England need spin, swing and erosion

Fifth Test, Port of Spain, Trinidad,
Day Two (Close): England 546/6 dec. v West Indies 92/1

Chris O'Keefe

England are hoping it is third time lucky in their quest for 20 West Indian wickets to win the final test and square the series after scoring an imposing total on a dry, fairly benign pitch.

They started the day with Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood at the wicket looking to build a strong total. However, Strauss fell in the third over of play to Fidel Edwards, bowled around his legs.

Owais Shah resumed his innings only to continue to show poor running between the wickets. Shah was run out by sub fielder Dwayne Bravo trying an impossible single. He will have done little to cement a place in the England batting line up ahead of this summer. It remains a position for contention.

However, Matt Prior, restored to the England team after leaving the tour to see his new born son back home, came in with purpose and added 218 with Paul Collingwood for the fifth wicket as England chased the early declaration. The West Indies didn't seem too interested in competing, merely playing for time as part time bowlers like Brendan Nash bowled more than their fair share of overs.

Both Prior and Collingwood made comfortable centuries at ease. By the time of Collingwood's dismissal, it was a case when, not whether England could make the declaration. It came after tea, allowing England 19 overs to claim West Indies wickets.

England were certainly not helped by their opening bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, as well as debutant Amjad Khan who were expensive as openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith were enjoying their time in the middle. England needed to turn to spin and fortunately they decided on two full time spinners for this assignment, the problem is that one of those, Monty Panesar, was out of form.

His first over started auspiciously as he seemed to lack potency. The irony was the ball that dismissed Smith was one that didn't spin. Panesar clearly needs variety and variation. In the mean time he will need to take inexplicable play and misses like that of Smith's.

Be in no doubt England need to bowl far better than their showing on this evening, otherwise its a defeat in a test series against a team with part time bowlers doing the lion share of the work. OK, perhaps a tad harsh, but a negative result will do nothing in the build up to an Ashes series this summer.