West Indies v England: third Test, day three – as it happened

Ali Martin’s report has arrived, so I’ll leave you with that. It’s been quite a day. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!

In happier news, England will qualify for the World Cup semi-final if they beat Bangladesh in Wellington. You can follow that with James Wallace and Tanya Aldred.

The batting coach Marcus Trescothick’s verdict

“We’re gutted at how we’ve performed today. The boys are fairly honest – they know we’ve made some poor decisions. We all understand that it wasn’t good enough and that we need to be better. A lot of what we’ve done in the first two Test matches has been good, and the team has produced some great performances, so let’s not judge it just on today.”

A glassy-eyed Joe Root applauds Chris Woakes and Jack Leach as they return to the dressing-room. England are 10 runs ahead, and will probably lose by 10 wickets tomorrow. West Indies have been tougher, more skilful but most of all smarter. Two performances stand out: Joshua Da Silva’s memorable maiden Test century, and a quite remarkable spell of 13-7-9-5 from the medium-pacer Kyle Mayers.

53rd over: England 103-8 (Woakes 9, Leach 1) Kyle Mayers swerves a fine delivery past Leach’s inside edge. Leach lives to fight another day and so do England, just about, but at some stage tomorrow they will be thrashed by West Indies. Even by England’s recent standards, it’s been a shocker.

“Rob,” writes Rob, “have you or anyone else noticed one or two players on the England balcony (if that’s what it is) looking at what seems to be an I-Spy bird book?!”

I hadn’t, but I’m on it now. This could trump Kyle Mayers’ five-for as the day’s big news.

52nd over: England 103-8 (Woakes 9, Leach 1) Seales, on for Joseph, starts with a nasty bouncer that hits Leach in the grille. There’s a break in play while he is checked for concussion. Like Chris the sheep, he’s fine, and England inch ever close to taking this game into a fourth day. They lead by 10.

“It’s the end of Joe Root as we know him,” says Matt Deasey. “And I feel fine!”

51st over: England 102-8 (Woakes 9, Leach 0) Woakes and Leach, two proud, decent fellas who aren’t especially responsible for this mess, are digging in in an attempt to take this game to a fourth day.

Ian Bishop makes a good point on BT Sport – with all the understandable criticism of England’s batting, we haven’t given Kyle Mayers nearly enough credit for his accuracy and skill. Jimmy Anderson would be proud of his performance in this game.

The fact Jimmy Anderson may have delivered an equivalent performance had he been selected is neither here nor there.

50th over: England 102-8 (Woakes 9, Leach 0) On the plus side, plus sides are so passe.

“Evening Rob,” says Brad McMillan. “A rare night ‘out out’ for me yesterday (an ‘ultra 90s tribute’, since you ask) and, being in my 40s, I’ve wasted the entire day in hangover recovery and nursing back pain. The last time I checked the cricket score was around 5.30pm yesterday, when the West Indies were 90-something for 6. I’m now compos mentis for the first time since and, being in my 40s, feel somewhat nostalgic about the 90s-like manner in which England have managed to completely turn their situation around.”

Come on, you can’t tease us with “ultra 90s tribute” and not tell us which bands were involved.

Kyle Mayers has his first Test five-for! Overton plays a risible stroke, chasing a wide one and slicing it straight to Holder at fourth slip. He takes the catch at the second attempt, and Mayers has five for nine.

48th over: England 101-7 (Woakes 8, Overton 1) West Indies could still win this tonight, though time is getting tight. Joseph continues round the wicket, the change of angle that blew the innings open after a good partnership between Lees and Bairstow, and is flapped for a couple of singles by Woakes. England lead by SE7EN. Make that EI&HT, after a single from Overton off the final ball.

“Evening Rob,” says Neil Way. “The idea of a Barmy Army Swans-along caused an outburst of violent laughter that was only exacerbated by the Bernard Tancred scorecard. Is it possible that I should switch off the laptop and maybe take an interest in some other sport?”

