Recent Tests

Wests Indies v Pakistan
The West Indies drew their home series against Pakistan, being soundly thrashed in the second match at Basseterre after winning a low scoring encounter at Providence. Pakistan's win came after they were the only side in the series to make more than 300 in an innings and set up a bridge too far for the weakened West Indies batting line-up. While his side collapsed four times in as many innings, Chris Gayle, like some modern day Nero, watched while the Caribbean burned, more intent on making sure he is well paid. He has a point in that West Indies cricketers are the worst remunerated Test cricketers but to be captain and stand aside whilst your team dies is a concept beyond most.

Devandra Bishoo was the interesting debutant for the Windies. I wonder how long it has been, if ever, that a leg spinner wearing the maroon cap and palm tree badge has bowled the most overs in a home series ? Sure his strike rate isn't marvellous and his average only so-so but nine wickets at 3 runs an over is a fair return for a leggie on those small grounds and against men with not only a heritage of good spinners but a knowledge and willingness to attack them.

For the tourists, Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was again the stand out batsman. He oozes class in the same way Majid Khan and Zaheer Abass did in the seventies. Despite drawing the series, Pakistan dominated the West Indies batsmen through the off spin of Saeed Ajmal, the left arm orthodox of Abdur Rehman and more offies from Mohammad Hafeez. Even though the West Indies fielded experience in Chanderpaul, Samuels and Sarwon, their batsmen were almost lost at sea against the Pakistani trio.

England v Sri Lanka

In the first of a series of cricket showdowns over the next six months, England and Sri Lanka have started a three Test series in the Mother Country at Cardiff. The weather has played a large role already with three sessions lost to rain and darkness by the end of the third day. Baring catastrophe, the match is headed for a draw after most of the Sri Lankans made contributions in their 400, although a guiding hand by Prassana Jayawardene lifted Sri Lanka to a decent score in the face of some very good swing bowling by James Anderson. England had to make several starts but it was a resumption from where Jonathon Trott and Alastair Cook left off against the Aussies last summer as both initially ground the bowlers down and then tore them apart adding 139 in the final session of Day 3. With only two days left, James Anderson unlikely to bowl again with a strained side and the weather still threatening, the sides will go to Lords square next week.


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