At some point before lunch on Day 4, West Indies will almost inevitably complete a humbling defeat of England in the third Test match, at the National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s, Grenada. With that, they will also clinch the series.
The inquests among England cricket fans has already begun after what was another humiliating day in the Caribbean. When the West Indies resumed their second innings on 232/8, England would have hoped to take the last two wickets quickly and build a decent score in the second innings.
Neither happened. Instead, they allowed the West Indian tail to add 65 more runs and Joshua da Silva to reach his first Test century.
Then their top order collapsed again. Kyle Mayers, primarily a batter who was not even picked for the first two Test matches, was the destroyer in chief. England were their own worst enemy. Only Alex Lees, who doggedly held out amidst the carnage around him, was the only man to be unlucky when a ball kept low on him.
All the other batters contributed to their own demise in some way.
After the thrashing in the Ashes, this tour was meant to be a red-ball reset for England. It laid bare their frailties instead. The decision to leave James Anderson and Stuart Broad at home now looks not bold but foolish in the extreme.
Fantasy Tips
• Back the England fast bowlers. They may get a few runs as well as take a wicket or two.
• Pick Kemar Roach. He may get both wickets.