A few readers have suggested whisky, though it’s not officially recognised as a sport by the IOC.

47th over: England 97-7 (Woakes 6, Overton 0) Lees battled hard and with a clear head, making 31 from 132 balls. There was nothing he could do about a ball that pitched on off and scuttled under his bat. As for Kyle Mayers, his selection for this game is beyond inspired: he has figures of 10-4-9-4 in this innings and 20-11-22-6 in the match.

Kyle Mayers does it again! Alex Lees is bowled by an unplayable grubber, and England are on the brink of a desperate defeat.

46th over: England 97-6 (Lees 31, Woakes 6) Stand atop the nearest desk, do a silly little jig, thank a higher power for your patriotic predilection: England are in the lead. A ball from Joseph to Woakes ran away for four leg byes, and the entire England balcony punched the air in triumph.

45th over: England 90-6 (Lees 30, Woakes 4) Mayers, who has match figures of five for 22 from 19 overs, beats Woakes with a little nibbler outside of off stump.

“Foakes is making a lot of us look quite foolish in this Test,” says Luke Regan. “Average keeping and nothing with the bat. He averages 16 in the West Indies across two tours. Can no talent prosper in this side? It’s a graveyard of potential, just like Old Trafford. There’s nobody I would sooner share a miserable collapse with, if it’s any consolation.”

Consolation’s a strong word.

44th over: England 88-6 (Lees 30, Woakes 2) Joseph continues to bowl short stuff from round the wicket. Woakes flicks one off the hip to get off the mark, then Lees pings a pull to deep midwicket for a couple and square-drives a single. He’s two runs away from the highest score of his fledgling Test career.

“Thank goodness for our lower-order batsmen,” says Kirstie Andrews. “This is surely the last Test in which Root captains England.”

I wouldn’t be that sure.

43rd over: England 83-6 (Lees 27, Woakes 0) Kyle Mayers, with three wickets and a run-out to his name, returns to the attack. Lees ignores a series of tempters outside off stump. Since you asked, Lees has already beaten the lowest score by an opener carrying his bat in a Test cricket. If only there was a transcript of Bernard Tancred’s internal monologue during this innings.

“The magnificence of the Swans!” says John Little of our musical interlude in the 39th over. “Michael Gira could be guaranteed to bring a certain, erm, ‘intensity’ to the captaincy but I fear for the players. And possibly the crowd.”

42nd over: England 83-6 (Lees 27, Woakes 0) It wasn’t quite Mind the Windows, but I suspect Joshua Da Silva’s sledging Bairstow out will go down in the folklore of West Indies v England, especially as it comes on the back of a series-winning maiden Test century.

In other news, Alex Lees could carry his bat here.

The red-ball regret continues. Ben Foakes turns for a dodgy second and is beaten by a fast throw from – yep – Kyle Mayers. Joshua Da Silva takes it beautifully and breaks the stumps with Foakes just short.

Make that 95/5 in favour of West Indies. Jonny Bairstow has under-edged a pull through to the keeper off Alzarri Joseph, who decided to bang a few in from round the wicket.

Bairstow was being sledged by Joshua Da Silva about his slow strike-rate, having done likewise to Da Silva yesterday, and it looks like he was suckered into that shot. Bairstow played well but that was a pretty miserable heave across the line.

41st over: England 80-4 (Lees 26, Bairstow 22) Blackwood continues to no great effect. There was a suggestion that Kyle Mayers had a problem with his hamstring; that would explain why he hasn’t returned to the attack.

“Hey Rob, how are you sir?” write Paul and Ben, sounding suspiciously like the moose (as voiced by Manuel) in Fawlty Towers. “What is CricViz – or even better, RobViz – saying about the chance of victory for England or the Windies? Watching here in NYC with Jonny Segura (an American and cricket noob) and trying to explain that even though we’re moments away from calamitous defeat…. we could also be building toward a glorious victory.”

