England will resume their second innings on 217/1, with a lead of 153 runs on the final day of the first Test match, in Antigua on Saturday. Zak Crawley is past his hundred and Joe Root is on 84, and the pair so far shared an unbeaten stand of 193.
Play finished early on Friday because of rain, which was a relief to the paying spectators and any television viewers still watching. The likelihood of a positive result for either side seems to have long gone, killed off by the slowness of the pitch, which has offered little help to the bowlers of either side after the first morning.
In fact, all the excitement on Friday was contained in the first hour, when the last West Indies wicket fell, as they were bowled out for 375, and then England lost opener Alex Lees.
Since then, the English pair have effectively batted the life out of the game and there has been barely a chance offered to keep the umpires awake!
There will inevitably be question marks raised about the fitness of Antigua to hold Test matches in future, if the ground staff continue to produce pitches of this quality. However, after the nightmare Ashes tour, the English batters have at least been able to regain some confidence.
The only way that a result seems possible is if Root makes an early declaration. However, with doubts over the fitness of Mark Wood, that seems extremely unlikely. It will also probably be foolhardy on his part, risking another damaging defeat.
Instead, England will continue batting into the afternoon session and then declare, in the faint hope of taking early West Indies wickets. However, the likelihood of taking all ten, even if the match continued into Sunday, seems improbable.
Fantasy tips
- England are likely to bat until tea. Pack your side with English batters.
- Of the West Indies bowlers, back the spinners, who are expected to bowl more than the pacers.