ENG v WI 2024, ENG vs WI 1st Test Match Report, July 10 - 14, 2024

England 189 for 3 (Crawley 76, Pope 57) lead West Indies 121 (Atkinson 7-45) by 68 runs

They got here for James Anderson, however they obtained Gus Atkinson. The primary Take a look at of England’s summer time at Lord’s was meant to be a farewell for his or her greatest-ever seam bowler, however West Indies’ batters rolled out the pink carpet for a debutant as a substitute: they collapsed from 88 for 3 to 121 all out, with Atkinson taking outstanding figures of seven for 45.

Atkinson took two wickets in his first 14 balls on the primary morning, however it was his second spell that despatched West Indies right into a tailspin. He took three wickets in 4 balls in his ninth over, ripping the center out of West Indies’ center order, then took two in three throughout his eleventh. His figures had been the second-best by an England bowler on their Take a look at debut, behind solely Dominic Cork.

Anderson, taking part in his 188th and ultimate Take a look at, bowled 9 wicketless overs earlier than lunch and was introduced again to take the ultimate wicket of the innings, trapping Jayden Seales lbw to a loud ovation from the Lord’s crowd. Nevertheless it was Atkinson, the Surrey quick bowler, who led England off the sphere halfway by way of a outstanding first day as a Take a look at cricketer.

On a slowish pitch, he was the quickest England bowler on present, repeatedly touching 90mph/145kph and sustaining a mean velocity round 86mph/138kph. He made delicate changes to his grip however usually used a scrambled seam, permitting him to maneuver the ball each methods off the floor.

England’s in a single day lead owed primarily to Zak Crawley’s quickfire 76. He rode his luck at instances throughout his innings however was vindicated for his attacking intent, scoring closely both facet of level and dragging by way of midwicket and sq. leg when West Indies dropped quick. He fell 24 in need of a fifth Take a look at hundred, Seales knocking his leg stump again with an inswinging yorker.

It was Seales who made the preliminary breakthrough for West Indies, angling one throughout Ben Duckett who edged by way of to Joshua Da Silva. Crawley and Pope mixed to good impact after a bad-light stoppage, scoring at almost 5 runs per over. Each males fell earlier than the shut however Joe Root and Harry Brook remained unbeaten.

Atkinson was one in all two gamers handed their England Take a look at caps on the primary morning alongside along with his Surrey team-mate Jamie Smith, having made his white-ball worldwide debuts final yr. Atkinson struck with the second ball of his first spell as Kraigg Brathwaite chopped onto his personal stumps whereas trying a leaden-footed slap by way of the off facet.

Atkinson enjoys his dream first day in Take a look at cricket with Ben Stokes•Getty Photographs

He struck once more in his third over, angling a full ball throughout the left-handed Kirk McKenzie whose thick outdoors edge flew shortly to Zak Crawley at second slip. After his first five-over spell he had figures of two for two, with 4 maidens and a single scoring shot.

Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge, the Dominican batters, added 44 in a partnership that spanned the lunch interval. However when Athanaze steered a low catch to Root at first slip, it sparked a dramatic slide: Jason Holder, taking part in his first Take a look at in a yr, was squared up first-ball and caught within the slips, earlier than Da Silva’s inside edge gave Smith his first Take a look at dismissal.

Hodge noticed three wickets fall in 4 balls whereas standing on the non-striker’s finish and determined it was as much as him to pull West Indies to a decent whole, laying right into a lower when Chris Woakes supplied him some width. The ball flew straight off the center of his bat, just for Ollie Pope to take a spectacular diving catch in tight at level. Hodge threw his head again in disbelief.

Atkinson’s figures had been briefly dented by Alzarri Joseph, who hit 4 boundaries in 5 balls: two wristy whips by way of sq. leg, a textbook straight drive and a luxurious lofted extra-cover drive which had his fellow Antiguan Vivian Richards standing to applaud from the hospitality containers.

However he quickly chipped one up within the air to mid-on to present Atkinson a sixth, and two balls later, Shamar Joseph was comically caught by Pope level, shedding his footing whereas trying to drag him by way of the leg facet. Anderson wrapped up the innings with an inswinger which struck Seales straight in entrance.

James Anderson walks out to open the bowling in a Test for one last time, England vs West Indies, 1st Test, Lord's, 1st day, July 10, 2024

Anderson walks out to open the bowling in a Take a look at for one final time•ECB/Getty Photographs

Anderson often beat the bat however bowled a fraction too quick, significantly in his first spell. He was applauded onto the pitch by the Lord’s crowd when main England out for the nationwide anthem along with his shut household current, and his daughters Ruby and Lola ringing the five-minute bell on the pavilion balcony.

Ben Stokes, who opted to bowl beneath cloud cowl, was in a position to ship down eight overs after declaring himself totally match having skipped the T20 World Cup to proceed his rehabilitation from a knee damage. He eliminated Mikyle Louis, who performed brightly on debut, because of a superb diving catch from Brook at second slip.

Louis, who turned the primary man from St Kitts to play Take a look at cricket for West Indies, was handed his cap by Richards and performed with a confidence that belied the actual fact this was solely his eighth first-class look. He hit consecutive boundaries in Anderson’s first over, which value 9 runs, and his 27 made him West Indies’ top-scorer.

Each Crawley and Pope had surpassed him when the umpires took the gamers off for dangerous mild within the night session. Holder thought he had them trapped lbw however the Resolution Evaluate System saved each: Pope was given out however the inswinger was projected to overlook leg, whereas Holder satisfied Brathwaite into reviewing a not-out resolution off Crawley which was upheld.

He did ultimately lure an overbalancing Pope in entrance for 57, ending a second-wicket partnership value 94 runs shortly after England had nudged into the lead. It was Pope’s first 50-plus rating in a Take a look at since his 196 towards India in Hyderabad and solely his second towards a red-ball on this English summer time.

Shamar Joseph, taking part in a first-class match for the primary time since spearheading West Indies’ well-known win on the Gabba, bowled 9 wicketless overs and suffered from cramp. His namesake Alzarri, who has additionally spent the final six months taking part in T20, was quick on rhythm and consistency: he bowled three no-balls and leaked 6.6 runs per over.