The West Indies will begin their first innings in the third Test match at the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s, Grenada, on Friday after bowling out England for 204 on Friday.
That, though, does not fully describe what happened on Thursday where the West Indies put England into bat on a green pitch – the first in the series to offer any help to the bowlers – and immediately reaped their reward.
The England batting revealed the fallibility that was on show on the recent Ashes tour. They were three down at lunch, and then lost three more wickets without adding a run after the resumption.
At 90/8 it looked like they would not get to three figures. Even after a ninth wicket partnership of 24 took them past that mark, the West Indies would have been looking forward to starting their innings.
But the last-wicket pair of Jack Leach and Saqib Mahmood frustrated them for 36 overs. As the ball became softer, they found it easier to play shots. Mahmood, playing in only his second Test, reached and surpassed, his previous best score in First-class cricket, while Leach yet again showed his ability to hang around for his team.
The pair added 90 before Mahmood was finally bowled for 49, leaving Leach unbeaten on 41.
If the England innings is anything to go by, the West Indies need to survive the first session with as many wickets intact as possible, as batting is likelier to become easier later in the day. If Kraigg Brathwaite or Nkrumah Bonner can dig in for one of their attritional innings, then their side could be in a strong position by stumps on Friday.
Fantasy Tips:
• Pick England fast bowlers. The new ball is particularly difficult.
• Pick both Brathwaite and Bonner.
• Leach may have to bowl a lot of overs again to give the fast bowlers a rest. Back him.