WI VS ENG TESTS

Right then, that wraps up the second Test of the 2024 Richards-Botham Trophy, where England registered a win by a massive margin of 241 runs to seal the series. While West Indies gave a tough fight, it was not enough to produce a favourable outcome but there were plenty of positives Kraigg Brathwaite and Co. will take into the next Test. The third and final Test of the series starts on Friday, 26th July at Edgbaston in Birmingham with the first ball to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). As always, you can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The captain of England, Ben Stokes says that the kind of comeback the boys showed was quite exceptional and Bashir showed the world the kind of ability he has on a surface that not necessarily favours spin. Appreciates Root and Brook for playing through those tough conditions and says that he felt they were a few runs short but with the pressure of chasing, 380 on the last day it gets really difficult. Talks about the conditions and how the batters need to adapt which showed in Ben Duckett's second innings. On Mark Wood, he says that the rhythm is back but he hasn't gotten rewards in this game but the ability to come back in and keep pushing the hard yards is exceptional. On Chris Woakes, he adds that that first wicket changed the game for them and he generally always delivers for the side.

Kraigg Brathwaite, the skipper of West Indies, says that they did not quite have the all-round performance and played well in patches. Further adds that the team lacks some discipline and England showed them the way one needs to bowl on such surfaces and it is certain that the boys will learn going ahead. Talks about the dropped catches and says that happens and they will need to keep doing it better and take care of the controllables. Concludes that Test cricket is never easy and they need to stay mentally tough and this is not the end of the world and they will keep fighting.

Ollie Pope is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliance with the bat across both innings. Starts by joking about Stokes walking off and the team getting those two wickets. Further says it was a good day at the office and he is happy with the win. Adds that when the lights came on the ball seemed to do a bit more last night. Appreciates Root and Brook for their outstanding effort and says it's important for the players to adapt to the surface. Concludes that he has put a lot of hard work into his game and he is happy with the way he has performed and will try to continue it.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

On the opening morning, West Indies won the toss and inserted England into bat. They were all over the place with their lines and lengths, allowing England to take full advantage. 'Bazball' was in full flow as Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope took the attack to the opposition. Pope dropped twice, on either side of the Lunch break, made West Indies pay with his 121-run knock. Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes all chipped in on what was a dominant day for England where they racked up 416.

With the ball, patience defined England's approach on Day 2. Rather than waiting for the Windies batters to falter, Ben Stokes used proactive captaincy to create opportunities. Three quick wickets before lunch suggested England might bowl out the West Indies by day's end, but a resilient 175-run partnership between Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge forced England to work hard. This was before Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis weathered the initial challenge. Although Athanaze fell short of a century, Hodge capitalized on his second chance after being dropped on 16, achieving his maiden Test ton.

On Day 3, England came out all guns blazing, making the most of the overhead conditions. Chris Woakes led the attack as the pacers maintained tight lines, quickly taking four wickets in the first session. However, towards the end of the session, Joshua Da Silva stood firm at one end, receiving much-needed support from Shamar Joseph at the other. Together, they stitched a 71-run partnership, wiping out the deficit and helping their side take a 41-run lead. In reply, England had a brisk start but a change in the ball gave the West Indies a real burst of momentum, and they capitalized, dismissing both Duckett and Pope. Joe Root and Harry Brook then steadied the innings, building a partnership that pushed the lead to 207 runs by the end of Day 3.

Day 4 began with Joe Root and Harry Brook picking up where they left off on Day 3. The two Yorkshiremen respected the good balls while punishing the bad ones, navigating through the first hour with ease. After batting so well for his maiden Test hundred at home, a rash shot led to Brook's downfall. The West Indies pounced on this opening, ending the session on a high with a couple more wickets to keep themselves in the game.

The second session saw West Indies chip away at the wickets with the second new ball. Joe Root, undeterred by the fall of wickets at the other end, carried on his merry way to bring up his 32nd Test ton. On a surface where picking wickets was anything but easy, Jayden Seales bowled his heart out to finish with a richly deserved four-wicket haul. England, who at one stage, were on course to end up with a lead above 400, lost their last 7 wickets for 96 runs to end up with a lead of 384 runs.

In pursuit of 386 runs, it was yet another encouraging start with the bat by the West Indies. One may argue, though, that the new ball pairing of Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson did not bowl full enough to induce the false shot, and the argument is not wrong. Take nothing away from the two Windies openers, though, as Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis applied themselves well to keep the English pacers at bay. It was not just block, block, block as the two openers scored at 4.69 runs per over to end the first hour after Tea at 61/0.

Well, things escalated rather quickly, didn't they? An hour into this extended final session, with West Indies well placed at 61/0, not many thought the Test would not go into Day 5 but what followed was a swift collapse triggered by Chris Woakes nicking Mikyle Louis off. Once the door was open, Woakes and Shoaib Bashir helped England barge through. From 61/0, West Indies slumped to 91/6 within the blink of an eye as Woakes and Bashir blew them away. Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva stitched a good little stand but just as the stand was flourishing, Gus Atkinson, who was brought back into the attack, answered his skipper's call by picking two in an over. Shoaib Bashir then completed the formalities to end with figures of 11.1-2-41-5.

ENGLAND CLAIM THE 2024 RICHARDS-BOTHAM TROPHY! Ben Stokes and his men script a remarkable turnaround to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match series. Shoaib Bashir proudly holds the ball aloft as he leads the England team off the field. A memorable day for Bashir, who not only got his first five-wicket haul in Tests at home but also became the first spinner to take 5 wickets in a Trent Bridge Test since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006. As for West Indies, what unravelled in the third session is something they want to forget quickly but take nothing away from the fight shown by them over the 4 days of this Test.

OUT! TIMBER! Shoaib Bashir sneaks through to get his five-fer! It has been exceptional spin bowling from Bashir, and he thoroughly deserves the credit. Coming from around the wicket, he bowls an arm ball, straight and full, targeting the stumps. Shamar Joseph steps out, aiming for a big slog across the line. The ball stays straight and sneaks through the huge gap between bat and pad, rattling the middle pole. England win this game by a mammoth 241 runs.

OUT! TIMBER! Shoaib Bashir sneaks through to get his five-fer! It has been exceptional spin bowling from Bashir, and he thoroughly deserves the credit. Coming from around the wicket, he bowls an arm ball, straight and full, targeting the stumps. Shamar Joseph steps out, aiming for a big slog across the line. The ball stays straight and sneaks through the huge gap between bat and pad, rattling the middle pole. England win this game by a mammoth 241 runs.

Short and on middle, Shamar Joseph pulls it off the upper half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for a single. He will reatin strike for the next over.

Follows up with another good delivery! On a length, just outside off, shaping away off the deck. Shamar Joseph has a feel for it but misses on the outside edge.

FOUR! Connects it right and compensates for the last two deliveries does Shamar Joseph! Too full from Atkinson into the stumps, Joseph clears his front leg and lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary.