England declared on 570/7; and have just bowled WI out for 146 (Sarwan not batting, as expected) - surely the follow-on will be enforced?

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"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

Yes the follow on was enforced, West Indies finish the day on 22-2.

Looks like an easy England win - but Harmison and Plunkett really have sprayed the ball about, getting wickets with the odd delivery on target.

West Indies batting really is poor, hardly a contest.

Weather forcast for tomorrow has improved - rain during the morning, but clearing probably allowing play during the afternoon.

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Ern

You say this as if the bowling is something to pleased with!!!

They're playing so poorly that they are not even in a position to complain about the quite clear "favouritism" in decisions that England are receiving.

But none of this surprises me because I knew it would happen.

For years, it was always convenient to blame "basketball and US sports", the captain and Lara for WI's woes.

Slowly and surely, it should be evident to people that the system that is producing these players is not working.

Plain and simple.

Don't think i have seen such a poor display from the windies. Bangladesh look like the offer England more of a challenge.

West Indies are falling down faster than the British Economy. It has been years since the West Indies last produced a team full of class players. This team shows everything but Class. Out of the 11 players in the team today only Bravo, Gayle and Sarwan can be called good enough or have enough experience to push the West Indies into a inning position. Considering that Gayle failed, Bravo is on Flintoff form with the bat and Sarwan is injured, there is no contest.

The bowling is ordinary. You cannot excuse the effort, the bowlers are trying but there natural pace and ability is lacking. Collymore is ordinary. I think they should try Fidel Edwards next test, get some pace in to try and trouble the England attack. They also lack the wicket taking spinner. For me Gayle is just a part-time spinner and his wicket was a poor piece of batting.

The batting is poor. the LBW's may seem slightly generous but if you look at hawkeye, only 1 shouldn't have been given and that was still too close to be judged accuratly, it looked plumb. West Indies also keep misjuding the length, especially with Sidebottom and keep playing bat and pad close together with little footwork.

As for the fielding...well I have seen some better fielding in sunday league games and I am not exaggerating.

England have had 1 bowler with a major influence: Ryan Sidebottom. Left arm seamer in good form and he gets 6 wickets in the first day. He has had good length and swung the ball. With this batting line-up, it is a 1-sided contest. To get the night-watchman on the last ball of the day as well is just the icing on the cake. Harmison and Plunkett have been OK but haven't been bowling consistently enough for me.

Pieterson as usaul was in top form and would have goten a world record score by now if he wasn't asked to go after the bowling. It was that easy really.

West Indies could fall below Bangladesh in either format of the game in the next 10 years unless they start to produce the players. Otherwise, if they keep falling like this, they could be qualifying for world cups in 20 years time.

Before this Test, many commented that Vaughan did not deserve his place through lack of form, and a poor run of injuries. So what he needed to do was score runs, he did that, and he still gets stick!! What does the guy have to do???

For me that innings was similar to the Thorpe's hundred versus South Africa, when he refound Test Cricket. It could be a new lease of life for Vaughan. He is only 32, too young to write off yet IMO.

Score runs more often - like at least once a year, he did not bat that well - even his hundred was an edge through the slips.

A bit early to start singing his praises methinks.

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Ern

Well i haven't seen any cricket since about 3.00 on Friday but i am not surprised Ern has derided Vaughan's hundred,in fact i would have been gobsmacked if it hadn't happened.

Well done Vaughan,KP,Prior and Sidebottom.Just hope the weather holds off long enough to win the game.

I am not deriding his hundred, but he needs to score more runs on a regualar basis - conrny maybe, but "one swallow does not make a summer".

I wish Vaughan luck it would be good for England - but I am far from convinced, how come English batsmen did not make big scores in the world Cup?.

Well done to Vaughan for making his hundred - but lets hope he scores above 20 next innings., consistancy is what England have been lacking.

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Ern

Yes his shot to get to 100 was an edge but this happens often to most bats - once he got in he batted well, lots of good attacking shots with positive footwork.

To be fair to Vaughan once he gets in he converts to 3 figures most of the time.

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Mark.