BobViz reckons it’s about 85/15 in favour of West Indies. But oh my, what a glorious 15.

40th over: England 79-4 (Lees 26, Bairstow 22) Lees pulls Joseph for another single, then Bairstow drives into the covers for one. It’s slow progress – there have been only four boundaries since the second over – but England will take that over the fast regress they were threatening at 39 for four. This pair have more than doubled the score.

39th over: England 77-4 (Lees 25, Bairstow 21) The part-time offspinner Jermaine Blackwood comes into the attack, a surprising move from Kraigg Brathwaite. A pair of singles continue England’s mini-revival, and now it’s time for drinks.

“Having been out in Barbados for the 2nd Test with the Barmies,” says Stuart Veck, “I can confirm that I’m in the Mood for Dancing is a song for Saqib Mahmood:

‘Saqib Mahmood for bowling/
Controlling/
He’s bowling them out tonight’

Not entirely sure why it’s being sung at the moment though!”

We all know what the Barmy Army should be singing right now.

38th over: England 75-4 (Lees 24, Bairstow 20) England are inching towards parity, picking up singles without risk, and for the first time in this innings West Indies look slightly flat. I’m surprised we haven’t had another spell from Kyle Mayers, who wreaked havoc before tea. England trail by 18.

37th over: England 71-4 (Lees 23, Bairstow 18) “I’m intrigued by talk of a Sibley revival,” says Will Lane. “I thought the consensus was that he lacked one more scoring area – as he could score to midwicket-ish (if memory serves me correctly) but got too bogged down when the opposition cottoned on to the fact that he struggled to pick up runs elsewhere.

“Personally, I can forgive Crawley the odd successive failure for fluent 30s and 40s. Happy to see Sibley back in the long term if he can prove me wrong scoring wise, but from what I hear he also struggles with scoring areas on the county circuit?”

He scored more first-class hundreds than anyone in the world over a two-year period, though that was before he started to struggle in Test cricket. He certainly has the capacity to reel off hundreds in county cricket, though a lot will depend on how he starts next summer as he tends to blow quite hot and cold. And at the moment I don’t think there’s a vacancy – if he returns it will surely be in place of Lees, who has earned another chance, rather than Crawley.

36th over: England 70-4 (Lees 22, Bairstow 18) Joseph, on for Seales, is worked for three singles. This has been a determined, level-headed partnership – it’s only worth 31 runs, but we all have to start somewhere.

“Nix to whiskey,” says Robert Wilson. “Bottled Guinness is the only way to go during a Windies Test – simultaneously respecting all traditions. I’m chugging away, trying to time the football supporter cheers (there’s a match on) in my Parisian neighbourhood to what’s going (on or not) in the Test. It’s quite a good laugh. Round here, they’re loving every single candid of the umpires.

“This is a fantastic game. I would say quit your whining but I know it’s the only true pleasure England fans get, all nostalgia, sentiment and strange boyhood feelings about Phil Edmond’s sun tan. Here’s to you all. And hoping it ends in a heartbreaking Lees 99 and your longed-for frothing ecstasy of self-loathing and abnegation.”

Sounds like a promising opening partnerhip.

35th over: England 67-4 (Lees 20, Bairstow 17) Bairstow shapes to pull a short ball from Holder then thinks better of it. Another maiden, Holder’s fifth and West Indies’ 14th in this innings. One of the problems for England is that, while survival is looking a bit easier, run-scoring becomes much harder as the ball gets softer. So if they are to set West Indies anything resembling a tricky target, they’ll need to bat for a very long time. With that, good luck.

34th over: England 67-4 (Lees 20, Bairstow 17) Seales moves over the wicket to Lees, who fiddles a boundary to third man. That was a good bit of bowling, though Lees softened his hands sufficiently to ensure the ball bounced short of the slips.

