MCC 'scouting report' on West Indies

Date released: 28 January 2009

England started their Caribbean tour with a win - and could have picked up some scouting tips from MCC following the Club's tour there last year.

The West Indies come to Lord's 6-10 May this year. Hospitality places, to watch the Test Match in luxury are available now - book your places now.

MCC sent a strong team to the Caribbean for a two-week tour in March 2008.

It was a tough trip for the tourists, winning just one match from seven; as they faced a number of the players who troubled England.

MCC tour captain, Rob Turner Tours sub-committee chairman and former Somerset and England ‘A’ wicket-keeper Rob Turner, who was captain on the tour said: "Condville Rogers was a very aggressive batsman."

Rogers scored 125 in a 71-run win for St Kitts against the MCC in a 50-over match last year. This week top-scored for the St Kitts Invitational XI against England with 63 from 82 balls.

"He completely took us apart." Turner confessed. "All the West Indians hit right through the ball but he was something else.

"He loved the slog-sweep - he even dropped to one knee to clobber some of our medium-pacers."

Susceptible to spin

Spinner Monty Panesar took seven wickets to help England to victory, something Turner predicted: "Their batsmen were very attacking but they couldn't defend spin. They only had one tactic against the spinners: try and hit them out of the park.

Match-winner: Monty Panesar took seven wickets for England "That was one area I'd say they were lacking, tactically. They wouldn't nick ones and twos, they wanted to hit everything to the boundary."

Turner is convinced the England players will be enjoying the facilities and atmosphere in the West Indies:

"After the building they did for the World Cup there are some fantastic venues and the wickets were top-rate.

"There was something there for batsmen and bowlers; a little bit of bounce if you bowled in the right areas but not a great deal of seam or swing.

Some of the picturesque views in the Caribbean "The St Kitts players were a great bunch of guys and the groundsmen were great value too. They were so relaxed!

"A couple of times the pitch wouldn't even be marked out with only minutes to go to the start - but everything always got done and we were made to feel very welcome."

The West Indies come to Lord's 6-10 May this year. Hospitality places, to watch the Test Match in luxury are available now - book your places now.