Wisden Trophy Test Series, 2020 (1st match full analysis)

After a 3 month halt, a cricket match have been held. This cricket match tend to be a test match and this test match is played with a flurry of restrictions like Ban on the use of Saliva, Closed Doors, Usage of only Local Umpires, Players should be using only their own kit, Sanitizing both players and their kits, heavy checkup before play etc. Everyone would have been predicted that the match would be a high scoring encounter due to the use of sweat and ban of saliva. But, what had actually occurred is something strange and something great. The result of this test match have been known only at the last session of the 5th day, which seemed to be impossible at modern days.

Full Match Story :

In my preview podcast, I had already mentioned that England's side have been quite inexperienced and their strategies seem to be quite unusual with Stuart Broad getting dropped from home tests after serving a long period. Four Youngsters have been named in the playing 11, which will surely affect and it does during the match. When coming into West Indies side, their side was bit better. But, the form of their batters have been quite inconsistent. So, its upon their batsmen to step up.

In coming to the terms of pitch at Southampton, on day one and two, it supports purely Pace bowling. Also, for the first two days it was so cloudy with day one getting most of its day affected due to rain and bad light. But, when we look into the match from day three, the sunlight starts falling on the ground and pitch, which will break the cracks at pitch. This further makes help of spin bowling. So, going to play with a spinner or two is so essential to win the game. 

England have won the toss and decided to bat first. On day one, England scored 35/1 at the play of just 17.3 overs. West Bowlers were right on the track with making the batsmen get mentally set and they picked the wicket of Dob Sibley in just the 2nd over of the match. 

During day two, it was pure collapse for the English Cricket side. Holder's captaincy was top notch. When Gabriel goes for runs, he believes in him and gave continued with his bowling. Which, made him to take the top three batsmen. Rory Burns, made a good calm start but he was deceived by making him to practice for good length deliveries and a sudden change in bowling by delivering a yorker ball, snatched the wicket. Denly's weakness were exposed. Other than Gabriel's opening snatch, Holder was the main to demolish the English batting lineup. His idea was so simple. Bowl at good length with some alterations in the line, by outgoing and incoming deliveries. Each and every batsmen failed to counterattack and Windies were so phenomenal in their approach. England got all out for just 204 runs. Holder used only pacers and that worked perfectly on day two. He himself lead the bowling charts with picking up 6 wicket haul while Gabriel picked up 4 wickets. Windies played for 19.3 overs and scored 55 runs with a loss of 1 wicket. The wicket was of John Campbell, where he was quite struggling against James Anderson.

At day three, West Indies batting were quite impressive, even though at some situations there were a pure battle between the bat and the ball. Kraigg Brathwaite scored a fifty after a long time, and his fifty were so nice to watch. He took his own precious time, and once he got set, he started to play on his game. But, Dom Bess seemed to be a threat to Windies batting. Basically, Windies were bit struggling against the spin bowling, and on that day, this factor worked well. Shai Hope were trapped and his wicket were grabbed. Whereas Jermaine Blackwood wanted to score quick and when he struggled, he went to a shot which ultimately led to a catch at mid off. Windies were 184/5, during which Dowrich came into bat. The game, which Dowrich played and the crucial partnership between Dowrich and Roston Chase, were the turning point of the game. Windies would have took a lead, but if these two didn't take on the bowlers, then the lead would have been around just 20 to 30. But the game, especially the attacking game against Dom Bess by Shane Dowrich, changed the perspective of the match. Also, there were a silent battle ensuring between Dom Bess and Shane Dowrich, in which at the end Dowrich won it. He went on to score a fifty. Roston Chase took his time and supported well at the other end with his neat 47. But, a later batting failure made Windies to take a score of 318 runs at their first innings. A lead of 114 runs. Stokes bowled well for his 4 wicket haul. Kraigg Brathwaite top scored with 65, followed by Shane Dowrich's 65. England came into bat and scored 15/0 at the end of 10 overs.

