Richard Mann looks ahead to the start of the third and final Test between England and the West Indies.
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2pts Ollie Pope first innings fifty at 2/1
Joe Root and Chris Silverwood certainly got the reaction they were looking for in the second Test, England defying the weather to outmuscle a West Indies side still with its frailties if probed for long enough.
With honours now even ahead of the series finale on Friday, the scene is set perfectly for a dramatic final act.
Or maybe not.
Expect England to prove too strong from here on in, especially with news that James Anderson will return to lead the home bowling attack in his own back garden having been rested for the second Test.
The prospect of Anderson and Broad renewing their record-breaking opening bowling partnership will leave West Indies captain Jason Holder with plenty to ponder and I’m not sure his side will compete this week unless they can win the toss, bat first and bat long.
After back-to-back Tests, his bowlers are understandably looking weary and England really ought to seize their moment over the next five days.
For the hosts, Ben Stokes once again stole the show last week and he continues to go from strength to strength.
He will be champing at the bit to do well again but I’m sticking with Ollie Pope to finally impact on a series that has so far passed him by.
It’s not that Pope has looked out of touch, far from it, and having received a couple of good deliveries in the series opener before chipping in with a second-innings cameo on Monday, he looks primed for a big score.
Take the 2/1 for him to make a first-innings fifty with a smaller stake to be England’s top first-innings runscorer at 13/2.
For the tourists, Roston Chase did us a favour last week but England have unearthed a weakness in his game by targeting his pads with the in-swinger and I’ll happily duck him this time.
Instead, the impressive Shamarh Brooks looked a very good in the second Test, demonstrating the wealth of experience he has built in domestic cricket, and he should continue to do well.
3/1 for Brooks to make a first-inning fifty will do for me.
Posted at 1200 BST on 23/07/20
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