Sixth over, England's second innings

When the Guardian introduced it's over by over coverage of test cricket a couple of years ago it was a great innovation, their sports desk providing an irreverent running commmentary on the match for deskbound office workers.

Everyone does it now and it's all got a bit formulaic - journalist jokes about his hangover, bores from the City email with which pub they're off to, someone emails to say they used to play in the same team as one of the cricketers and they were crap...

I thought I'd put together a round-up of all the different ways to follow a cricket match online but I realised that with the crappy urls they all use the links would be out of date in 24 hours.

So here's one over, the sixth of England's second innings against the West Indies this morning, from several different perspectives.

BBC Online

1301: A bit of Gayle before lunch - I reckon there's plenty of ladies out there who'd like some of that. Plenty of turn for Gayle a and his final ball turns past Cook's outside edge -but England are in tact at lunch. Don't go flicking... 8-0

Daily Telegraph

Over 6. Bowler: Chris Gayle. England: 8/0(rr 1.33)
Runs 0.

* 5.6 Gayle to Cook. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot, left for no runs. Like Panesar in the previous innings, Gayle is getting some turn.

* 5.5 Gayle to Cook. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot, left to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Ramdin.

* 5.4 Gayle to Cook. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot, left for no runs.

* 5.3 Gayle to Cook. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot, left for no runs.

* 5.2 Gayle to Cook. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot, left to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Ramdin.

* 5.1 Gayle to Cook. Off break back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot defending, to short extra cover for no runs.

Times Online

England 8-0 (Strauss 6, Cook 1) Overs: 6

Chris Gayle bowls the last over before lunch, and serves up a maiden. England go in with a lead of 124, but they'll be wanting to crack on this afternoon. I suspect Ramnaresh Sarwan's men will be very content with their display so far today. Join me shortly to see how they fare.

The Guardian

6th over: England 8-0 (Strauss 6 Cook 1) Sarwan throws the ball to Crystal Gayle for an over before lunch. "To be fair to the BLF," begins Andy Bradshaw, "their rule changes are nowhere near as silly as the ICC's "Supersub" brainfart they had in 2005." And that gag has neatly filled in the six balls that take us up to lunch. There was nary a run scored off them. Right, I'm scurrying down the ladder and back to the turf beneath to scout out a chip shop that'll provide me with enough saveloys to keep me steaming through the afternoon. In St John's Wood? I'll be lucky eh? See you shortly.

Cricinfo

And that's lunch
5.6 Gayle to Cook, no run, excellent ball to finish the session, spinning away sharply from Cook who survives
5.5 Gayle to Cook, no run, Cook takes a step down the pitch before padding it away
5.4 Gayle to Cook, no run, tighter line, very well bowled in fact and Cook ignores it
5.3 Gayle to Cook, no run, ooh big turn from Gayle here, but too wide of the off stump
More "oohs" from Ramdin
5.2 Gayle to Cook, no run, left alone outside off this time
Ramdin makes a noise
5.1 Gayle to Cook, no run, just on off stump and he comes forward to defend
Around the wicket

Right, not long til lunch. I am absolutely starving, too. Chris Gayle removes his cap and he's on for the last over of the session

Labels: cricket, internet, website

  ¶ Permanent link

---