Ben urges England to respond in a positive way after jitters
ENGLAND all-rounder Ben Stokes was looking to the positives despite a “disappointing” first day of the second Test against the West Indies.
Captain Joe Root equalled the world record by scoring a 12th consecutive Test half-century at his home ground of Headingley, with Stokes’ sixth century in the five-day format helping England claw their way to a modest total of 258.
The returning Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach both bowled brilliantly to come away with four wickets making a devil-may-care 100, with apiece as they nullified England’s Root’s reprieve on eight all-owed him attack, while the West Indies finished to make 59, equalling AB de Villiers’ at stumps on 19 for one. world record of half-centuries
Despite a low-scoring first day, in 12 consecutive Tests. Stokes believes that the hosts can sal- Kieran Powell and vage something with an attacking Kraigg Brathwaite bowling display on day two. were the guilty parties,
“I thought their seam bowling unit both shelling bowled a lot better than Edgbaston regulation and made it hard work for us,” he said. chances in the
“We said as a team in the changing slips at an eyewatering rooms it’s probably not one our best cost of days with the bat but we never know if 142 runs out of it’s a good score until their innings England’s total of has finished. It’s how we respond in 258. the morning.” Stokes’ boundary-laden
England had flirted with collapse ton, containing but Stokes and Root took advantage 68 runs in fours, of dismal catching to hand the hosts a proved the frenetic centrepiece foothold. of the innings while Root continued
Stokes was put down on nine before a relentlessly reliable scoring streak which dates back to Dhaka last October. That only three of those have been converted into hundreds is a well-known point of concern to Root but England’s real issue as they approach an Ashes winter is the glaring and repeated inability to fill positions at opener, three and five. Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley and Dawid Malan all failed their latest auditions, contributing 30 between them. Opting to bat first, England had been 61 for three at lunch. Alastair Cook nicked Gabriel for 11 Westley made three, before Roach slammed a fast, full delivery into his back pad for a clear lbw and Stoneman’s loose drive on 19 brought an inside edge to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich. Malan then imploded early in the third over of the afternoon, cannoning Jason Holder inelegantly into his off stump, for good measure.
Though Root fell for 59 to Devendra Bishoo, Stokes got to 100 but did not go further as Gabriel found the outside edge.
Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali (22) and Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes (23) made brisk contributions but the lower order were dealt with professionally, another drop from Dowrich not withstanding.
That left 12 overs for the West Indies to face and Powell’s bad day took another turn for the worse when he was picked off by Jimmy Anderson for just five runs. THE Genting Casino Coventry Blaze have welcomed 31-year-old Czech defenceman Vojtěch Kloz to their 2017/18 Elite League roster.
Standing at 6’3” tall, the stay-at-home blue-liner joins the club following two-and-ahalf seasons in the French Ligue Magnus with Epinal where in 2014/15 he played a crucial role in them reaching the play-off final. Overall, he iced in 92 games for the organisation contributing 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists).
Prior to his time in France, the left-shooter was a champion of the Polish league with KH Sanok (2013/14) where he posted a career-high 18 points in 44 regular season appearances, plus three more in the play-off games.
Kloz’s experience extends to 130 matches in Slovakia, mostly with HK 36 Skalica from 2010-12. Before that, his career was spent in his native Czech Republic, where he progressed through the junior ranks, clocking up near 250 games and representing his nation at under-16 and 20’s international level.
Head Coach Danny Stewart said: “I felt that we needed some more size and stability on the back-end and we believe Vojtěch brings us that. He’s a very good defender who brings a lot of experience. He compliments what we have very well and we are excited to get him in the line-up this weekend!”
Kloz said: “I have heard from former teammates that the Elite League is a high quality league and Coventry is a well organised club. It was a real pleasure to receive the offer from Danny Stewart. I agreed with no doubt.
“I look forward to meeting the team members and having this new opportunity and experience. After three years in France, I will embrace this new challenge. The fans can expect that I will give my maximum in every single match and with the players in Coventry, I am sure we are going to reach great results.”
Kloz will be in the Blaze line-up as they travel to Milton Keynes tonight (7pm) before making his home Skydome debut tomorrow against the same opposition with a 5.15pm face-off.
I thought their seam bowling unit bowled a lot better than Edgbaston and made it hard work for us