#engvwi

[switch-hit]

Stuart Broad’s all-round performance helps England win the series against West Indies by 2-1.

[arymaest]

Look how happy Joe is about Jos remembering how to bat. I understand, Joe. Same here.

[grapejuicelnt]

if Root was there England would've gotten at least 350 in my unbiased opinion

[fruitloopy-blog]

First Test Match

So today I attended my first ever game of cricket.

I'm a north London lass so I headed to Lords, booked the tickets with no real idea of what the view would be like... it was pretty darn great.

But better than the cricket (all those wickets?!?! 😁☹️) was that we were sat on the side where England warmed up!

I was beside myself! I hadn't started drinking at that stage so I behaved like an adult. I only commented on Cookie doing his squats once.

I'm sure seasoned cricket attendees such as yourselves will have many photos etc but I had to share the ones I took with people who would understand my excitement!! Hope you don't mind.

I have a a couple of video's but I can't work out how to post. I'm officially old... sorry.

Some stray observations I noted while watching the game...

- The slips were having race every over change (Cookie won most of them, at one point he was the only one running)

- Jonny B likes to mark his spot on the balcony early, no matter what the weather or what break it is.

- Jimmy spent most of his time in the slips talking to Tom Westley. I can only assume they were discussing 42nd Street (I hope they invited Finny!). In fact there was a point where several times Cookie did that thing where he polishes the ball on the back of his leg, walking out of his position at slip to stand and polish the ball (everything in cricket sounds like a euphemism) in front of Jimmy - I can only assume to try and attract his attention away from Young Tom.

- Joe Root gave Jimmy one of those shoulder massages, as they were walking off after Stokes got the final wicket, I can only assume that's how he deals with grumpy fast bowlers. Shoulder rubs.

- whoever was sat on the balcony when England lost their first wicket immediately moved. This was a pattern... at first I just thought it was the next batsman getting ready but in the end it was like a game of musical chairs you could see them inside just moving about trying to find the 'lucky' chair!

- it took me ages to work out that Jimmy Anderson and Alistair Cook were sat on the balcony next to each other, when Stuart Broad wanted to join them, (which he eventually did) Jimmy refused to move his legs from the railings... when Jimmy finally let him pass (I like to assume there was a password), Stuart broad sat right in between them. Oh stuart. TBH Jimmy might have been Chris Woakes but I'm 90% sure it was Jimmy.

[switch-hit]

Stuart Broad joins the elite club of bowlers with 500 test scalps.

[switch-hit]

What a win from what looked like a draw until 3rd session of day 4.

England beat West Indies in the 2nd test by 113 runs.

[arymaest]

Did Chris Woakes have that little grey streak before?

[arymaest]

I didn't enjoy that batting collapse, but just think: soon we get James Anderson bowling from the James Anderson end. Finally.