Another point Mike - Prior has been hard done to with bye's, yesterday more than a couple of WIDES were let go by the umpires as bye's.

Prior is worth his place just for saving more 4 wides from the wayward bowlers.

Harmison and Plunkett bowled more wides than was given, more bye's went against prior - than should have.

Soarce - most commentators, and my own eyes and ears.

Extras
3nb 9w 20b 10lb - (9w) I think not.

__________________
Ern

I couldn't see much wrong with his dismissal in the 2nd inninings. He got his front foot well across and he presented a straight bat with a high elbow. Just plain unlucky. Personally, I wouldn't present an angled bat so early in my innings. Poor judgement by Prior. If I had just come in I would be looking to score down the ground between Mid-on and Mid-off. Totally agree, Ern. One of the commentators made the point that Prior was made to work extraordinarily hard, yesterday.

It's worth pointing out that Cook's century made him the only English batsman to score 6 centuries at the age of 22 and one of 6 batsmen in the history of Test cricket to do it. The others: Tendulkar, Bradman, Miandad, Headley and Harvey.

In the same period, Strauss has hit just 3 centuries. Is it worth dropping Strauss to give Joyce a chance? I don't see Strauss doing a job against Australia in the next Ashes so it would make sense to look for a replacement.

I think that Strauss' dip in form isn't so plummeting as you make out. So he hasn't scored a big score for a bit, and he seems a bit lost at the moment. But he'll still be in the next ashes squad.
Here is someone whose confidence has been knocked ever since Flintoff was given the Ashes captaincy(which Strauss deserved)
I can see him doing a job (perhaps not opening though) in Australia. Joyce isn't test class really. Strauss came in for him in the world cup, don't forget.

His last hundred was V Pakistan in 2006 and since then he's scored only 2 test 50's. Since he became a family man, cricket's not important? Well, his son was born in 2005, so no excuses there.

However his test average is still over 40, which is excellent for an opener.

Strauss just needs to remember that's its a simple game. And to look at this graph

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:A...auss_graph.png

Sure, Cook's start to test cricket has been Bradmanesque. So was Strauss'.

I think Prior is a decent keeper. Not 'world class' but good enough. Chris Read will never play for England again.

__________________
I have a dream.... (Martin Luther King)

Richard, how Strauss has played just goes to show he hardly deserves to be in the team - let alone being the captain.

If you are comparing his with Flintoff, then Strauss captained England to a win over a poorish Pakistan side (look how they did in the World Cup.

While Flintoff captained England to a rare Test win in India (averaging over 50 with the bat), and winning the Tri Nation one day series in Australia.

__________________
Ern

First cricket I have watched this summer. Two observations
1. Whats Chanderpaul batting at 5 for in this side?
2. Plunkett looks as ordinary as ever. Still a way to go for him.

__________________
"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

I've been too busy to even listen to the commentary / watch the highlights today... but the BBC noted that "the new man, Denesh Ramdin, was dropped by Matt Prior diving down the leg-side" and cricinfo commentary notes the following:I'm assuming he wasn't even stood up: if he's going to stuff them up anyway he might as well perch himself somewhere more threatening!

As I've said I wouldnt take any real notice of cricinfo and it was a difficult chance - but one I feel should have been taken.

If you didnt see it it was a fine leg glance to a ball that was going down leg, and these are the type of catches you need to hold especially in tight situations. That drop and Panesars drop could prove costly, you never know.

__________________
Mark.

All keepers make mistakes p_c, prior is no Read behind the stumps, but if we can't have Read - then Prior at the moment seems the best alternative - even Read missed the odd catch.

A much better game today with the Windie's fighting back, looks like England will win ( but not definate) - but the Windies can take heart from their young bowler Sammi, who looks a good prospect, and their batting looked much stronger for having Chanderpaul in the line up.

Harmison had a better day, but the England pace bowling looks poorish without Flintoff and Hoggard.

If the West Indies don't lose a wicket before lunch tomorrow, then it will be an interesting days cricket (for once) - I just hope they don't collapse again.

__________________
Ern

At the moment Prior is the best batsman/keeper we have and at the moment i'm prepared to give him a go to prove himself - at least he's no Jones.

It was a much better days cricket for the purist, the Windies batted properly for a change and showed themselves what can be done with a bit of application.

Harmison bowled well overall and his first 8 over spell was cracking. If you add Hoggy/Flintoff to Harmison bowling like that, plus Monty we have a very good attack.

If the West Indies can surivive for an hour even this could be a very interesting match, however if we get Chanderpaul early it could be over in a hurry.

__________________
Mark.

Jeesh, everyone got their wish when he was dropped, and we all know he isn't coming back - can we stop knocking him now? (He did actually score a century the other week, not that anyone is bothered...) I apologise for my obvious Kent bias.

Nonetheless Ern, at the time Pakistan were ranked third in the world... which coincidently is where India were ranked when Flintoff led England to a victory there. What exactly does that prove re the captaincy issue?

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