The global pandemic might have taken the world by storm but the good news is that world cricket is back with the England vs West Indies test series. England welcomed the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton for the 1st test and the 1st day of the match could only see 17.4 overs bowled with England 35/1. Fantasy cricket experts might say it was a tough call by the new England Captain Ben Stokes to bat first after winning the toss on a tight pitch to bat on.
This was how the proceedings went for the 1st 2 days of the England vs West Indies 1st fantasy cricket #raisethebat test series:
One Knee Down for #BlackLivesMatter
The test match began without any crowds and while it was great to have everyone back on, the match began with a two-minute silence to commemorate the demise of West Indian legend Sir Everton Weekes who was 95 years old. Before proceedings began, all the players and umpires bowed on one knee for the Black Lives Matter movement. The West Indian cricketers were seen sporting the ‘BLM’ logo on their t-shirt collars.
Shannon Gabriel warns England
At the score of 0, England lost their first wicket with Sibley mistakenly leaving an inswinger by Shannon Gabriel who knocked off his off stump. The nip back-in was successfully used by the West Indian pacer at approx 90mph as he scalped 4 English wickets by the end of the England innings.
Holder shows Why He’s Number 1
Jason Holder continued what Gabriel had started after the latter picked the first 3 wickets. Holder ran through the English batting order with his fierce outswingers as he didn’t let any batsman settle in and score runs. The number one all-rounder ended up taking continuous 6 wickets with 6 maidens and bowling for full 20 overs. He gave away runs at only 2.10 economy rate on a healthy bowling pitch of the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. Fantasy cricket pandits had already predicted Holder as Captain for the match and must be going ga-ga over his performance on Day 2.
Stokes-Buttler steady the Ship
The first-time England test captain Ben Stokes was seen taking full responsibility along with deputy Jos Buttler who played in typical style as he scored runs at a good pace. Stokes managed to put up 43 runs on the board before Holder got him with a late outswinger and Buttler too fell off for an edge to the keeper. Together the Captain-Vice Captain duo put on 67 runs for the sixth wicket when the scoreboard was rattling at 87/5. Barring the two of them, no one looked really comfortable against the West Indies bowling attack.
Anderson gives ‘Hope’
One of the best sights in the world is to watch James Anderson bowl his famous outswingers and that is exactly what happened at the Ageas Bowl after England was dismissed at 204. A lot of videos of Jimmy getting back to warm up went viral as he was seen knocking off the stumps running in. When West Indies came out to bat, it was just a matter of time before Anderson took his first scalp by bowling John Campbell out lbw after the visitors put up 43 runs on the board. This dismissal bought Shai Hope to the crease and at the end of day 2, West Indies are 57/1.
So what do you think where this test match is heading on to? Let us know in the comments section below.
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