ENG v WI, 1st Test, Day 1 Review: Cook and Root slam tons, England in full command

A spectacular rendition of class, furnace, and grit from two of the best in the business allowed England to blow the West Indies away on Day 1. Alastair Cook was joined by Joe Root and both the gentlemen silently batted them out of the game inside a day’s play in the historic Pink ball Test at Edgbaston.

Root won the spin of the coin battle and he opted to bat first. Considering it was the first time the English will be facing the Pink ball music, they couldn’t have asked for a more weaker bowling line up to face the challenge. The returning ranger Kemar Roach had the first say in the game as he roasted Mark Stoneman’s stumps in the third over.

Tom Westley couldn’t stick for a long period as well and England were in huge trouble inside 8 overs. An absolute peach from Miguel Cummins trapped Westley in front of the stumps and the umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger. It wasn’t a great start to a big day and fans were concerned on how would they reciprocate as the sun sets and the night approaches.

Test match cricket at its best

Cook was joined by skipper Joe Root, who had to enter the crease way sooner than he expected. Nevertheless, he started off cautiously as the duo took almost 15 overs to put up a 50-run stand. Then they started scoring boundaries off every bad delivery and unfortunately for the Windies, there were too many weak deliveries.

Root was the protagonist here whilst the other kept watching the events unfold. Cook was highly determined to get a big score and it was palpable looking at his approach that he’s not going to give it away. He just stuck in the crease and completed his half-century in the 27th over. Root soon registered his 11th consecutive score of 50 or more and the agony just kept increasing for the visitors.

Root’s 11 scores of fifty plus is only behind AB de Villiers‘ 12 successive scores of 50 and more. He upped the ante post then the skipper and things started to heat up at Birmingham. the pink ball kept traveling all around and with the day ending and night dawning, it was a picturesque scene every cricket fan would love to see.

It didn’t take long for the skipper to convert his fifty to three digits as a lackluster delivery on the pads was helped on its way to the fine leg boundary and Root had reached his 13th Test ton. Alastair Cook has been long over due for a big ton and he finally got one here with a single off Roston Chase in the 60th over. This was his 31st century in Tests and he keeps inching closer towards Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time records.

In the same over off Roston Chase, the duo completed the 200-run stand as well. Boundaries kept coming thick and fast the bowlers were losing their shape in pursuit of getting a breakthrough. Both these players made the most out of it and added crucial runs for the side. Roach finally got the better of Root, but not before scoring a mind boggling 136 off 189 balls, which included 22 fours.

Malan finishes the day on a positive note

Cook was accompanied by Dawid Malan and they had to ensure they didn’t lose more wickets. Malan spanked few boundaries and finished the day on a strong note. Just before the umpires called off the day, Cook completed his 150 and remained not out at 153 off 276 balls at stumps. Malan is batting on 28 off 55 balls and is desperate for a big score in Test cricket.

Brief Scores

England first innings: 348/3 in 90 overs (Alastair Cook 153*, Joe Root 136; Kemar Roach 2/72)