I think we should just declare now and see what the Windies have on a full days play.
We either bowl them out cheaply enforcing the follow on and win in 3 days or they also get around 350 but it will then make a game of it and it’s down to who holds their nerve on the final night if the weather holds out.
Yeah, it’s a day for a newish batsman to try and get his feet under the table.
Pet peeve - cricket commentators calling bowling/batting/fielding ‘ordinary’. I know you can’t say ‘bollocks’ on air, but let’s not mince words. Windies bowling hasn’t been ordinary by any stretch, it’s been ‘rubbish’, as Boycott will no doubt point out.
You’re right of course, I’d hope for a few more years out of him yet if his eyes stay good. I just don’t think he’s appreciated as much as he should be - he’s genuinely one of the all time greats IMO.
March 2006: Sixteenth Englishman to score a century on his debut,[67] fifth to combine it with a half century.[71]
December 2006: Only Englishman to score 4 centuries before his 22nd birthday.[89][202]
May 2007: Only Englishman (second worldwide) to score 1,000 runs in maiden year.[92]
December 2007: Only Englishman to score 7 centuries before his 23rd birthday.[203]
February 2009: England’s record opening stand against West Indies (229 with Andrew Strauss).[144]
November 2010: England’s record partnership in Australia, world record partnership and innings at the Gabba (329 with Jonathan Trott, 235 not out).[172]
December 2010: England’s record for runs scored and time spent at the crease between dismissals (383 runs in 1,053 minutes).[175]
January 2011: World record for time spent batting in a five Test series, second most series runs by an Englishman (2,171 minutes [36 hours], 766 runs).[4]
December 2012: Most Test centuries for England (broke the record at 23 centuries).[6]
December 2012: First captain worldwide to score a century in first five Tests.[204]
December 2012: England’s highest run scorer in India (866 runs).[204]
May 2015: Most Test runs for England (broke the record at 8,901 runs).[205]
August 2015: First England cricketer to be involved in 50 Test wins.[206]
October 2015: Longest England Test innings (836 minutes), third longest of all time.
October 2015: Became the all-time highest non-Asian run scorer in Asia.
October 2016: England’s most capped player in Tests, surpassing Alec Stewart’s record of 134.
November 2016: England’s most capped Test captain, surpassing Mike Atherton’s record of 54.
November 2016: Most Test centuries by England skipper, surpassing Graham Gooch’s record of 11.
Youngest Englishman to score 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 Test runs.[128][146][167][207]
Youngest player (from any country) to score 7,000, 8,000, 9,000, 10,000 and 11,000 runs in Test cricket.[6][8][208]