If not for the weather England would of won this one as well, but for Chanderpaul they would of won it with all the rain.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

Night watchman with 15 minutes to go? Not convinced that is a good idea. One or two overs, maybe, but not a possible five.

And there's why. Hoggard gone, and Pietersen now has to come in anyway. Waste of a wicket at a time when England really did not want to lose one.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

Forecast is apparently pretty good for tomorrow, John, according to the TMS team. If the same holds for Tuesday, there's plenty of time for a result in this game yet.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

And off goes Pietersen - so maybe it's only an argument about the order of dismissals: Hoggard before Pietersen instead of the other way round! West Indies will go in smiling after a good evening session. England will also have something to smile about though: the fact that Strauss is leaving tonight with 72 not out.

Entertaining day overall: pity I'm back in the office tomorrow.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

The Nightwatchman didn't do the job today... but another day, in the same circumstances, he'll see out the 5 overs and then frustrate the bowlers for 20 minutes the next day as well, sparing the next batsman what are often the toughest deliveries of the day.

Even if he's out in the last over of the day the nightwatchman has done his job!

ps. the only thing I'd question in this situation is the "set" batsman exposing the nightwatchman so early in the over: when the batsman the other end is struggling it's quite right for the nightwatchman to take the majority of the strike... and the nightwatchman should certainly take the strike in the final over of the day (forsaking all runs)... but with Strauss well set... taking a single off the 2nd ball of such an early over was not so clever.

Good days cricket,possibly the best of the series.

This game could see a result yet if the weather holds.

Especially the way England have just batted.

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Mark.

That may be right, Rachael. I'm not against the use of night watchmen per se - but I am not convinced about the five over bit. That's a big gamble which can work sometimes but, when it doesn't, it just throws the whole policy of night watchmen's use into question. If there had been a couple of overs left, I'd have sent Hoggard in without hesitation; maybe even three overs. Five overs - which is what fifteen minutes can easily become if spinners are deployed - is too much of a risk for me.

In any event, in this case it really doesn't matter: Pietersen was apparently desperate to be out before the close, and if he'd gone in when I would have sent him in, we'd still be looking at opening tomorrow without him.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

I am for nightwatchmen but seeing England being so dominant in the series maybe they could of done without one.
In hindsight they should of sent Collingwood after Hoggard. Pietersen is too attacking. Terrible shot.
Even given the situation with WI bowling I would expect England to come prity close to the WI score if not a lead. A draw is the most likely unless WI fold 2nd innings.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

John - IMO nightwatchmen don't work, at least for England
- I feel sure Pietersen could have managed the short time there was left.

Also Hoggy may be one of the best bowlers around, but he sure is thee worst nightwatchman, points on this day go to the West Indies.

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Ern