Thought it would be good to have a cricket thread following the interest in other sports in this section.

Looks like all the Stanford series matches will be put on hold now following the fraud allegations. Maybe that's a victory for the 5 day game, although it's clear that world cricket is changing with the rise of the IPL and the 20/20 format.

Currently, England are doing a much better job against the West Indies than they did in the disaster of the last test match with a great captain's innings of 169 from Andrew Strauss, it's looking like an imminent declaration is likely, although I suspect England will be cautious and not declare until they have a lead of 500, even though the highest 4th innings total to win a test match is 418!

Indeed I am a big cricket fan, and am following the action in West Indies with interest, after the farce of last Friday at North Sound when play was abandoned after 10 balls due to an unsuitable pitch. We're fairing much better at the ARG than we did at Sabina Park the other week which was an embarrassing performance by us lot.

I love cricket! I think we have this test in the bag what with the West Indies needing a world record 503 to win... although this is Englad so we'll probably lose by 100 runs..

That would be an interesting win, given England can only lose by wickets, not by runs.

Well this is England...

2 sessions left and with 7 wickets to take it's looking a bit nervy now...

It's looking like it might be a draw now. That would be some escape from the West Indies who
would still be winning the series.

4 wickets and counting...

313 for 7 now with about 26 overs left!

This should be a win...but in typical England fashion their attempt to keep their lead safe and unreachable almost always enforces a draw

If it comes down to the last wicket pair still at the crease escaping with a draw some questions will be asked.

Hopefully that will be avoided with 3 quick wickets, and let's hope the light holds too!

2 to go... light fading fast.

This is going to be close...knowing the Windies, they'll chicken out and complain of bad light and rob us.

ONE MORE!!!

How long before the light goes and we have to bowl KP (no, not that one!) alongside Swann?

Very tense now...

5ish minutes before the light is offered apparently...

Not sure but there's only a maximum of 13 overs left...England REALLY need to get that last wicket! The Windies will claim bad light if they so much as suspect they're going to lose!

LIGHT METER OUT!


Before it was put back away....

Less than ten overs yet...is it arguable to suggest the officials are favouring England to wrap the match up "quickly"? I've seen plenty other matches like this ended due to bad light much brighter than this!