West Indies v England - Can England Fight Back?

The other great tragedy facing cricket at the moment is that state of the English cricket team. For two consecutive test matches the English have made huge first innings totals and been unable to bowl the West Indies out twice. The West Indian batting line up appears to be on the improve, with Sarwan finally showing the abundance of potential he has threatened to unleash on the world. Add that to Chanderpaul and Gayle then you start to have the makings of a world class batting line up. There still, however, is no excuse for such an average display of bowling from the English.
It is hard to comprehend what the English will try to do in this test match against a side that will be desperate to draw the match in order to win the series. This may be the West Indies undoing in this test match and if they fail to remain positive they may fall into the English trap.
If the English sides bowling lineup is far from impressive then the West Indian one is toothless. The English should seriously consider playing 5 bowlers in order to bowl out the Windies twice, and rely on their upper order to make enough for their bowlers to bowl at. Harmison didn't play the third test so one would hope that he is ready to go and bring some much needed venom into the attack.
Williamhill.com has the draw as favourite at $2.20, from the English at $2.75 and the Windies at $3.50. As I have said before the draw is always too short in test match betting and I am going to give the English one last chance to show some form. I think the English if they win the toss should gamble and put the Windies in first and try and blast away at them on the first day pitch. This may be too much to ask from the conservative Poms, so maybe we should hope that the Windies win the toss and decide to bat first. It will be an intriguing contest whatever the result as the Windies look for an historic series win, and the English try their best to prepare for the Ashes later this year.

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