England vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Post Match Analysis
As already, West Indies have won the first test match at Southampton, England team will be keen to win the second one, to stay in the series. Other than winning, even if the second test gets drawn, it might lead either Windies to claim the Wisden Trophy, or it might end up as Series tie. Which, might become a great disrespect, when it comes to England's winning record in their home.
Old Trafford, tends to gets even much more rain than Southampton, and it has history of getting an entire day cancelled due to rain. Also, it is a pace track, but if you play well, it might be easy for batting. Also, before the first day, there were rain and also during the day one, before the start of play, rain had affected at Old Trafford.
West Indies have won the toss and chose to bowl first. England openers, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley came into bat. They both started well with leaving as many as deliveries possible. Also, due to rain, the pitch got affected with damp, leaving it for uneven bounce. This uneven bounce, prompted Jason Holder, to bring on a change. He brought in Roston Chase, who picked up two wickets, which held the English Team at back foot. Joe Root came into bat. He started off well but soon he went off getting deceived in the swing bowling of Alzarri Joseph. As stranded, everyone had thought that England will be scoring a very low total. Even West Indies were so confident in there moves.
Here comes the warrior. Already, a warrior named Dom Sibley was fighting in the battle with defensive move. He is joined with another warrior, called as Ben Stokes. They both stood like a rock, prevented each and every arrows, bombs from hitting them and played defensively. That wall is constructed so well that even no nuclear bombs could break it. They played so defensively and scored so slowly. Their innings were a proof for a perfect test knocks, also I would rather name it as one of the best, in the past one and half decades. West Indies, on the other hand, slowly started losing their confidence and energy. Day One, ended with both scoring respective fifties.
At the start of second day, England again continued to Defense the attacks made by the opposition. They, paced their innings, without taking on much risks. Dom Sibley, scored his century of 312 balls, the fifth slowest century at tests by an Englishmen. What about Ben Stokes ?. He too scored a century. After both scoring centuries, Ben Stokes started taking upon the bowlers, as they need to post a respective total and also to restrict Windies Team. This resistance continued till second session, before Dom Sibley lost himself, and gave a catch at long on. He was dismissed for 120 runs off 371 balls. The epitome of patience. This caused a rift in the wall. Ben Stokes, at one end successfully reached his 150, while at other end wickets started to fall. Ben Stokes, too gone for a great knock of 176. After some quick cameos from Dom Bess and Stuart Broad, England team declared for 469/9 runs. But, still it has been a quite pressure cooker from England Team. Only positive from West Indies team is that, Roston Chase claimed 5 wickets. Their fielding were poor and also it were a reason for twin centuries. Windies came out to bat with 270 runs to avoid follow on and are trail by 469 runs. They started well but Campbell lost his wicket so early. At No.3 position, Holder surprisingly sent Alzarri Joseph to commence batting. Day Two, in this fashion.
There is no comments about day three, as it got ended fully due to rain. Its quite natural, but everybody would have thought that the chances for England to win this match had diminished a bit. West Indies came into bat at day 4, Kraigg Brathwaite played so perfectly. His shot making were pure bliss along with his technique. He tried to play the ball by using the bat to face the ground. Alzarri Joseph, played a decent knock before getting caught at short leg. But, from a lower order batsman, that performance were good. Shai Hope, began well by driving the over pitched deliveries through the covers but his form slump continued to haunt him. Sharmarh Brooks came into bat and he made a solid fifty with Kraig Brathwaite too scoring a fifty. England were struggling at till session as they were bowling with immense pressure but the condition didn't supported them. Also, West Indies were approaching the follow on mark quite easily. But, third session came. New ball has been taken. West Indies were around 240 runs with the loss of just 4 wickets. After picking up the new ball, in the space of eight overs, they lost 8 wickets, with again middle order collapsing. Luckily Roston Chase were at the crease, who made West Indies to avoid follow on. But, this task seemed so difficult. Roston Chase's fifty were priceless. But, Windies lost all of their wickets for 287 runs, which helped England team to pursue a lead of 182 runs. The effort put by English bowlers, had atlast got its praise.