“What’s the story behind the fans singing ‘I’m in the mood for dancing’?” says Andrew Goudie. “I’m all for a Nolans revival, by the way.”

I haven’t a clue I’m afraid, but I’m happy you’ve confirmed your stance on a potential revival.

33rd over: England 63-4 (Lees 16, Bairstow 17) Bairstow is beaten by a good one from Holder that holds its line and keeps slightly low. He offers no stroke to the next ball, which jags back to hit him high on the back leg. That’s a dangerous leave on a pitch offering uneven bounce, but he gets away with it.

“Were we all too quick to write off Dom Sibley?” says Mike Jakeman. “Agree he needed a break after the India series, but I thought he might be out for a match or two, not disappear from the conversation entirely. He was never lacking the application, even if he did have a tendency to get bogged down a bit.”

I like Sibley, who was a counter-intuitive matchwinner in his first spell as a Test player, but I do worry about the damage that has been done by the disproportionate criticism as much as the low scores that led to him being dropped. I’m sure he’ll play Test cricket again though.

32nd over: England 63-4 (Lees 16, Bairstow 17) A rare loose stroke from Bairstow, who tries to cut Seales and is beaten. He takes a single off the last ball to keep the strike.

31st over: England 62-4 (Lees 16, Bairstow 16) Jason Holder replaces Alzarri Joseph (4-1-11-0). His second ball keeps low and bounces through Da Silva for a bye. Lees, squinting into the sun, defends the rest of the over. England trail by 31.

“Didn’t Chris Cowdrey get picked as England captain for one match, simply because selector Ted Dexter thought he would cheer everyone up?” says Peter Metcalfe. “How about Peter Kay for the next Test?”

Couldn’t we have Steve Smith instead?

30th over: England 61-4 (Lees 16, Bairstow 16) I’ve just realised that the wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, who went off before tea with a hand injury, is back on the field. You’re welcome.

Seales jags a good delivery back into Bairstow, who drags it into the leg side for a single. Both batters are 16 not out: Lees from 89 balls, Bairstow from 44. We’ve still no idea whether Lees will make it as a Test opener but his temperament looks pretty sound.

29th over: England 60-4 (Lees 16, Bairstow 15) Lees takes a quick single into the off side, and Bairstow does likewise off the next delivery. Batting is starting to get a bit easier, as it did in the first two innings.

“Has everyone forgotten that last year Stokes took a break partly for mental health reasons, plus he is already a player who personally takes on the responsibility of the whole team?” says Neil Parkes. “Let him be the vice, sure, and front up occasionally, but don’t give him the whole shebang. If he’s got any sense, he won’t want it anyway, but if he’s offered it he’d probably feel bound to take it. Don’t! Give it to Broad, or Burns, or Bairstow, or bring back Malan and give it to him. Not Stokes!”

I think you’re right. This is part of the problem, that there’s nothing even resembling an ideal solution.

28th over: England 59-4 (Lees 15, Bairstow 14) Seales replaces Roach and starts with a quiet over, two from it. England trail by 35. They’re still in this game, though it doesn’t feel like it.

“It’s hard to know where to start with the England Test team, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Although whisky is normally a good bet. Currently watching the 1989 Ashes highlights just to cheer myself up.”

Australia were sponsored by XXXX in that series. England were sponsored, at least unofficially, by Bruichladdich’s X4, a light 92% ABV whisky.

27th over: England 56-4 (Lees 14, Bairstow 13) Bairstow times Joseph through backward point for another boundary. He’s in brusque mood, and there are few finer sights in international sport.

“I’m on the whisky too!” says Matt Dunnill. “I used to sit on my grandad’s knee watching England and he’d be sat there miss afternoon with a stiff one EVERY TIME. I never really understood why he was such an angry man at times, and so placid at others. I get it now Syd. Cheers! This one’s for you!”

When you say this one.

