LONDON – An all too familiar storyline played out at Lord’s on Wednesday (July 10), as the West Indies suffered a first innings batting implosion, finding themselves battling for survival following the opening day of the first Test against England.
Debutant speedster Gus Atkinson led England’s charge with a sensational seven-wicket haul (7-45), dismantling the Caribbean side for a paltry 121, about 50 minutes before tea. This total marks the West Indies’ third lowest at the historic venue in north-west London.
Opener Mikyle Louis briefly shone on debut with a top score of 27, while fellow rookies Kavem Hodge (24) and Alick Athanaze (23) got starts. However, no other batsman passed 20 as the West Indies collapsed from 88 for three after lunch, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 33 runs.
England’s batsmen quickly seized control, with Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57) pummeling half-centuries to propel the hosts to 189 for three at the close, securing a lead of 68 runs. Seamer Jayden Seales, playing his first Test in 19 months, led the West Indies attack with two for 31, including the crucial wicket of top-scorer Crawley.
Challenging conditions and inexperience
“I think they were fairly bowling-friendly conditions prior to and just after lunch, and added to that, I think England really exploited the conditions really well,” said West Indies assistant coach, Jimmy Adams. “They were consistent, they got the ball to swing, they didn’t give us many free-bees and maybe [there was] a little bit of inexperience on our part as well, so I think it was a combination of those issues.”
Louis looked composed in becoming the first Test cricketer from St Kitts, hitting four fours and a six, an audacious whip over backward square off seamer Chris Woakes, during a 34-run opening stand with captain Kraigg Brathwaite (6). However, Brathwaite’s dismissal to a wide delivery from Atkinson, just before the first hour, triggered a collapse with three wickets falling for 10 runs.
Left-hander Kirk McKenzie (1) edged to Crawley at second slip for Atkinson’s second wicket, and Louis fell shortly before lunch, taken low at third slip by Harry Brook off captain Ben Stokes. Hodge and Athanaze then combined in the best stand of the innings, adding 44 for the fourth wicket to take the West Indies to lunch at 61 without further loss.
Atkinson returned to dismantle the West Indies innings, removing Athanaze and all-rounder Jason Holder in successive deliveries before also prising out wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva in the same over. Athanaze offered a straightforward catch to Joe Root at first slip, Holder edged to Brook at third slip, and Da Silva inside-edged to debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, all without scoring.
England takes control
Tottering at 88 for seven, the West Indies had no recovery, despite Alzarri Joseph’s nine-ball 17, which included a few lofty blows.
Seales provided a glimmer of hope by getting Ben Duckett (3) to edge a drive behind in the final over before tea, with England at 29 for one. However, Crawley dominated after the interval, belting 14 fours in an 89-ball knock as he added 94 for the second wicket with Pope, who hit 11 boundaries in his 74-ball innings.
Holder eventually trapped Pope in front, but Crawley added another 30 runs for the third wicket with Root (15 not out) before having his leg stump pegged back by a Seales yorker. Brook arrived to deny the West Indies any further success, stroking an unbeaten 25 off 29 deliveries in a 36-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Root.
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