Given the accuracy of forecasting from the Manchester crew this week, I’m expecting an 11am start under blue sky
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Third Test - England v West Indies (Old Trafford)
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Cheeky sod
Not today unfortunately, even if it stopped raining now I don't think they'd be ready for 11
Steak Pie
Striker
TravellingMackem
Winger
Yes, but like I said that won’t always be the case. We could definitely have declared earlier and we could very easily have been kicking ourselves that we ran out of time with them 8 or 9 down. It’s about maximising your chances and we haven’t done that in either occasion - again it probably won’t end up mattering today but in future it will and has bitten us before
But we didn't. It's all well and good criticising a declaration but when we win, with time to spare you lose your argument.
I'd imagine you'd be first to criticise if we'd declared 50 runs lighter and they'd knocked the target off with time to spare....
TravellingMackem
Winger
Not at all - roots declarations have been awful for years, ever since he got bit bad right at the start of his captaincy (Pakistan was it?) he’s been far too conservative with them. Like I say there’s enough time in this game even with the rain we could have bat to 700 and still bowled them out, but doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. This West Indies team wouldn’t chase 320, and with the fallback option of throwing down leg for dots to save the draw, we shouldn’t be going much beyond that - which would have given what, 14-15 overs at them? 10 if you played a bit safer and went 350ish
The Voice Of Reason
Heaven Branch
Will a ball be bowled today ?
TravellingMackem
Winger
Very unlikely I’d say. Got the weather on now incidentally and there’s constant waves of rain passing Manchester today - so might get the odd dry hour but probably not enough to dry it if it’s as wet as the guy previous said in this thread. Tomorrow looks fine though, so should get the win easily enough
We've got them 2 down with a minimum of 98 overs to bowl assuming we have no play today. If we cannot take 8 wickets in a full day where they already have one foot on the plane then it's down to our bowling/fielding and nothing to do with not declaring early enough
zebediah
Striker
I don't think we will get a full day tomorrow mind.
I don't think we'll need one.
zebediah
Striker
Agreed, but the forecast for tomorrow has been getting steadily worse.
It's the only thing that can save them.
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When you declare with a forecast in mind, you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.
We could have come out swinging yesterday and set them 400 to win with (for example) with 30 overs at them last night and 2 full days...
But, it the weather changed and the Windies knocked them off (unlikely) there would be people slagging Root off for declaring too soon.
FWIW I think we will win with at least a session to spare tomorrow - there is a suggestion we might get an hour or so today....
zebediah
Striker
Personally felt 350 was more than enough, but if we get an hour today we are guaranteed the win even if the start is delayed till 3 or 4 tomorrow.
Nothing worse than having to bat in small spells, cannot get into a rhythm.
It hasn't stopped raining this morning and there's more forecast 3-4 (after a possible respite at lunch time), I don't think there's any chance of play today
As soon as I put my last post up the rain stopped and the sun's shining now, bloody Manchester weather
Still looks pretty grey in the direction of Old Trafford though.
Steak Pie
Striker
As soon as I put my last post up the rain stopped and the sun's shining now, bloody Manchester weather
Big band of rain is through, expecting rainaggedon this afternoon. Might get some in before it hits and might get lucky if it misses the ground.
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