26th over: England 51-4 (Lees 14, Bairstow 8) Roach beats Lees with a fabulous delivery that pitches just outside off stump and straightens sharply. Yet another maiden. Lees (14 from 76 balls) is going nowhere, which is both a good and bad thing for England.

25th over: England 51-4 (Lees 14, Bairstow 8) Bairstow slaps a short ball from Joseph through point for four, a terrific shot that takes England past 50. He only has eight from 33 balls but he has played well and looks in the mood for another up-yours hundred.

“For all this talk of potential candidates being Brearley with a bat, how about Brearley with a pen?” says Aeddan Shaw. “I’d like to second your noble proposal to resolve England’s captaincy woes by taking on the mantle. I’m not sure what your averages are like at present, but can’t be much worse than some of the current squad and we could at least be guaranteed an eloquent press conference and write-up afterwards. Cometh the hour, cometh the Smyth.”

So who did you have in mind for the press conferences? This is the thing – we all criticise Root, and that’s fair enough given how bad England are, but I know I couldn’t handle 0.00001 per cent of the pressure he has been under in the past year. We shouldn’t forget how hard it is.

24th over: England 47-4 (Lees 14, Bairstow 4) I feel slightly ridiculous typing this given the match situation, but Bairstow has actually started pretty well. He’s moving nicely and middling his (mostly defensive) strokes.

“After some people were guilty of seeing the last two Tests in terms of some batting revival, and the praying for a result pitch here, isn’t this the perfect illustration of ‘be careful what you wish for’?” says Paul Cockburn.

All hail the red-ball regret.

23rd over: England 45-4 (Lees 13, Bairstow 3) Alzarri Joseph replaces Kyle Mayers at the wicket buffet. Bairstow nails a pull but can’t beat midwicket; it’s another maiden, the tenth of the innings.

22nd over: England 45-4 (Lees 13, Bairstow 3) There are still 38 overs to bowl today, time permitting, so this could be all over tonight. Kemar Roach continues after the tea break, producing a terrific delivery to beat Alex Lees. Two from the over.

“ I’m on the whisky, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “The England cricket team will do this to you. It should be in the Laws of Cricket.
Law 43. When England are batting, a large glass of whisky shall be on hand at all times. Law 44. When England are bowling, Law 43 applies.

Kyle Mayers is 81st in the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings, just below Dushmantha Chameera, Victor Nyauchi and Yamin Ahmadzi. He’s taken three for seven from seven overs against England in a series decider.

“Is Darren Stevens watching Mayers bowl in this match and wondering why so many people are complaining about his domination of the County Championship?” wonders KP.

Never mind that, how much captaincy experience does Darren Stevens have? How about coaching experience? Managing director?

21st over: England 43-4 (Lees 11, Bairstow 3) That’s tea. If you’re just joining us, England are fifty runs behind. They’re also fifty shades of shambles.

20th over: England 41-4 (Lees 11, Bairstow 1) Kemar Roach returns in place of Jason Holder. Lees reaches for a wide yorker and inside-edges the ball just wide of leg stump. Bairstow drives a single to get off the mark and to take England within 52 runs of avoiding an innings defeat.

19th over: England 39-4 (Lees 10, Bairstow 0) A maiden from Mayers to Bairstow, who remains scoreless and thus still on a pair.

“This business of it being a massive thing to change your captain us a barrier to progress, and we are all a bit guilty of adding fuel to the fire with our speculation,” says Mike Waters. “ But why not choose a team, then decide who is most likely to get the best from the other 10 in that game. Play cricket. Repeat.

“If England pick a team that most of us expect for the next Test in England, there will be at least three serious options to call the toss. Mr Root himself, Stokes, Broad, plus maybe Burns. I expect Anderson, Crawley and Woakes could also do a reasonable job if selected, both seem sensible lads. Very few would you shake your head about and say, ‘No way’.”

