1^st Test         4-7 Feb, 2009

Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

Toss: ENG (batted)

Res: WI won by inn & 23 runs

Selection issues were Harmison or Anderson (Harmison) and Panesar or Swann (Panesar) as ENG looked to play just one spinner (probably an error given the pitch). Owais Shah was left out which in hindsight was probably a good thing ….

Days 1-3 gave no real hint of what was to happen in day 4:  ENG struggled on a slow, turning pitch, getting to 300+ thanks to Pietersen’s 97 and Prior’s 64.  KP added 86 in partnership with Flintoff, going from 83 to 97 in 3 balls with 2x4’s and a six off Sulieman Benn, but skying the next ball and being caught by Ramdin.  Benn ended with 4-77, his best test figs to date.

WI reply was built around patient tons by Gayle (104) and Sarwan (107),  Stuart Broad getting 5-85.   Then came ENG’s 3^rd lowest test score ever, Jerome Taylor taking 5-11 in 9 overs with Benn surpassing his first innings efforts to take a further 4-31. ENG all out 51 in 33.2 overs.

Other feature of the test was the trial of the system whereby each side could challenge umpires' decisions.  This wasted a lot of time as umpires Tony Hill and Rudi Koertzen saw each side use up their challenges.

ENG   318

WI      392

ENG     51 all out

WI

1.   CH Gayle *

2.   DS Smith

3.   RR Sarwan

4.   XM Marshall

5.   S Chanderpaul

6.   BP Nash

7.   D Ramdin +

8.   JE Taylor

9.   SJ Benn

10.DBL Powell

11.FH Edwards

ENG

1.   AJ Strauss *

2.   AN Cook

3.   IR Bell

4.   KP Pietersen

5.   PD Collingwood

6.   A Flintoff

7.   MJ Prior +

8.   SCJ Broad

9.   RJ Sidebottom

10.SJ Harmison

11.MS Panesar

2nd Test        13 Feb, 2009

Sir Vivian Richards Std, Antigua

Toss: WI (bowled)

Res: ABANDONED

This time Harmison was replaced by Anderson and Owais Shah (age 30) was brought in instead of Ian Bell for his 3^rd test nearly three years after his debut in India, March 2006.

Sadly, the game lasted just 10 balls before it was abandoned with the WI bowlers struggling on run ups heavily sanded after being wet. The outfield was declared dangerous and it was decided to abandon the game and begin a new 3^rd test at the nearby St John’s Recreation Ground (last used 2006 and the scene of Brian Lara’s two fantastic innings against England).

Fingers crossed ….

ENG   7-0

WI

1.        CH Gayle *

2.        DS Smith

3.        RR Sarwan

4.        S Chanderpaul

5.        BP Nash

6.        R O Hinds

7.        D Ramdin +

8.        JE Taylor

9.        SJ Benn

10.     DBL Powell

11.     FH Edwards

ENG

1.        AJ Strauss *

2.        AN Cook

3.        O A Shah

4.        KP Pietersen

5.        PD Collingwood

6.        A Flintoff

7.        MJ Prior +

8.        SCJ Broad

9.        RJ Sidebottom

10.     J M Anderson

11.     MS Panesar

3^rd Test        15-19 Feb, 2009

Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua

Toss: WI (bowled)

Res:  Match DRAWN

A classic test match:  After the debacle of the 2^nd test at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, a pitch was prepared at the old Recreation Ground and the ground spruced up in just 48 hours, the place not having been used in tests since 2006 and most recently used for football.

WI made no team changes from the abandoned game three days earlier, but looking to bolster batting on what might be an unpredictable track, ENG brought Swann in for his 3^rd test, aged 30, instead of Panesar.  Also, absence of the likely swing at the other, newer ground, ENG also brought Harmison in for Sidebottom.  It’s a squad game these days….

Put in by Gayle (a good toss to lose probably, since Strauss would probably have put WI in on an uncertain surface), ENG racked up 566-9 dec on what turned out to be a flat, slow track with just the occasional shooter.  Tons from Strauss (169) and Collingwood (113 on day 2), with 50’s from Cook, Shah and Pietersen and useful runs from the lower order.  

WI reply held together by Sarwan’s 94 but Swann got his first test fiver-for (24-7-57-5) .  ENG did not enforce the follow on as Harmison was ill and Flintoff struggling.  Instead ENG batted again and with another 50 from Cook, set WI a target of 503 to win in just over 4 sessions.

Despite the (fruitless) efforts of Flintoff carrying a hip injury and 3 wickets each from Swann and Broad, Sarwan (106) and Chanderpaul (55) held ENG at bay putting on 148 for the 4^th wicket.  The tail held firm with Powell and Edwards hanging on for the draw as the light faded.

