Brief score: ENG 189/3 [Crawley 76, Pope 57; Seales 2/31] lead WI 121 [Louis 27, Hodge 24; Atkinson 7/45] by 68 runs
Ben Stokes won a crucial toss on Wednesday and chose to bowl first under the lights and a canopy of clouds. Retirement-bound James Anderson took the shiny new red cherry for what could be the last time in his Test career but no fairytale start was in store as debutant Mikyle Louis announced himself with two gorgeous boundaries in the very first over. The youngster stood tall alongside skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for a challenging 34-run stand, until Stokes introduced another debutant Gus Atkinson into the attack. The rapid quick took just two balls to deliver as Brathwaite played one onto his stumps, followed by dispatching Kirk McKenzie a couple of overs later. Stokes, finally declared completely fit, added a third shortly after courtesy of a Harry Brook blinder at slip to end Louis’ stay as the visitors trotted along to Lunch at 61/3.
The Windies pair of Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze began the second session positively, combining for a quick 27 runs off the first five overs. A Woakes maiden helped settle things down for the hosts and set the stage for a dream Atkinson spell. The Surrey pacer’s variations had Athanaze and Jason Holder, batting at a career-high number six, caught at slip on consecutive deliveries, followed by a jaffa two balls later to nick off Joshua da Silva. Hodge then flashed a cut in the ensuing over straight to Ollie Pope at point as the Caribbean outfit crumbled to 88/7. Some rear-guard boundary action by Gudakesh Motie and Alzarri Joseph on either side of another Atkinson win blow took the visitors up to 121 before Anderson brought the innings to a close.
With less than an hour to go in the session, England’s openers walked out to fiery opening spells from Alzarri and Jayden Seales that eventually culminated in the later nicking off Ben Duckett at the stroke of Tea, with the score reading a streaky 30/1. However, Ollie Pope set the pendulum swing in motion with three boundaries in an Alzarri over to begin the last session. Even as their opposite numbers continued to pose questions, Pope and Zak Crawley notched up convincing half-centuries, and the latter fell victim to Holder only after taking England past the visitors’ score with a boundary. A quick 30-run third wicket stand between Crawley and Joe Root followed until a brilliant Seales yorker cleaned up the former for 76. Thereafter, a 36-run unbeaten partnership between Harry Brook and Root got England to Stumps with a secure 68-run lead.
Zak Crawley my favourite test opener currently,
not saying the best but my favourite especially since Baz as coach the aesthetics always there but the authority, controlled aggression too good,
will end up with a good career……!— Akram Khan (@AkramK2108) July 10, 2024
After ages
Finally after ages England have able to produce a player like Zak Crawley!!
— 🇪🇭.فیضان (@DexFaizan) July 10, 2024
Dismissed
Ollie Pope is dismissed LBW.
– Jason Holder ends the partnership 👏 #ENGvsWI pic.twitter.com/Rdie9fDr1z— Shamim Cricket. (@ShamimCricSight) July 10, 2024
Lord’s looking beautiful 😍 #ENGvsWI pic.twitter.com/pZdtnP4qsQ
— Heisenberg (@rovvmut_) July 10, 2024
His test career
Zak Crawley Test Career:
In First 27 Tests: 1289 runs , 26 Avg, 53 SR, 7 50+ Scores
In Last 18 Tests: 1398 runs, 44 Avg, 81 SR, 12 50+ scores pic.twitter.com/Y18X1VcPxA— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) July 10, 2024
Lol
Gus Atkinson to Jimmy Anderson pic.twitter.com/uFxQDvJBAo #EngvWI
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 10, 2024
💥 BANG! BANG! BANG! 💥
THREE WICKETS IN FOUR BALLS FROM GUS ATKINSON! 🤩#EnglandCricket | #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/5CtwELJC5V— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 10, 2024
What a debut!
In action
Bazball in Action 🏴🌴#ENGvsWI #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/dEWpa0nrih
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) July 10, 2024
Jimmy Anderson walks out for the one last time in whites for England 🐐#ENGvsWI pic.twitter.com/rPsoGKKQSg
— Heisenberg (@rovvmut_) July 10, 2024
