Where England Lions lead, the Test team must surely follow

I fear for the West Indies. With so little acclimatisation to English conditions, their main rehearsal for the First Test match resulted in a ten-wicket drubbing by the Lions at Northampton. If what is virtually the England reserves-cum-under-23 XI can inflict such a defeat on the tourists, what on earth will the world's number one side do at Lord's? With Darren Sammy one of the few players missing from the Test Eleven, it was an embarrassing defeat for the West Indians. No wonder Ottis Gibson has gone on record hoping that the game will go to a fifth day, and surely he didn't mean his own team would wrap it up inside four! Chanderpaul apart, none of the West Indian batsmen have compiled any sort of score coming into the Lions game. Barath, Edwards and Samuels are hopelessly out of form, so Sammy must at least be happy that Kieran Powell struck a useful 108 this week, and Darren Bravo passed 50 in each innings. The bowling's not looking much better, with a chunk of the attack still to arrive on these shores. Roach injured a hand, while Rampaul and Fidel Edwards bowled a mere ten overs on the final day, leaving Shillingford and Samuels to shoulder the burden while Michael Carberry and Joe Root filled their boots. So what about the Lions? While skipper James Taylor scored a century, it is Jonny Bairstow - who scored 50 - who has received the Test call-up as a replacement for the unlucky Ravi Bopara, withdrawn with a thigh injury acquired whilst playing for Essex. The Yorkshire 'keeper-batsman has looked good in the Championship, albeit in Division Two, whilst Taylor, now playing top tier cricket with Notts, had yet to notch a half-century other than against Loughborough students. Carberry did OK while Bell and Patel did themselves few favours whilst being unlikely to lose their places in a winning side. It was the Lions bowling which looked the most potent force. Surrey duo Stuart Meaker and Jade Dernbach generated useful pace, while Jack Brooks' 6-69 match stats demonstrated the progress he is making. At 27, he is a late starter but has now accumulated 115 first-class wickets in 31 games. Kent seamer Matt Coles, fresh from some strong county performances, also claimed six scalps for the Lions. At 21, he is probably down the list of Test bowlers-in-waiting but with more first-class experience with Kent and the Lions under his belt, he may yet make his mark, especially as he can bat a bit, too. As for the likes of Anderson, Broad, Bresnan et al, they must be licking their lips at the prospect of bowling to the West Indies, for whom only the rain can come to their rescue and even take the fixture to that fifth day.