Will Joe Root's Men Make a Comeback or will West Indies Create History ?

Before the tour began, nobody expected the West Indies to do well. But with a comprehensive win over the hosts in the first Test, they proved everyone wrong. 

They took advantage of the cloudy overhead conditions in the first two days to good effect. The visitors bundled out England for a mere total of 204 in their first innings. With the bat, they showcased tenacity and persistence during a tense chase on Day 5. 

In Southampton, England batsmen failed to convert their starts. The only significant batting effort for them came from Zak Crawley (76 off 127) in the second innings. This innings helped him earn a place in the team for the second Test. Denly, who had scores of 18 and 29 in the first Test, faced the axe for throwing away his wicket in Southampton. He makes way for Joe Root in the team. The skipper brings in experience and depth to a vulnerable batting line up.

It was a match-winning effort from the West Indian bowlers in the first Test. With a man of the match performance, Shannon Gabriel will be full of confidence coming into the second Test in Manchester. Jason Holder also troubled the English batsmen, picking up his career-best figures in the first innings. 

It will be interesting to see how hungry they are for a Test series win. Things won’t be as easy for the West Indian bowlers as they were in Southampton. Joe Root's return automatically makes things additionally harder for them. If the conditions are not favourable for bowling, they might have to bowl their skins out to knock over England's batting unlike in Southampton.

The decision of England’s management to pick Mark Wood over Stuart Broad did nothing good for the team. Wood, who was selected based on his previous performance against the West Indies in the return series failed to make an impact. Stuart Broad slots right back into the team, and I'd expect him to make life miserable for the opposition batsmen. 

Overall, I think England will make a strong comeback in the series. But after the first Test, It will be hard to write off the West Indies completely.