West Indies price too big to win the Lord’s Test.

about time the proper cricket begins , near middle of July ,

Zero chance of weather…yeah alright

Agree 15.5 !!

Looking forward to this and hoping WI win toss as I have them at 11-1

I expect Engerland to win but it is cloudy and will remain so. It is not very warm though.

Also looking forward to seeing young Joseph bowl

not sure about the rest of the England pace attack. Jimmy will be up for it but Woakes is not a test bowler and Stokes could easily break down injured.

Jimmy getting his eye in this third over. Someone needs to stop the runs already.

Morning all, been a while (since we had some Test cricket to ponder)

Was selfishly hoping WI would win toss and bowl, being the likelier way this turns into a tradeable contest.

Tad harsh on Woakes there, sage, with an average under 30 (despite his overseas travails) and one shy of 150 Test wickets...

Not saying I'd have him in, mind you, if they're training their eyes on an overseas Ashes in 18 months.

Tickled England at 1.25, not easy for their price to chase away from there.

I am double digits WI and draw

Not two footed bug this is a slow wicket. Bowling barely above 80mph

Can’t justify the kitchen sink on this but this is a genuine punt

England in the grove now. Thus is going to be a long hour for me bets!

oh whats happened to test match special, , the girls and a cook is so boring

The extra pace makes such a difference at Test level. 81-83 mph just doesn’t cut it without help off the pitch or in the air. They are right to let Anderson go after this.

Atkinson looking decent albeit in friendly conditions

Athena e is also a prospect so am keen to have a look at him

They have certainly dried up the runs. The wickets will come along in due course so keeping the runs down is important. There is another wicket as I write! Great catch.

Yes that was a great catch. Tough morning for WI bug they haven’t pulled up the white flag just yet.

Wow!

How quickly things can change 34-0!

I felt it was worth a punt. Brathwaitte played a poor shot, one great catch and the result from that is carnage. I think that is the

beauty of Test cricket. If Brathwaite had not played on would be here now, I don’t think so and wow what a catch!

88-7!

Game over in an over and a half!

4-0 in 8 balls!

88-3 to 88-7 in 8 balls!

Ironic film sun now although still swinging

James who!

I remember Bob Massie in 1972

OMG!

Can he do it,  8 on debut would be a record for England!

Windies would struggle to beat any county side on this performance

3 wickets in k e over, concedes 16 runs off the next and then 2 more wickets in the following over. This  is up there with Bob Massie

I do ghjnk the extra pace makes all the difference. Trundling in at 80 mph just does not cut it. Will Archer be back? That would be something. Not sure Atkinson will be as effective with a Kookaburra. We need two more decent seamers. Not sure Potts or Robinson are good enough.

seems robinson has burned his bridges. stokes and mccullum less than impressed by his attitude on and off the field

Great to see that that they left the last wicket for Anderson to clean up. It would have been a bit of an anti climax if he didn't have at least one.

Awful shot from Duckett.

why all this fuzz re anderson, since when have players been allowed to stage their own scenarios re retiring, never heard of something so selfish as , " ill play at lords one  test and retire, same as broad, just retire at end of a series

lets be real here ...lots of talk about county cricket going to the wall but no surprise there is banging on again and again about the ashes . fact is rest of previously great international teams are no longer bothered about test matches . its just a cash cow for various parties .

why all this fuzz re anderson, since when have players been allowed to stage their own scenarios re retiring, never heard of something so selfish as , " ill play at lords one  test and retire, same as broad, just retire at end of a series

wasn't his choice, Elis.

He wanted to finish his Test career where he started it and why shouldn't he. He's given England masses over the years and will now start helping the England squad players to get better. Well done Jimmy Anderson on a career that will never be forgotton by anyone that saw him play and his record of 704 Test Wickets is very very unlikely to be beaten for ever I would think, as a seam bowler.

WI win toss & bowl, take a wicket in first over...odds longer than they started midway through second over

they deserve to concede 500+ here...mental insertion..

Stokes trying not to laugh while he said we weren't sure which way to go if we won the toss..

perfect batting day and a surface that usually takes some spin late in the game..

hope you're well apt'..

Could concede 500+ by close if Duckett's there til this afternoon

Trying to juggle Open and a Test is a recipe for confusion this end, but aside from that...all good fella.

Same to you, b. And the lurker (your bro)

my golf betting (and brief trading) era ended a while back but you may well be glad to have the distraction of the golf this weekend..

a joke , again. west indies 30/1 already . meanwhile  ...lancs have sent e mail saying come and say goodbye to jimmy at the sri lanka test . why ? he wont be playing .  you should have gone to southport to say goodbye . at least it was a proper match !

Right, golf done til day 3 just as Test prices become somewhat moveable

Let's see how much red I can find with my first position

Been as quiet on here as in the match situations on the pitch.