2-0 in sight

Day 3 at The Riverside

Preview

We have had a day to wonder: should the match have been scheduled here in mid-May when it is known to rain? Of course not. The solution is not in the hands of ECB. It needs a global answer from ICC. Are there any signs that the world rulers are considering the difficulties caused by an over-loaded fixture list? No. What else is new? Showers. It is mid-May after all.

To lunch

We started by asking why Fidel Edwards and James Anderson are at war and when Edwards inevitably knocked Anderson over thinking how much easier it is to bat when you are 6ft 5in like Kevin Pietersen. Alistair Cook still contrived to get out when a double century was waiting but it matters not. West Indies are playing to make up the numbers and it shows.

To tea

We could not have asked more of England in the two hours in which they scored 156 runs in 32 overs. Paul Collingwood, on his home ground, and Matthew Prior, set the pace when Pietersen was out quickly and Andrew Strauss was able to declare at tea. We could not have asked less of West Indies. Chris Gayle, keener to keep his hands warm than get his players into gear, set the tone; catches went down and it seemed that England had ample time to win the series 2-0.

To close

A beautiful spell of bowling from Anderson - who later says he is bewildered by the attack from Edwards - takes England three strides towards victory but they still have to conquer Shivnarine Chanderapaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Plenty of time to conquer a side without the heart for a fight.