West Indies 431-5 v England 600-6 declared
Ramnaresh Sarwan reached the second double century of his Test career as West Indies saved the follow-on against England in the fourth Test in Barbados.
The Guyanese batsman went to 200 with a top-edge over the slips for four off pace bowler Jimmy Anderson
Ryan Sidebottom had an lbw appeal turned down when Sarwan was on 208 and England referred it to the TV umpire.
But replays suggested the ball pitched outside leg-stump and Sarwan survived to continue his innings.
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By Pranav Soneji
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606: DEBATE
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Ryan Sidebottom traps Sarwan on the pads around off stump, but umpire Aleem Dar looks about as interested as a toddler reading Tolstoy. However, Andrew Strauss motions the "T" and good morning to you Daryl Harper. However, his advice is made a darn sight more easier as the ball clearly pitches outside leg stump and soon after the replay umpire Dar walks back to his spot behind the stumps and play continues. I think the England players knew that was not out, which seems slightly pointless using it up in that fashion. Although, after the debacle of yesterday, anything is possible. Maiden over from Sidey.
1437: West Indies 431-5
James Anderson has a heart the size of an elephant's, he steams in, wobbling the ball in the most seam-unfriendly conditions ever in Test cricket.
"Did you know, that the longest word that can be written on the top row (see 1407) of a typewriter is in fact, typewriter, amazing eh??" Steve, Mirfield via the TMS inbox
1433: West Indies 431-5
Ryan Sidebottom is introduced into the mixer for a joust and sees his third delivery turned fine for four by the imperious Sarwan, who rocks on to his back foot to glean three with a pull shot to the deep midwicket boundary, where the agile James Anderson dives full-length to prevent the ball from crossing the ropes. James Anderson - best England fast-bowling fielder ever? I say yes.
"Couldn't you handle Oz-SA at the same time, Pranav? Certainly more interesting than this and the Saffers should by no means be discounted - they don't even know what "world record" means. Only 120 overs and 360 runs to go..."
Stephen Cook via the TMS inbox
Would love to Stephen, but my brain would officially explode from information overload attempting to explain the antics in Barbados and Johannesburg.
1428: West Indies 423-5
James Anderson manages to get the ball to wobble in the air, with one inswinging delivery striking Denesh Ramdin on leg stump, although a the lbw is somewhat subdued from bowler and fielders. Hawk-eye suggests the ball would have clipped leg. I bet third umpire Daryl Harper wants nothing more than to stick a copy of the Daily Telegraph over his head and head down to the beach to baste right now. Maiden over. Apologies for the broken 606 link, that has been rectified.
1424: West Indies 423-5
How the selectors would love to have selected two spinners now. Alas, Graeme Swann toils away with little help from a surface which Sarwan will probably want to roll up and sleep with for the rest of his life.
Apologies for the slow updates, a man is being flogged as we speak to rectify his mistake. That man is actually me...
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It's possibly his worst shot of his brilliant innings so far, but Ramnaresh Sarwan brings up a thoroughly deserved double ton with an thick outside edge which flies high over Andrew Strauss' head at first slip for four off James Anderson. His second Test double ton has come from 297 balls, featuring 21 fours and two sixes.
1417: West Indies 416-5
The most exciting thing that happened that over was Denesh Ramdin blindly colliding into Graeme Swann after prodding a quick single into the covers. Swanny looks as if someone has used his prized Panini Football '85 sticker as a coaster, but it all ends amicably. More singles sees the total propped up by three.
1414: West Indies 413-5
Sarwan moves into the 190s with yet another flashing cut down to the third man boundary for four off Anderson, which also brings up his 500th run in the series. How Andrew Strauss must have been muttering his namesake Flintoff under his breath yesterday. Got a flat pitch? Runs coming to easy? Then you need a spell from SuperFred? Errr, not if his hip is about as creaky as a rusty barn door.
1407: West Indies 408-5
Sarwan turns two more runs off his hip, although his running between the wickets is showing signs of suicidal tendencies. Still, nothing to alarm him or partner Ramdin from that particular Swanny over.
"I think we have to be realistic, in the context of the games current explicit and hidden power structures, about the relative impossibility of the referral system now being set aside in the short term.
"In the same way that the QWERTY typewriter/keyboard took hold, because of social and economic processes of path dependency related to early typewriter design and the consequent institutional weight of the US companies producing them and just as Betamax videos lost out to poorer designs because the US market had already 'chosen' its design, so is the referral system set to establish itself in cricket wholly in line with mid-range social scientific models of 'path dependency', whereby initial technological process, however faulty in (never neutral) scientific terms, becomes established through processes of institutional irreversibility, notwithstanding the ever-present potential for either exogenic or social movement-based shock factors bringing revolutionary change. Myself, I predict a riot, but not yet.
Paul in Lancs
1407: West Indies 405-5
Ramnaresh Sarwan pulls a short James Anderson ball down to fine leg, running off like Asafa Powell for two, but Ramdin ambles down like Peter Powell, serenely content for the single. A mix-up ensues, but both men make their ground with despairing dives despite Tim Ambrose's shy to the non-striker's end. The two runs bring up the 400, with the follow-on averted when the ball brushes Sarwan's thigh pad to trickle down fine for four leg-byes.
1402: West Indies 398-5
A very sedate start to the day as Denesh Ramdin turns six deliveries from Swann into the leg side, all to close fielders without any chance of adding to the overnight score. Interesting to note the "Aussie mafia" in place at the Kensington Oval - West Indies coach John Dyson, match referee Alan Hurst and third umpire Daryl Harper. Wonder if they've discussed their country's prospects of victory at the Wanderers?
1359: The teams are out and Graeme Swann will amble in for the first over of the day.
1355: It seems the referral system has caused all sorts of bother in the first Test between South Africa and Australia. There have been some absolutely sensational catches by the home side in the second innings as they dismissed the tourists for 207. And openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie are going great guns right now. Shades of Perth from last November? Surely not twice, non?
1351: My esteemed editor - who is my right-hand man today - has just plopped a double-page spread of the crocked Anderw Flintoff wearing what can only be described as the leftovers from the costume department from Brideshead Revisited. An enamel-white blazer and trouser combo over a crisp-white office shirt. As for the shoes...
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Will, Herts via Text 81111
"I referred my divorce petition to the county court and they upheld it, bless their souls. Admittedly Daryl Harper wasn't in attendance but still, it's a system you can trust."
Steve, Germany via the TMS inbox
1345: Poor old Ronnie Sarwan, smashes a quite brilliant 184 and finds his beautifully constructed classical opus overshadowed by a reverb-heavy racquet coming from the third umpire's room. But with the pitch as flat as a Belgian road, the Guyanese shotmaker has a brilliant opportunity to bat for a triple ton. Depends on who can hang about with him. Denesh Ramdin looked better than he has all series during his 35-ball 25.
1340: BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew has written an excellent piece about his thoughts on the referral system:
1335: Hello you, I'm thinking about introducing the referral system in my everyday life. Porridge or cereal? Up goes the "T" and Daryl Harper will advise me that oats will release energy slowly through the day, while Sugar Puffs will have me bouncing off the ceiling and leave me shivering in a sugar cold turkey minutes later. Naturally I would completely ignore the correct option, a bit like what happened yesterday at the Kensington Oval.
I'm still perplexed about this whole referral saga - as it seems are the players too. A bit like watching a David Lynch film, it seems to make less sense the more the plot is explained to you. Let me have your thoughts about the day's prospects, suggestions for everyday life referrals and why Kevin Pietersen should never wear his Elton John-style sunglasses ever again. Ping me via the TMS inbox, 606 or Text 81111
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