The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Rain holds up England’s charge to series victory
England’s hopes of a series-clinching victory over the West Indies and Stuart Broad’s pursuit of a 500th Test wicket were frustrated by rain as play was washed out without a ball bowled on day four at Emirates Old Trafford.
The covers remained defiantly in place throughout the day as persistent, heavy showers set in over Manchester, halting the home side’s charge after they dominated with bat and ball on Sunday.
The match officials accepted the inevitable shortly after 4pm.
Having set the Windies a target of 399, Broad reduced them to 10 for two with his seventh and eighth wickets of the match.
That took the 34-year-old seamer to 499 career scalps and it is now a question of when, not if, he joins teammate James Anderson in the exclusive 500 club.
The bad weather has played into the West Indies’ hands, knowing a draw is enough to see them retain the Wisden Trophy. But with 98 overs possible on Tuesday England will still hope to have enough time to seal a 2-1 win.
Meanwhile, England one-day captain Eoin Morgan says he is delighted to be “starting our journey” towards the next World Cup as he prepares for the inaugural series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
The one-day team will be back on home soil for the first time since becoming world champions when they face Ireland in Southampton on Thursday.
Featuring 13 teams, the Super League will determine qualification for the 2023 World Cup, with the top seven teams automatically booking their spot at the tournament in India.
The competition was scheduled to begin in May before the opening match – originally between Ireland and Bangladesh – was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re looking forward to playing cricket again,” said Morgan in a statement.
“Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home, when we lifted the World Cup at Lord’s, but it’s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament.
“I’m sure cricket fans all over the world will be excited to see white-ball cricket resume and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“Ireland are a talented team who have shown over the years that they can beat the best on their day. We look forward to what promises to be an interesting series.”
England host Ireland in the threematch series on Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday at the Ageas Bowl.
The competition features the 12 ICC Full Members, plus the Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17.