England came into bat the second innings. Surprisingly Stokes and Butler came into bat. Butler got out quickly in the very first over. Sooner the time, Crawley were also dismissed. They were at 36/2 at the end of 12 overs, which commenced the end of day 4.
During day 5, England were on a verge to just win this match. Stokes made a quick fifty of just 36 balls. Quicker in the tests and England scored 129/3, at which they declared leaving a target of 312 runs at just 85 overs of day for Windies Cricket Team. Right from the start, England dominated the Windies batting lineup. Broad was so impressive with the likes of Wood, Curran and Stokes. Windies were struggling at 37/4. Blackwood came into bat. Just like the first test, Blackwood fought hard again in the second innings. Along with him Shamarh Brooks, had done some resistance. Shamarh Brooks brought up his fifty, and consecutively second fifty in the 2nd test. Blackwood too brought his fifty which stated the situation that the game is no 50/50. Blackwood was dismissed of a well directed bouncer by Stokes, which commenced tea. After tea break, again collapse began with likes of Dowrich failing miserably. Brooks too got dismissed for a top knock of 62. Left with Jason Holder, he teamed up along with the bowler Roach and started a quick partnership. But, their efforts were to draw this test game. Set Jason Holder was dismissed with a beauty from Dom Bess after he smashed him for a four and a six. With this dismissal of Jason Holder, the match had gone out of Windies hands. With 15 overs to spare, West Indies have lost all their wickets and England have won the second test. If, they had resisted for just 15 overs, the result would have mattered different. But, no use of pointing out the tailenders. Another fact is that, with claiming the wicket of Shane Dowrich, Chris Woakes have picked up 100 wickets in 34 matches.
Man of the Match award was given to Ben Stokes for his century and a fifty at both the innings and also his claim of 3 wickets in combination of both the innings. West Indies will surely learn to fight hard and also to correct their fielding errors along with expectation of some alteration in their batting.
Old Trafford, tends to gets even much more rain than Southampton, and it has history of getting an entire day cancelled due to rain. Also, it is a pace track, but if you play well, it might be easy for batting. Also, before the first day, there were rain and also during the day one, before the start of play, rain had affected at Old Trafford.
West Indies have won the toss and chose to bowl first. England openers, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley came into bat. They both started well with leaving as many as deliveries possible. Also, due to rain, the pitch got affected with damp, leaving it for uneven bounce. This uneven bounce, prompted Jason Holder, to bring on a change. He brought in Roston Chase, who picked up two wickets, which held the English Team at back foot. Joe Root came into bat. He started off well but soon he went off getting deceived in the swing bowling of Alzarri Joseph. As stranded, everyone had thought that England will be scoring a very low total. Even West Indies were so confident in there moves.
Here comes the warrior. Already, a warrior named Dom Sibley was fighting in the battle with defensive move. He is joined with another warrior, called as Ben Stokes. They both stood like a rock, prevented each and every arrows, bombs from hitting them and played defensively. That wall is constructed so well that even no nuclear bombs could break it. They played so defensively and scored so slowly. Their innings were a proof for a perfect test knocks, also I would rather name it as one of the best, in the past one and half decades. West Indies, on the other hand, slowly started losing their confidence and energy. Day One, ended with both scoring respective fifties.
