For the first time in the last two decades, the West Indies registered a win in the first Test of a series on English soil. As the focus shifts to Manchester— the venue for the second Test — hosts face the unplumbed fear of losing the series if they lose the match again.
Ahead of the contest, there are some key factors that England shall try to address and the West Indies will look to build on. Let us analyse the scenario briefly:
One, England had the advantage of winning the toss but ironically chose to bat first in overcast conditions. It was a decision that backfired and how!
Two, Joe Root’s absence was felt sorely. With over 2,000 Test runs since 2018, Joe Root was leading the run-scorers’ chart in the longest format of the game during this period.
Three, the bland batting performance of Joe Denly was a blow to the English side. The number three batsman scored only 18 and 29 in the match. He might be the one making way for Root as the captain rejoins the team for the second Test.
Four, the inability of James Anderson to exploit home conditions came as a big surprise. Anderson, who can be quite unplayable when conditions are overcast, did not prove to be that effective, taking only 3 wickets in the match, all of which came in the first innings. The ban on using saliva on the ball may have been a big factor contributing to his ineffectiveness.
Five, the captaincy of Root was missed by England, without taking anything away from the effort put in by Ben Stokes in his first game in charge of England. No doubt, Stokes’ contribution with both bat and bowl kept England in the match, but sometimes the inexperience of Test captaincy showed up in the field placements and bowling changes, especially when the visitors were tottering at 27 for 3 but recovered to reach the victory target of 200.
Five things that went right for West Indies
One, Jason Holder with a career-best 6 for 42 in the 1st innings led the charge. To add to that, he scalped his opposite number, Ben Stokes, in both the innings!
Two, the heroics of Jermaine Blackwood will remain unforgettable. The 28- year old Jamaican scored the 11th Test half-century of his career, as his knock of 95 of 154 balls got the Windies to the cusp of victory.
Three, Shannon Gabriel’s scalping of nine wickets in the match gave the West Indian side a much-needed boost. Gabriel took a 5 for 75 in the 2nd innings, and 4 for 62 in the 1st innings. The performance was a testament to his fitness levels as well since he was playing his first competitive series after the ankle surgery he had undergone owing to an injury sustained in September 2019.
Four, the assuring presence of Roston Chase at the crease held the sails afloat for the team at a crucial juncture. The middle-order bat made 47 in the 1st innings and was unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved halfcentury. His fighting 37 in the second innings helped the Caribbean side steady the ship, as his partnership of 73 with Blackwood kept the visitors in the chase after they were reduced to 27 for 3 in the 2nd innings.
Five, the fiery bowling performance of the West Indian bowlers dominated the hosts throughout the match. The pace quartet — Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach — has shown that the West Indies has the battery to keep England bewitched. Despite the presence of Archer, Wood, Anderson and Stokes in the home team’s ranks, West Indian pacers made a sturdy mark at Southampton. Roach went wicket-less in the 1st Test and would be keen to join the party, though his teammates didn’t let it make much of a difference to the outcome of the match.
The Writer is a sports broadcaster and cricket commentator who has worked on assignments for leading sports networks in India and abroad.
