West Indies v England day two: All you need to know

England
Stuart Broad hat-trick England West Indies

The score, somehow: West Indies 272/6 (Brathwaite 49, Campbell 47, Hope 44, Bravo 33*, Dowrich 31; Broad 3/42, Moeen Ali 2/54) lead England 187 by 85 runs with four wickets in hand

Stuart Broad’s first spell of the day returned figures of 5-2-12-0. This is the least useful information in the history of cricket. Read Dave Tickner’s verdict on Broad’s day here.

Just in that spell there was: a catch overturned on review, a ball that landed an inch short of a fielder, a dropped sitter by Jos Buttler at third slip, a top-edged hook that somehow landed safely between all converging fielders and a dozen play-and-misses.

West Indies adopted an entirely different strategy to England. Where England decided to, in Jonny Bairstow’s words, “throw the kitchen sink at it” on a pitch where the unplayable ball could always be around the corner, West Indies held their nerve, played diligent, defensive cricket and trusted that by giving England nothing the pitch wouldn’t take too much.

It worked. On another day it wouldn’t have. But today, it worked.

Five West Indies batsmen reached 30; none has yet reached 50.

One West Indian who got no chance to contribute was Roston Chase. The third ball he received from Broad scuttled along the ground and bowled him. Such is life.

Darren Bravo defied England for four hours and 165 in making his 33 – a nice neat strike-rate of 20. He’s not done yet.

Jason Holder got a double-hundred last week but still doesn’t have a bat sponsorship deal.

Joe Denly bowled his first over in Test cricket. It was okay.

Broad went past Kapil Dev into seventh place on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. He’s now on 436 (three more than Dale Steyn) with Courtney Walsh’s 519 the next target.

Day one’s details are here.

England West Indies

Latest