ENG v WI, 1st Test, Day 3 Review: England thump the visitors inside three days

Talk about lackluster performances, you won’t get to see a better example of it than West Indies’ batting display in the first Test against England. The euphoria that Alastair Cook gave with his scintillating double-ton just went a notch higher as the fast bowlers made an absolute mockery of the Caribbean batting line-up.

Rain halted the initial day’s play for a while, but once the play started, the pink ball did the talking and the batters just kept consenting to its commands. Kyle Hope was the first scalp of the third day and it was Jimmy Anderson again doing the job for his side. Some silly running between the wickets saw Kieran Powell walk back to the gallery as Anderson managed to inflict a wonderful run-out.

He picked up his 3rd wicket in the innings in no time as Roston Chase had no answer to an absolute scorcher from the 35-year-old. Toby Roland-Jones was the next tormentor for the Windies, who cleaned up Shai Hopes’ stumps. Strangling at 89/5 at this stage, the hosts were looking to bowl them out as cheaply as possible but a certain Jermaine Blackwood played a breathtaking knock against the run of play.

He went after the bowlers and started gathering some valuable runs. Though he kept scoring at more than run-a-ball at one end, English bowlers found their preys at the other. Roland-Jones sent Shane Dowrich back to the pavilion and after a little while, Jason Holder too followed as Moeen Ali managed to spin him into a trap.

At the other end, Blackwood completed a stellar half-century, but he knew it won’t be of any use if he doesn’t convert it into three figures. He continued the same way and played some delightful shots to stun the crowd at Edgbaston, but Stuart Broad wasted no time in sending his partners back to the pavilion.

He first rattled Kemar Roach’s stumps and then trapped Alzarri Joseph in front of the stumps. Miguel Cummins was the last man to be dismissed after Tom Westley managed to capitalize on some baseless running between the wickets from the Caribbean players. Blackwood finished unbeaten on 79 off 76 balls, but West Indies could manage only 168 runs, which instigated a follow-on.

English bowlers unleashed

The fast bowlers picked up from where they left off in the first innings and there was an intent in their body language to finish the game inside three days. Anderson was at it again, providing the first breakthrough. Kieran Powell was dismissed in the fifth over and though Kraigg Brathwaite tried to fight his way through the adversities, there was no resistance at the other end.

Kyle and Shai Hope walked back in quick succession as Roland-Jones and Ben Stokes picked their wickets respectively. Just as he was nearing his 50, Brathwaite lost his cool and was rapped on the pads off Moeen Ali. The umpire’s finger pointed the sky and the batsmen walked back towards the dressing room, agonized and disappointed.

The hero in the first innings Blackwood charged down the ground off Moeen Ali and missed the ball completely. Bairstow made no mistakes in stumping the 25-year-old. Broad then picked up the wickets of Chase and Jason Holder in consecutive deliveries and the predicament intensified for the Caribbean.

Just what the fans were expecting, Anderson and Roland-Jones picked up the final two wickets to round off a win inside three days and helped their side go one up in the series. This was as emphatic as anyone could’ve asked for. Windies registered just 137 runs in their second innings, gifting the hosts a victory by an innings and 209 runs. Cook collected the man of the match award for his double-ton, which came in as a surprise for none.

Brief Scores

England first innings: 514/8 declared in 135.5 overs(Alastair Cook 243, Joe Root 136; Roston Chase 4/113)

West Indies first innings: 168 all out in 47 overs(Jermaine Blackwood 79*; James Anderson 3/34)

West Indies second innings (f/o): 137 all out in 45.4 overs(Kraigg Brathwaite 40, Stuart Broad 3/34)