England batsmen occupy crease ahead of Windies Test

England should go into the first Test against the West Indies on Monday fairly satisfied after most of their batsmen spent a decent amount of time in the middle on the last day of their two-day warm up against a St Kitts Invitational side.
After the local side scored 303 for nine on Day one of the match, with the help of a few of the tourists' players, England set about the day intent on occupying the crease.
Adam Lyth, getting his first bat in England colours, opened the batting with skipper Alastair Cook. Lyth needed a big score to put pressure on the selectors to be included in the starting team for the first Test, which takes place in Antigua.
Lyth though only scored 23, while Cook was happy to get some batting practice in the middle, scoring 22 from 86 balls before he retired himself out. Ian Bell, Jos Buttler and Gary Ballance, all certain starters against the Windies spent at least 70 minutes at the crease.
England bowlers Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood opened the bowling for the home team, hoping to make an impression on the selectors, but neither impressed, with the tourists eventually finishing the day on 222 all out, although four batsmen retired out.
The one player who probably got the most out of the practice games would have been captain Cook who scored a century and looked solid for the most part.
Although the opposition were not up to scratch and they will go into the first Test somewhat underprepared, England tried to make the best of the four days of warm-up cricket they had before the first Test.
Latest
-
News
Stephen Eskinazi stars in record-breaking Middlesex win over Gloucestershire
Paul Stirling made the first century of the Vitality Blast season for Birmingham Bears.
-
News
Ollie Robinson’s England hopes scuppered by back problem
The seamer was plagued by persistent back issues during the Ashes series and missed all three matches against the West Indies.
-
News
Justin Langer blames politics for Australia exit and laughs off England links
Langer was linked with one of the two vacant posts with England.
-
News
He deserves to be there – England’s Matthew Potts backed to shine in Test arena
Potts has received his first international call-up for the squad to face New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2.
-
News
On this day in 2015: Trevor Bayliss appointed England head coach
The Australian leapfrogged initial front-runner Jason Gillespie to replace the sacked Peter Moores.
-
News
Andrew Strauss sets five-year goal for England men’s side to rule all formats
The former England captain and director of cricket is overseeing a high performance review into English cricket.
-
News
Shane Warne to be remembered during England’s Test with New Zealand at Lord’s
The former player and TV pundit died aged 52 on March 4 after a suspected heart attack.
-
News
Sport moves fast – Ben Compton goes from relative unknown to England contention
The opener is averaging a spectacular 109.75 after amassing 878 LV= Insurance County Championship runs.
-
News
Dom Sibley can show he is England’s ‘best opener’ says team-mate Michael Burgess
The Warwickshire pair are part of a County Select XI that will face New Zealand in Chelmsford on Thursday.
-
County Cricket
Warwickshire chief executive insists The Hundred and Vitality Blast can coexist
Questions have been raised after reports of slow ticket sales for the Blast.