1st Test: England vs West Indies at Lord's
This is the first test match to take place after the World Cup and in what you could say is an entirely different scenario for both sides. Both teams have new coaches and new captains and will be looking to make fresh starts after coming out of different eras so to speak.
For the first time in a long time, West Indies will be without their master player, Brian Lara. Lara's retirement was a shock to most with many believing he'd play on in England for the English summer. But it wasn't to be and now West Indies cricket faces an interesting time as they try to rebuild without Lara being a part of the team.
England too face a new period after the departure of Duncan Flecther as coach of the side. New coach Peter Moores faces many challenges ahead, one of them being to try and rebuild this England line-up after their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the most recent Ashes series.
The pitch promises to be an absolute beauty with both teams wanting to bowl first to make use of the bowler-friendly conditions. Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard would be bursting at the seams to have first crack on such an inducive pitch.
England are also expected to rest Andrew Flintoff who has an ankle complaint. Both sides have some relatively new members to both teams. Owais Shah comes back from the wilderness to possibly play his first test in a long time. Shah made 88 in his last test but was dropped and hasn't played one since. Matt Prior also comes into the team to keep wicket with Prior being preferred over Chris Read and Geraint Jones.
West Indies also welcome back batsmen Runako Morton who comes into the side to replace noneother than Brian Lara. Morton is expected to bat at number 6.
Two new scenarios, two teams rebuilding. Expect to see a good game here. Both teams will be keen to get off to a good start and keep their critics at bay.
England (probable): 1 Andrew Strauss*, 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Owais Shah, 7 Matt Prior+, 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Steve Harmison, 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 James Anderson.
West Indies (probable):1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Devon Smith, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan*, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Runako Morton, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Dinesh Ramdin+, 9 Daren Powell, 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Jerome Taylor.
Umpires: Asad Rauf and Rudi Koertzen
3rd Umpire: Niall Long
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Thursday: Early drizzle then fine, 21.
Friday: Fine then late showers, 20.
Saturday: Occasional showers, 17
Sunday: Occasional Showers, 19
Monday: Fine, 18.
Game starts at 6pm AWST (11am local time, 10am GMT).
This is the first test match to take place after the World Cup and in what you could say is an entirely different scenario for both sides. Both teams have new coaches and new captains and will be looking to make fresh starts after coming out of different eras so to speak.
For the first time in a long time, West Indies will be without their master player, Brian Lara. Lara's retirement was a shock to most with many believing he'd play on in England for the English summer. But it wasn't to be and now West Indies cricket faces an interesting time as they try to rebuild without Lara being a part of the team.
England too face a new period after the departure of Duncan Flecther as coach of the side. New coach Peter Moores faces many challenges ahead, one of them being to try and rebuild this England line-up after their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the most recent Ashes series.
The pitch promises to be an absolute beauty with both teams wanting to bowl first to make use of the bowler-friendly conditions. Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard would be bursting at the seams to have first crack on such an inducive pitch.
England are also expected to rest Andrew Flintoff who has an ankle complaint. Both sides have some relatively new members to both teams. Owais Shah comes back from the wilderness to possibly play his first test in a long time. Shah made 88 in his last test but was dropped and hasn't played one since. Matt Prior also comes into the team to keep wicket with Prior being preferred over Chris Read and Geraint Jones.
West Indies also welcome back batsmen Runako Morton who comes into the side to replace noneother than Brian Lara. Morton is expected to bat at number 6.
Two new scenarios, two teams rebuilding. Expect to see a good game here. Both teams will be keen to get off to a good start and keep their critics at bay.
England (probable): 1 Andrew Strauss*, 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Owais Shah, 7 Matt Prior+, 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Steve Harmison, 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 James Anderson.
West Indies (probable):1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Devon Smith, 4 Ramnaresh Sarwan*, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Runako Morton, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Dinesh Ramdin+, 9 Daren Powell, 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Jerome Taylor.
Umpires: Asad Rauf and Rudi Koertzen
3rd Umpire: Niall Long
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Thursday: Early drizzle then fine, 21.
Friday: Fine then late showers, 20.
Saturday: Occasional showers, 17
Sunday: Occasional Showers, 19
Monday: Fine, 18.
Game starts at 6pm AWST (11am local time, 10am GMT).
