BUMBLE AT THE TEST
AGONY GOES ON FOR KEATON
SPARE a thought for Keaton Jennings. Dropped in Antigua then back to bolster the batting but his innings looked an ordeal. The lad looked totally shot on the first day. I saw him hit three fabulous hundreds for Lancashire last summer. That’s what he has to do now.
MARK PULLS UP TREES
WHAT a performance from Mark Wood! Remember, he’s a replacement on this tour and he’s had a lot of operations. He used to very rarely touch 90mph but here, with a slightly modified run-up, the ball was flying through. I didn’t think he could get anywhere near 90mph any more but it just shows you what real pace can do.
IF THE NAME GUS FITS . . .
I SEE Keemo Paul has Angus among his middle names. Have a look at when the Guyanese fast bowler was born. It was just after our own Angus Fraser (right) had destroyed West Indies on the 1998 tour. If he’s anything like Fraser, expect Keemo to enjoy a good moan, producing the ‘double teapot’ and kicking the turf.
SHORT-CHANGED AGAIN
BEN STOKES and Jos Buttler played proper Test match cricket on the first day but then we had yet another Calypso collapso. West Indies were right on the money on the second morning with good disciplined, intelligent fast bowling. England are finding it difficult to cope and it looked like they were wary of the short ball.
LEAVE MIDDLE ORDER ALONE
DESPITE the latest collapse I really hope England leave four, five, six and seven alone now. Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow are in the right positions. It’s one, two and three they have to sort out. Let’s say it’s an opportunity for someone. Rory Burns has shown glimpses but I have to say there are a lot of moving parts in his technique.
BOB STILL A HANDFUL
I HEAR Bob Willis (left) was sensational on TV on day one. ‘Well, I would have to say the wafted edge to slip is my favourite of all England dismissals,’ he said. Then there was ‘what birdbrains over there thought Ben Foakes, Sam Curran or Chris Woakes on one leg or even Jack Leach would not score more runs than Keaton Jennings?’ I see the old boy is mellowing.
LEGS AKIMBO, ALL IN LIMBO
THEY lit a bonfire on the beach outside our wonderful St Lucia digs the other night. As if it’s not hot enough! We had fire-eaters and limbo dancers and they asked the audience if we’d like a go. I must say I didn’t fancy blowing flames out of my mouth but one or two portly individuals had a go at the limbo. They were falling on the floor, legs akimbo.