England v West Indies Second Test, Day Four Report Card

Featuring magic balls, lying statisticians and Jacksons off the short run

Magic Balls
Grade: B

Heading into the fourth day, England were just about, but not quite, out of reach. What followed was a tantalising ‘come hither’ dance by Ben Stokes’ men that kept the West Indies interested, but frustrated.

Joe Root and Harry Brook continued from where they left off the previous evening, as the Laws of Cricket require. You are not permitted to continue from anywhere else, not even if you’re one of these mad Bazballers. Whatever score you’re on when stumps are called, you’re still on that same score when play resumes. Realistically, it’s the only fair way to go about it. Choosing some other score would mess up scorecards and open up the game to the possibility of corruption. They’re not going to change it no matter how much you whinge and moan. So let’s stop banging on about it, shall we?

Brook and Root toyed with the bowlers, sharing in a 189-run partnership on their way to a century apiece. Pretty good batting, I guess, but on the other hand, how many roof tiles did they break? 

As the pair picked off wayward deliveries, though, commentators urged the West Indies bowlers not to go looking for a ‘magic ball’.

Not to be a contrarian, but perhaps a magic ball was exactly what they should have been looking for. It couldn’t hurt, surely. 

BAD AI IMAGE OF: A cricketer turned into a frog

Unless it was like a magic ball that turned you into a frog or something. Pros and cons to weigh up, for sure, but still worth taking the risk, I reckon.