 2007. England are also five more extras away from conceding the most in history. Here is the full list https://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284131.html

15.30 WI 418-4
Century for Nash. His first Test ton. About time too in the context of the last 15 minutes. He got very nervous in the 90s. So, now that interesting little sub-plot is over, what have we got coming up next? Lunch in 30 minutes I guess as England continue to toil.

15.16 409-4
Nash is [1.20] for top runscorer honours. He needs two for his ton and three to pass Gayle. Gayle is [5.00]. Misery for England all round, though as Amjad is flicked for four by Shiv. Nash back on strike now with Anderson reversing it across him.

14.49 WI 388-4
Brendan Nash has 90. He has his sights firmly set on his first Test ton. And, don't forget, his second in first-class cricket on this ground. A key pointer that we discussed on day two. The WI top bat market is fascinatingly tight. Nash is [2.06], Shiv Chanderpaul, who has 66 is [2.24] and Chris Gayle, who retired hurt on 100, is [2.02]. Gayle said he will bat again, if required in this innings.

14.39 384-4
It is time to back West Indies at [15.00]. England have to win this Test, so there is a strong possibility that they will risk losing 2-0 for even the slightest chance of a win. From this position, West Indies should get first-innings parity meaning England will have to score quickly to try to set the home side a chase in 50 or 60 overs on the last day. There is no difference losing 2-0 as opposed to 1-0 so Andrew Strauss and co will go hell for leather.

14.30 WI 378-4
Nothing doing for England this morning. That bucks a slight trend in this game. When wickets have fallen in clusters they have done so in the first session. No slip at the moment as Stuart Broad runs in. We haven't seen Amjad yet this morning. England might like to try to put some pace into this attack.

14.15 WI 359-4
We don't like to bash players on this blog. After all, no one makes a mistake on purpose. But it is perfectly okay with me to bash the selectors, who have put players in the position to make a mistake. They are in our sights this morning for choosing Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper, for this Test. You will recall that Prior went home to have a look at his new baby and in doing so missed the fourth Test. Fine. Nothing wrong with that. But he walked straight back into the side on his return. Not cool. Players should not be allowed to pick and choose Test matches. And it has backfired on England here. Rhythm is key for wicketkeepers and a break disrupts it. Prior has lost his. He is seven byes away from conceding the world record and has just dropped a simple chance from Shiv Chanderpaul. Damning. Email me at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk if you agree/disagree

14.06 WI 354-4
Stuart Broad had a bit of a whinge last night. "The wickets have been overly flat," he said. "It's not been a fair battle between bat and ball and it doesn't make for exciting cricket." A rather defeatist attitude. There are still 178 overs left in this Test, more than enough time to force a result. There willneed to be assistance from the wicket, however. From the pitch report this morning, it is stubbornly refusing to break up. The draw is [1.13] and England are [11.50].

14.00 WI 350-4
Welcome to our coverage of the fourth day of the fifth Test from Trinidad. England are desperate for wickets in this first session, Another 'nil points' effort like they managed last night will almost certainly end their hopes of a series-levelling victory.

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