Day 3 Review

By English Cricket
July 25 2004

Day 3: West Indies 416, England 71/0 (Trescothick 34*, Strauss 27*; 22 overs) England will be looking to push ahead and build a big lead on Day 4, after being thwarted for much of Day 3 by the West Indian pair of Chanderpaul and Banks.

1^st Test Match Eng v WI: Day 3 Review

 

To their credit, England’s bowlers showed a lot more purpose and application in their approach after the poor showing the previous day. However, a change in approach did not bring about much in a change of fortune, as they plugged away for most of the day without much success, and just it had seemed that they had exhausted most of their luck on the previous day, the Talismanic Flintoff came to the rescue. His demolition of the Windies tail secured a lead, which the opening pair of Trescothick and Strauss have been able to build on.

 

The hope today would be that England press on and declare with a lead of about 450-500 about tea, bar a repeat of the collapse in the first innings or a cameo from Flintoff. One would expect that would be enough to seal this game, but the opposition are credited with chasing down the highest 4^th innings total in history, and that too against the Australians, would suggest that it is still a little too early to suggest England are home and hosed in this one.   

 

Final Thought:

 

Although there was obvious benefit from Flintoff’s involvement in this game, I have serious doubts over whether Team England have his cricketing future in mind. I don’t think anyone needs reminding what happened the last time Flintoff played through injury. I don’t see any reason for Freddie to be playing with the aid of pain-killers, especially against this opposition.

 

I hope that the selectors take the smart option next game and bring in Butcher, to allow Freddie time to get appropriate treatment. I don’t think any English fan would mind given the South Africans and the Australians aren’t all that far around the corner.