England in the Caribbean – 4th February 2019
February 4, 2019
neil manthorp
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England’s cricketers had plenty of soul-searching to do on Sunday and the men from the Caribbean had just as much celebrating to do. For the very many of us with neither on the agenda, aside from the natural and pervasive delight we all shared for the West Indies, it was an opportunity to do something […]
England in the Caribbean – 3rd February 2019
February 3, 2019
neil manthorp
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Only the most stone-hearted of England fans could fail to feel the ‘love’ generated by Jason Holder and his team’s crushing victory over England in Antigua. And, in truth, there were no stone-hearts visible. Anger at England’s miserable, embarrassing performance was certainly present but England supporters who travel this far to support their team are […]
England in the Caribbean – 2nd February 2019
February 2, 2019
neil manthorp
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The England cricket team’s worst nightmares are just a fraction of Test match time away from materialising. A deficit of 85 runs on a deteriorating Antigua pitch, with no form to speak of amongst their top order, and more runs to come – the prospect of going to St.Lucia for a ‘dead’ Test looms large. […]
England in the Caribbean – 1st February 2019
February 1, 2019
neil manthorp
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The situation looks extremely bleak for England after the first day but I foresee a change on day two. The pitch will be far livelier after a night under covers and, if Stuart Broad bowls half as well as he did towards the close of play of day one, West Indies wickets will fall – […]
England in the Caribbean – 31st January 2019
January 31, 2019
neil manthorp
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Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour has become something of an iconic stop for English tourists to the region and they were there in great numbers the day before the Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Falmouth Harbour completes the slightly strange ‘Englishness’ of the place – strange because of every part […]
England in the Caribbean – 30th January 2019
January 30, 2019
neil manthorp
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One of my lifetime ambitions is to go a cruise. One of those with multiple restaurants and a large gym to make space for the next meal. One on which there is always a bar or a coffee shop open, any time of the day. Hopefully it will happen one day, but at least I […]
England in the Caribbean – 28th January 2019
January 28, 2019
neil manthorp
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Many people who don’t have lots of money tend to assume that ostentatious mansions built in places like Barbados must, somehow, involve ‘dodgy’ cash. It’s obviously a grossly unfair assumption, Just because a building might be incongruously large and lack a certain decorum, it doesn’t necessarily mean the owners have paid for it illicitly. A […]
England in the Caribbean – 27th January 2019
January 27, 2019
neil manthorp
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It was a hiding of serious proportions. England didn’t just lose the first Test match by 381 runs, they were outplayed both on and off the field in every conceivable department. They were embarrassed both on and off the field and have a great deal of regrouping to do. The omission of Stuart Broad has […]
England in the Caribbean – 26th January 2019
January 26, 2019
neil manthorp
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Jason Holder has enjoyed a few ups in his four years as captain of the West Indies but endured a great deal more downs. The leadership was thrust upon him as a 23-year-old and it came with at least three years of relentless back-biting and sniping. He wasn’t even worth his place in the team, […]
England in the Caribbean – 25th January 2019
January 25, 2019
neil manthorp
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There has to be something wrong with either the pitch or the batting on an 18-wicket day of Test cricket, you would think. Surely? England were were bowled out for 77 and the West Indies stumbled to 127-6 by the close. “It’s still a very good pitch,” admitted Moeen Ali after the day’s play. “Batsmen […]