FFS

[ItsMrAlex2u]

I knew England had batted too long. 450 lead was more than enough.

Test match win thrown away IMO. Strauss needs to learn good captaincy quickly for the ashes series

[jizzemm]

I knew England had batted too long. 450 lead was more than enough.

Test match win thrown away IMO. Strauss needs to learn good captaincy quickly for the ashes series

I agree, i think if Flintoff and Harmy were fully fit, then I think they may have declared earlier.. Learning curve!!

[WarBwastard]

Why put a night watch man in too when they had a lead of about 285 and needed to build a total?  Really odd decisions by Strauss. Far too cautious.  We'd have won had Pietersen been captain 

[Josedinho]

We batted an innings too long. Follow on FTW.
If we needed runs we can bat on in bad light!

[The Camel]

It's easy with hindsight.

Flintoff and Harmison wouldn't have been able to bowl if the follow on was enforced and the wicket was expected to get considerably worse on the final day.

They would have bitten your hand off if you offered them 10 overs to take the final wkt.

Give the Windies some credit, they batted really well in the fourth innings.

[jizzemm]

We batted an innings too long. Follow on FTW.
If we needed runs we can bat on in bad light!

Follow on not an issue i dont think.. 450 would have well been enough.. Beefy on now saying basically the same thing

[Josedinho]

Nothing to do with hindsight. I said it as soon as we went back into bat.
I also knew we'd batted too long, too slowly while we were batting. Jimmy going in as night watchman?? give me a break.
We had 10 overs remaining on day 3 i believe. No need for Harmison or Flintoff to bowl that day. Harmison and Flintoff both bowled the following day anyway so although their workload may have been lighter i'm sure they would have been able to bowl. Harmison especially. Flintoff maybe only in short spells.

As you say, fair play to the Windies they batted well.