West Indies (375 & 147/4) draw 1st Test with England (311 & 349/6 dec)

Bonner Holder partnership rescued WI in the first innings too and here again. Rest of their middle order is full of duds, especially Bonner has great temperament.
 
Root's decision to declare at that point turned out to be correct with 4 WI wickets falling in quick succession but so flat is the pitch that it isn't possible to dismiss a team in 50-60 overs here.
 
West Indies need another 152 runs with 6 wickets in Hand.

Bonner and Holder both in their 30s and been together for 31 overs.
 
Don't see many draws nowadays but now two in succession. Mixed feelings for both teams.

ENG showed grit with the bat, Zak Crawley looks an exciting prospect, but the lack of penetration with the ball is worrying albeit on an unresponsive wicket. Woakes has an atrocious overseas record, surely Mahmood or Fisher come in.

WI will be pleased with Bonner and Holder, but questions must be asked of Jermaine Blackwood. He's the VC getting out from a huge swipe when you're trying to save the match. Brooks didn't convince, while Campbell made starts but didn't convert.

Leach outbowled Permaul who was disappointing, he should know what lines and lengths to bowl on this surface given he's a FC veteran with over 500 wickets.
 
The teams shake hands with five balls remaining.

A hard-fought Test match from both sides, England giving absolutely everything to take those final wickets and West Indies batters digging in until the very end.
 
I think honors are pretty even after 1st Test.

Both sides had their moments.

It was a good Test.
 
Good Test, fair result; disappointing pitch though.

Would have been good to have seen a definitive winner from that match, but the lack of deterioration or character within the surface prevented this.

From an England point of view, it’s difficult to judge the bowling in full because Wood was taken out of the match with an injury and the conditions were deeply unresponsive. To form an opinion I will need to see more.
The batting though was the best it’s been in a very long time. :)

Next stop: Barbados on Wednesday.
 
Back
Top