18th over: England 39-4 (Lees 10, Bairstow 0) Lees gets away with a risky leave off Holder, with the ball just – and I mean just – missing the off stump. After another maiden over, Lees has 10 from 58 balls.

“I’m all for a change, Joe Root is pretty clueless as seen so often during his reign,” says Martin in Preston. “But not Broad, please no. England would burn their reviews in his first over. One of the Oakses more likely candidates: Stokes is experienced and a life force; Woakes has been around plenty too and could win through sheer niceness; and Foakes comes across as level-headed and thoughtful.”

The problem with Woakes and Foakes is that they are both still fighting for their place in the team. Mind you, that applies to pretty much everyone apart from Root and Stokes. It’s quite a mess.

17th over: England 39-4 (Lees 10, Bairstow 0) Kyle Mayers, who essentially bowls like Darren Stevens, has figures of 5-1-5-3.

This is unbelievable. The ball after Lees was dropped by Bonner in the slips, Stokes tried to leave a short ball from Mayers and got the slightest touch through to the stand-in wicketkeeper Brooks. He set off on a lap of honour, Stokes smiled in disbelief, and England are facing humiliation.

West Indies need to change their wicketkeeper. Joshua Da Silva, who was hit on the right hand during his series-winning hundred, is struggling and has left the field. Shamarh Brooks is going to take over.

16th over: England 38-3 (Lees 9, Stokes 4) There is a way back for England in this game, but realistically they need to be batting at this stage tomorrow to have any chance. Lees, who looks pretty calm despite the unfolding fiasco at the other end, push-drives Holder for a couple.

15th over: England 34-3 (Lees 6, Stokes 3) Apologies, we’re having a few technical problems, and you can add your own punchline. Lees offers no stroke to a nipbacker from Mayers that almost hits the off stump.

The good news is that England haven’t lost a wicket since the 11th over. The bad news is everything else.

13th over: England 32-3 (Lees 6, Stokes 1) Stokes turns Mayers round the corner for a single to get off the mark.

“Evening, Smyth,” says Sean Clayton. “Never mind being at 6s and 7s; at this rate, England will be at 10s and 11s in an hour. Jack, Saq and not much craic.”

Wasn’t that a straight-to-video Seann William Scott movie?

12th over: England 31-3 (Lees 6, Stokes 0) Jason Holder replaces Jayden Seales, and Lees continues to defend diligently in the hope someone at the other end will hang around for more than ten minutes. A maiden.

“My thanks to John Starbuck for illuminating the origins of Emily Brontë’s multiple narrators,” says Tim Sanders. “It explains why Lockwood conveniently took to his bed with a tight hamstring, and could only relay third hand to the reader Nelly’s report of Heathcliff’s description of his desperate and grisly scrabbling at Cathy’s grave. Almost as desperate and grisly as a captain running out of ideas to break a tenth-wicket partnership.”

11th over: England 31-3 (Lees 6, Stokes 0) A wide delivery from Mayers beats Da Silva and flies away to the boundary. Byes is standing alone on the burning deck – 12 not out, the only thing to reach double figures.

Another eventful over concludes with a big LBW shout against Stokes that is turned down. It was too high.

“Hi Rob,” says Geoff Hart. “A few months ago your colleague, Tim de Lisle, argued for Stuart Broad as captain and it makes a lot of sense. He has an excellent cricket brain and is super competitive. Watching him play for Notts he is always coming up with suggestions. His teammates all say he is very motivating on the field. Ben Stokes can stay as vice-captain until he is ready to take over.”

I agree, and having Stokes as vice-captain would mean it’s fine for Broad to miss the occasional Test to manage his workload.

Dan Lawrence has gone for a duck! He padded up to a very good delivery form Mayers that veered back off the same to hit the top of off stump. That’s Lawrence’s fifth duck in 11 Tests. There’s a lot to like about him but I’m not sure he’s a Test No4. England are at sixes and sevens, partly because almost all of their batters are sixes and sevens.