It was barely unusual sight to see James Anderson sitting within the pavilion at Trent Bridge doing a crossword with head coach Brendon McCullum whereas a Take a look at match was happening.
That is the primary Take a look at match in a dozen years the place England aren’t taking part in with Anderson or Stuart Broad of their staff at dwelling and their bowling assault uncovered some areas that will want fine-tuning.
West Indies pissed off the hosts on day two of the second Take a look at with Kavem Hodge scoring a maiden ton because the vacationers closed on 351-5, simply 65 runs behind.
Trent Bridge posed England with a distinct check to Lord’s, with their bowling on a sun-baked wicket described by Sky Sports activities pundit Broad as “indifferent” as they struggled to search out the identical rhythm they strung collectively within the sequence opener.
Gus Atkinson – who starred on debut final week with a 12-wicket match haul – was entrusted to bowl with the brand new ball for simply the eighth time in first-class cricket, and managed to bounce out West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite after Stokes deployed a short-ball plan.
Wooden breaks report earlier than damage fear
One of many fundamental highlights for England was Mark Wooden’s tempo and aggression. He clocked 97.1mph and broke the report for the quickest over by an England bowler in a house Take a look at.
Wooden’s tempo provided the spectators actual theatre with Stokes and Joe Root encouraging them to get behind the bowler.
Nevertheless, he remained luckless all through the day, inducing 20 performs and misses however failing to take a wicket, with the closest he got here when Root dropped Hodge at slip on 16.
Wooden pulled up one ball into his fifteenth over and left the sector late on however England assistant coach Paul Collingwood expects the seamer to be “fine”, including: “He had a smile on his face at the end.
“I believe if he was frightened it is one thing severe he’d be fairly distraught however he appears fairly chipper.”
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Joe Root dropped Hodge on 16 to disclaim Mark Wooden a wicket in Nottingham
Missed alternative for England?
Shoaib Bashir was largely wonderful together with his line and size as he picked up his first wickets on English soil however West Indies capitalised on the unhealthy balls he did supply up.
The England dressing room will not thoughts that, given their Bazball philosophy, but it surely allowed the vacationers to eat into the hosts’ lead and bounce again from their Lord’s thrashing.
“It may feel like a day of missed opportunity slightly as there were patches where the ball swung,” mentioned Broad.
“But these guys have played a lot of cricket at Trent Bridge and know that on days two and three it is tough to get wickets if the sun is out. I think England were slightly indifferent.
“Wooden was completely magnificent and to complete with no wickets after so many performs and misses, excessive tempo and nice theatre. You could possibly see in his physique language that there was pure frustration.”
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England spinner Shoaib Bashir picked up his first wickets at dwelling as Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie performed poor pictures
Mistake to begin with Woakes after lunch?
England additionally selected to open the bowling with Chris Woakes after lunch, as a substitute of utilizing the tempo on supply from Atkinson or Wooden, so was {that a} misstep?
“I was surprised Woakes opened up after lunch. If I was the West Indies, I’d be thinking he’s probably the one I’d like to face,” mentioned former Australia worldwide Mel Jones.
“Then the bowlers’ lengths started to drag back because of the pressure the West Indies started to apply.”
England might want to regulate to the post-Anderson and Broad period, notably as they construct in direction of the Ashes in 2025/26.
It was a difficult day within the subject and it’s a work in progress however who higher to study from than Anderson as their mentor?
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An emotional Hodge celebrated wildly after scoring his first Take a look at century for West Indies
England’s Take a look at sequence vs West Indies
Watch day three of the second Take a look at between England and West Indies, from Trent Bridge in Nottingham, dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10am on Saturday (first ball to be bowled at 11am).
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