England vs West Indies 1st Test: Review

The wait was finally over for all cricket fans as international cricket resumed after a break of three months after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the gentlemen’s game to a standstill in March.

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As everyone was gearing up to watch live action the rain played spoilsport as it often does in England. The day was full of conditions that were not what the doctor ordered for cricket lovers out there. 17.1 overs. That's about as much action the first day's play witnessed when cricket returned from a 117-day break. England managed 35/1, losing Dom Sibley for a duck. 

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On Day 2, West Indies bowlers came in with intent, especially Jason Holder and Shanon Gabriel. Both of them bowled great lines to catch the English batsmen off-guard. With all ten wickets shared between them, England could manage only 204 in their first innings. Captain Jason Holder picked up career-best 6/42 to demolish the England batting line-up. With skies still grey, the hosts were in with a chance. As you mostly are when James Anderson runs in with the new Dukes in hand. But England did not quite have the luck going their way early on. Two LBW decisions off Anderson were overturned by DRS. John Campbell benefiting on both those occasions finally perished to James Anderson. Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope saw-off the remaining of the day and kept West Indies in the driver's seat by Stumps on 57/1, trailing by just 147 runs.

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Day 3 began with West Indies fighting to get to a good total and take a formidable lead over the hosts. Kraigg Brathwaite (65 runs) paved their early on. But the visitors were forced on to the backfoot with quick wickets in the afternoon session. Roston Chase (47 runs) and Dowrich (61 runs) took the matter in their hands and stitched an important 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket to bail the visitors out of trouble. It is due to the contribution of these three that the West Indies were able to post 318 runs and take a crucial 114-run lead in the first innings. In reply, English openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley played cautiously, finishing the day's play unscathed, with their side trailing by 99 runs at stumps.

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In the penultimate day, England openers batted sensibly throughout the morning session to keep West Indian bowlers at bay. They added 72 runs for the opening wicket before Rory Burns (42 runs) gifted his wicket away a couple of overs before lunch. After that, Joe Denly and Zak Crawley combined a small partnership but Denly, like Burns, gifted his wicket and got out for 29 runs. Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph led the West Indies comeback with a late flurry of wickets, beginning with Jason Holder removing his counterpart Ben Stokes once again in the match who fell four short of his fifty. England ended Day 4 at 284 for 8, leading by 170 runs.

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The final day began with West Indies wrapping up England innings quickly to get a target of 200 runs with more than two and a half session in hand. While Chasing, the visitors were in all sorts of trouble with John Campbell getting retired hurt off Jofra Archers searing yorker. Soon after, England took three quick wickets which left the West Indies reeling at 27 for 3. Jermain Blackwood and Roston Chase did the damage control to get them to the half-way mark before Archer struck again to get rid of Chase for 37. Blackwood then put on a 68-run partnership with Shane Dowrich. There was some drama late in the day when Stokes got Dowrich caught off a no-ball with him eventually getting caught behind the very next ball giving the hosts the slightest of a chance to pull off a miracle. Blackwood continued his fight but fell five short of a terrific ton. But his departure had no impact on the result as the game was well and truly in West Indies' pockets. John Campbell came back from his injury and took them over the line to secure a four-wicket win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

This win is historic because it is just the second time the West Indies have won a Test in England since 2000. Ben Stokes, captaining England for the first time, hasn't had the most auspicious start and will have to make do with a loss.