Perhaps this should have been pointed out to the England cricket team when they had the chance to make the West Indies follow on, in the 2nd test from Antigua. Hindsight is a 20:20 but enough commentators and also Fred Freeman pointed out the error at the time. Quiet simply, they would be one all now.
Whilst on the subject of being ‘wise after the event’ I would like to say that I didn’t really see a major problem with the ECB tying up with Allen Stanford. Probably because I felt we had to have an alternative to the Indian Premier League.
Congratulations therefore to at least two cricket pundits/journo’s. Firstly Mike Atherton who criticised the ECB for becoming ‘Allen Stanford’s WAG’ four months ago and also Michael Holding who pretty much said he couldn’t be trusted around the time that the contracts were being signed, whilst live on Sky.
I didn’t see that one coming.
They wouldn’t have won if they had enforced the follow-on. No flintoff or Harmison with just Broad, Anderson and Swann (who Blacky reminds me we both and possibly UDH dispatched to the Whitworths raison bins) to bowl them out. I would always be wary of Fred Freeman predictions after his apparent fervour to set the Premier alight when we got promoted (only to disappear up his own a hole or lay some kitchen tiles when the season started)
Harsh but fair Trotty. Flintoff was going to be crocked no matter what we did and Harmy was feeling sick fair point. It was only 10 bloody overs to bowl until close of play though! They could have then put their feet up for the night and come back in the morning.
I think you could argue about this all day and not agree but surley the most stupid thing was to allow Anderson to bat for a bloody hour the next morning!?!?! We should have been going hammer and tongs to leave as much time in the game as possible not sending in / allow to stay in someone with fewer shots than me!
I still think England would have won comfortably, they finished nine down on a last day shortened by rain. They took too much time out of the game by batting again.