At the start of second day, England again continued to Defense the attacks made by the opposition. They, paced their innings, without taking on much risks. Dom Sibley, scored his century of 312 balls, the fifth slowest century at tests by an Englishmen. What about Ben Stokes ?. He too scored a century. After both scoring centuries, Ben Stokes started taking upon the bowlers, as they need to post a respective total and also to restrict Windies Team. This resistance continued till second session, before Dom Sibley lost himself, and gave a catch at long on. He was dismissed for 120 runs off 371 balls. The epitome of patience. This caused a rift in the wall. Ben Stokes, at one end successfully reached his 150, while at other end wickets started to fall. Ben Stokes, too gone for a great knock of 176. After some quick cameos from Dom Bess and Stuart Broad, England team declared for 469/9 runs. But, still it has been a quite pressure cooker from England Team. Only positive from West Indies team is that, Roston Chase claimed 5 wickets. Their fielding were poor and also it were a reason for twin centuries. Windies came out to bat with 270 runs to avoid follow on and are trail by 469 runs. They started well but Campbell lost his wicket so early. At No.3 position, Holder surprisingly sent Alzarri Joseph to commence batting. Day Two, in this fashion.There is no comments about day three, as it got ended fully due to rain. Its quite natural, but everybody would have thought that the chances for England to win this match had diminished a bit. West Indies came into bat at day 4, Kraigg Brathwaite played so perfectly. His shot making were pure bliss along with his technique. He tried to play the ball by using the bat to face the ground. Alzarri Joseph, played a decent knock before getting caught at short leg. But, from a lower order batsman, that performance were good. Shai Hope, began well by driving the over pitched deliveries through the covers but his form slump continued to haunt him. Sharmarh Brooks came into bat and he made a solid fifty with Kraig Brathwaite too scoring a fifty. England were struggling at till session as they were bowling with immense pressure but the condition didn't supported them. Also, West Indies were approaching the follow on mark quite easily. But, third session came. New ball has been taken. West Indies were around 240 runs with the loss of just 4 wickets. After picking up the new ball, in the space of eight overs, they lost 8 wickets, with again middle order collapsing. Luckily Roston Chase were at the crease, who made West Indies to avoid follow on. But, this task seemed so difficult. Roston Chase's fifty were priceless. But, Windies lost all of their wickets for 287 runs, which helped England team to pursue a lead of 182 runs. The effort put by English bowlers, had atlast got its praise.
England came into bat the second innings. Surprisingly Stokes and Butler came into bat. Butler got out quickly in the very first over. Sooner the time, Crawley were also dismissed. They were at 36/2 at the end of 12 overs, which commenced the end of day 4.
During day 5, England were on a verge to just win this match. Stokes made a quick fifty of just 36 balls. Quicker in the tests and England scored 129/3, at which they declared leaving a target of 312 runs at just 85 overs of day for Windies Cricket Team. Right from the start, England dominated the Windies batting lineup. Broad was so impressive with the likes of Wood, Curran and Stokes. Windies were struggling at 37/4. Blackwood came into bat. Just like the first test, Blackwood fought hard again in the second innings. Along with him Shamarh Brooks, had done some resistance. Shamarh Brooks brought up his fifty, and consecutively second fifty in the 2nd test. Blackwood too brought his fifty which stated the situation that the game is no 50/50. Blackwood was dismissed of a well directed bouncer by Stokes, which commenced tea. After tea break, again collapse began with likes of Dowrich failing miserably. Brooks too got dismissed for a top knock of 62. Left with Jason Holder, he teamed up along with the bowler Roach and started a quick partnership. But, their efforts were to draw this test game. Set Jason Holder was dismissed with a beauty from Dom Bess after he smashed him for a four and a six. With this dismissal of Jason Holder, the match had gone out of Windies hands. With 15 overs to spare, West Indies have lost all their wickets and England have won the second test. If, they had resisted for just 15 overs, the result would have mattered different. But, no use of pointing out the tailenders. Another fact is that, with claiming the wicket of Shane Dowrich, Chris Woakes have picked up 100 wickets in 34 matches.
Man of the Match award was given to Ben Stokes for his century and a fifty at both the innings and also his claim of 3 wickets in combination of both the innings. West Indies will surely learn to fight hard and also to correct their fielding errors along with expectation of some alteration in their batting.
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