Month: July 2020

A fine 95 from Jermaine Blackwood, helped the West Indies stun hosts England by 4 wickets at the Ageas Oval and take a 1-0 lead in the three test series. Here are our talking pints from the game.

1. Windies continue proud record

The West Indies continued their proud record of having never lost a test while chasing 200 or less. With this triumph in Southampton, they have extended that streak to a whopping 61 games (55 wins, 6 draws). In an era where final innings chases have become trickier and trickier, it’s a fine record to have!

2. Yet another opening test defeat for England

England’s loss at the Rose Bowl now means they have lost the first test in each of their last five series. In some cases, like the South Africa tour last winter, they managed to bounce back but its an area where coach Chris Silverwood will be demanding improvement.

3. Majestic Blackwood

Chasing 200, the West Indies were in deep trouble at 27/3 as they struggled to cope with Jofra Archer’s fiery opening spell. They also lost opener John Campbell to a toe injury, effectively making it 27/4 when Blackwood walked in. However the Jamaican rose through the occasion and stitched together two valuable partnerships, first with Roston Chase and then with wicket keeper Shane Dowrich, to resurrect the visitors’ chase. Blackwood fell five short of what would have been a well deserved century but he had already put the Windies in the drivers’ seat at the time of his departure.

The 28-year-old thus also ensured that the stellar work of Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel with the ball didn’t go waste.

Continue reading “Five Talking points & Analysis- England vs West Indies 1st Test Southampton 2020”

West Indies skipper Jason Holder led from the front by snaring career best figures of 6/42, as England were skittled out for 204 runs on the second day of the opening test at Southampton on Thursday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 35/1, the pair of Joe Denly and Rory Burns played cautiously for the first half an hour before Gabriel handed the West Indies their first breakthrough of the morning. The pacer got a 90mph ball one to nip back into Denly and shatter his stumps, with the batsman having to depart for 18. In his next over, the 32-year-old Gabriel also removed Burns- the first of several decisions overturned on DRS on the day for the Windies, as England were reduced to 51/3.

Zak Crawley along with skipper Ben Stokes added 20 runs for the fourth wicket stand, before Holder picked up his first wicket of the day, trapping Crawley leg before wicket for 10.

Ollie Pope looked very good in his brief stay at the wicket, stroking two gorgeous fours before a peach from Holder saw him caught behind for 12 by keeper Shane Dowrich.

England skipper Stokes then counter attacked with Jose Buttler and the duo put on 67 runs for the sixth wicket stand- the only England partnership above 50 in the entire innings. However just as they seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Holder returned to wrest control back for the Windies. He first got rid of his counterpart Stokes (43) with a fuller delivery and followed it up with the wicket of Buttler for 35, with Dowrich taking a stunning one handed catch behind the wickets.

Continue reading “England vs West Indies Southampton July 2020 First test Day 2 Match Report”

International cricket returned after a gap of nearly four months as England and West Indies squared off against each other in the first test at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Here are our talking points from the day’s action.

1. Stuart Broad left out

Stuart Broad was left out of a home test for the first time in nearly 8 years as England opted for extra pace in the form of both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.

Wood was impressive on England’s tour to South Africa in the winter and this selection is probably another indication that the selectors expect both him and Archer to play key roles in the next Ashes Down Under.

2. It wouldn’t be cricket in England without the rain! Continue reading “Five Talking Points & Analysis- England vs West Indies Day 1”