During day four, England were so impressive in day four. Rory Burns and Dob Sibley made a good partnership. Windies in their second innings bowling, brought in the spin attack. At one end, Rory Burns were again playing a patient knock whereas Dob Sibley was struggling to find timing. But, Dob Sibley luckily used to play much more balls to tackle the situation. During Roston Chase's spell, Dob Sibley weren't in his comfort zone, as he was kept trying to play it for single. But, the twist is in the tale is that Rory Burns were got out for well made forty. Dob Sibley with a much amount of struggle made his fifty. But, he got out quickly after scoring a fifty. Windies team weren't right in the game till the third session. Zak Crawley played his game to the fullest with playing the ball into the gaps. Joe Denly got out with a poor shot. Ben Stokes played well. He started out bit slowly, but after he got set, he played a great batting. The way he took on Shannon Gabriel were so so impressive, especially his drive shots. Zak Crawley made a good fifty. The 98 run stand between Crawley and Stokes, ensured their domination till the end of 2nd session. But, during the 3rd session, second new ball was given to Windies Team. Alzarri Joseph were the first man to threaten Englishmen followed by Shannon Gabriel. A great collapse with losing 5 wickets at the final session. This late bloom for Windies ensured the day.

At day five, England continued with 284/8. The last two wickets scored just 29 runs, with setting a target of 200 for West Indies Team. Gabriel was so great with again shining well with the ball. This time, he picked up a five wicket haul. England team got all out for 313 runs. Windies team came into bat. At start, Jofra Archer seemed to be so threatening with picking up two wickets for just 7 runs. Also, at one situation, it looked like the score was 27/3 with a bonus of John Campbell getting retired hurt. Blackwood and Roston Chase approached the crease. They both so well by building a good partnership. But, other than their batting it was England's poor fielding which ruined their chances. They had lost almost 5 to 6 chances. Both batted well and especially they made the scorecard in rotation. Both shared a partnership of 73 runs with Roston Chase again missing out his fifty at a close margin and again Jofra Archer threatened the Windies batting. Blackwood took his time and played so brilliantly. Whenever Stokes removes a third man fielder, he hits a boundary there. Made a good fighting knock. Dowrich came into bat, They both shared a partnership of 68 runs. These two partnerships, took away the game from English cricket side. Also, during a match, each and every amount of partnerships are crucial. Blackwood made 95 with missing his good century by just 5 runs. But, still this is one of the best in the match. England were still fighting for victory even though, there were only 20 runs to win. A tight bowling by England. But, eventually Holder and the comeback of injured Campbell ensured their win by 4 wickets. This match ended at last session of the last day of test match. At modern days, a test match either ends one sided or gets end at the fourth day, with mainly playing aggressive. But, after the corona pandemic, this test match came as a golden one. This is the perfect test match needed to be witnessed. Man of the Match were given to Shannon Gabriel for his 9 wickets.

Moments : 

1. Before the start of play, each and every player stood kneel down in the ground with raising a single hand in that single hand they wore a black glove. This is done for raising a strong voice against racism issues which were fleeing all around the world and especially the George Floyd case. 

2. Jason Holder and good length deliveries at the first innings

3. Battle between both the all round captains. At first innings, Holder dismissed Stokes, Whereas at Windies first innings' Stokes dismissed Holder. At the second innings of England, again Holder dismissing Stokes. Holder - 2, Stokes - 1

4. A battle between Dom Bess and Shane Dowrich. Dom Bess were threatening before the arrival of Shane Dowrich. But, when Shane Dowrich came into bat, his line and length purely broken with taking on him right from the first ball. Statistics shown that Dowrich, has an impressive average of 81 against the off spinners. During the second innings, Dom Bess have almost scalped the wicket of Dowrich. But, in this battle the winner is Shane Dowrich

5. The important partnership between Roston Chase and Dowrich at first innings. Also, the fifty of Dowrich

6. The struggle of Dom Sibley.

7. The 98 run stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes with the former reaching his fifty while the later missed it by 4 runs

8. The last collapse by England during during four

9. Archer's deadly bowling. He was trying to knock the head and during one instance Blackwood fell down after a ruthless bouncer. There were words exchanged between Archer and Blackwood

10. England's missed chances. Three to four catches. One from Stokes, one from Rory Burns, one from Butler and one from Crawley. In addtion to this, Crawley missed an easy run out

11. The fight and hardwork with pure dedication by Englishmen till the end. Many teams would have gave up hope, but still Englishmen fought hard

12. Finally, the boundary hit by John Campbell at 65th over. The score were 195/6 at which Ben Stokes were hit through the covers by John Campbell which relieved the pressure.