ENG   566-9 dec

WI      285

ENG    221-8 dec

 WI   370-9

WI

1.        CH Gayle *

2.        DS Smith

3.        RR Sarwan

4.        S Chanderpaul

5.        BP Nash

6.        R O Hinds

7.        D Ramdin +

8.        JE Taylor

9.        SJ Benn

10.     DBL Powell

11.     FH Edwards

ENG

1.        AJ Strauss *

2.        AN Cook

3.        O A Shah

4.        KP Pietersen

5.        PD Collingwood

6.        A Flintoff

7.        MJ Prior +

8.        SCJ Broad

9.        GP Swann

10.     J M Anderson

11.     SJ Harmison

4th Test        26 Feb – 2 Mar, 2009

Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

Toss: ENG (batted)

Res:  DRAWN

ENG had to replace injured (hip) Flintoff and Prior (paternity), giving Bopara a chance at 6 and Ambrose the gloves.  Sidebottom replaced Harmison on what was not expected to be a hard track.

Disappointing draw after ENG looked to have the game in the bag with big first inns thanks to tons from Strauss (142) and Bopara (104) and 90’s from Cook and Collingwood.  Even Ambrose got in the act with 76*.

This was put into perspective by WI setting the 9^th-highest test score with comfort and a massive 261-run 6^th wicket partnership between Sarwan (291) and Ramdin (166) after Chanderpaul had perished for 70.   50s from Smith and Jerome Taylor.  On a flat pitch, ENG’s limited bowling attack lacked penetration. Swann took 5-165.

ENG’s 2^nd innings was routine after they scored the 149 to save the game. Cook finally scored a ton (139*) putting on unbeaten 150 with KP (72*).

ENG      600-6 dec

WI         749-9 dec

ENG       279-2

WI

1.        CH Gayle *

2.        DS Smith

3.        RR Sarwan

4.        S Chanderpaul

5.        BP Nash

6.        R O Hinds

7.        D Ramdin +

8.        JE Taylor

9.        SJ Benn

10.     DBL Powell

11.     FH Edwards

ENG

1.        AJ Strauss *

2.        AN Cook

3.        O A Shah

4.        KP Pietersen

5.        PD Collingwood

6.        RS Bopara

7.        TR Ambrose +

8.        SCJ Broad

9.        J M Anderson

10.     GP Swann

11.     RJ Sidebottom

5th Test        6-10 Mar, 2009

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Toss: ENG (batted)

Res:  

In the end, an exciting draw to end a patchy series, went to the final over of the final session of the final day. 

ENG had Prior back to replace Ambrose; Panesar came back (for Bopara) to give ENG a 5-bowler attack.  Amjad Khan got his debut instead of Sidebottom/Harmison having come out (with Bopara) as mid-tour replacement(s) for Flintoff.   WI brought in Lionel Baker for injured Taylor and gave a debut for Lendl Simmons who had scored 282 against ENG in one of the warm-up games and replaced Benn as an extra batsman.

Batting first, Strauss (142) scored his 3^rd consecutive test ton and on another flat, slow pitch Collingwood (161) and Prior (131*) added 218 for the 5th wicket after Shah had run himself out after retiring hurt with cramp in a hand.  

ENG failed to get WI to follow on with Gayle (100*) retd hurt pulling a hamstring running for his ton, and a stubborn 5^th wicket partnership of 234 between Chanderpaul (147*) and Nash (109) after Amjad Khan got Sarwan LBW for his first test wicket.  Extras was 4th top-scorer (74) with 35 byes against Prior.  3 wickets each for Broad and Swann; 2 for Panesar.

With a lead of 2 runs in the final session of Day 4, ENG went for quick runs, losing wickets in the process but set WI a target of 240 in 2 sessions thanks to Pietersen 102 in 92 balls and Prior 61 off 49.  In a tense and exciting final session, Strauss shuffled mainly Anderson (ball swinging) and Panesar and Swann on a last-day pitch occasionally keeping low but couldn’t get the final 2 wickets with Ramdin and Edwards hanging on.

ENG    546 – 6  dec

WI      544

ENG   237 – 6 dec

WI      114 - 8

WI

1.        CH Gayle *

2.        DS Smith

3.        RR Sarwan

4.        S Chanderpaul

5.        BP Nash

6.        LMP Simmons

7.        R O Hinds

8.        D Ramdin +

9.        DBL Powell

10.     FH Edwards

11.     LS Baker

ENG

1.        AJ Strauss *

2.        AN Cook

3.        O A Shah

4.        KP Pietersen

5.        PD Collingwood

6.        MJ Prior  +

7.        SCJ Broad

8.        J M Anderson

9.        GP Swann

10.     MS Panesar

11.     A Khan