A Check match that was fascinatingly poised after England and West Indies’ first innings has in all probability edged in favour of the house facet.
England turned a 41-run deficit at lunch on day three right into a 207-run lead by stumps, with cricketing nous from Ben Stokes’ staff – a refined model of Bazball – and wayward bowling from Kraigg Brathwaite’s males serving to the hosts to 248-3 beneath cloudy skies at Trent Bridge.
After Zak Crawley was run out backing up within the second over of England’s second dig, there was an opportunity for West Indies to pounce. An opportunity Sky Sports activities Cricket pundit Stuart Broad feels they squandered.
“I think this was a missed opportunity for West Indies,” stated the previous England fast.
“Getting the luck of Crawley being run out the best way he was, to then not capitalise and use the circumstances in addition to they may have achieved, they are going to be dissatisfied.
West Indies had England beneath stress – however let it slip
“There have been too many delicate deliveries, straightforward boundaries, notably to Ollie Pope when he first got here in. He received some width and a few leg-side deliveries.
“If they had controlled the rate and then got a couple of wickets, England were still behind the game. But Pope and Ben Duckett got the scoreboard moving and the pressure had gone.”
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Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett, who scored 51 and 76 respectively, have been dismissed in fast succession at Trent Bridge as West Indies struck twice after a ball change
Duckett and Pope shared their second century stand of the match, with Duckett making 76 and Pope 51 in an alliance of 119 from 143 deliveries, earlier than they have been dismissed in fast succession by Alzarri Joseph following a ball change.
Broad stated: “Duckett and Pope played some great cricket shots and they score at a good rate as they can hit good balls for four. When you have players that can do that, you can’t gift them easy fours.
“You need to give them nothing, so that they need to create one thing. We’ve seen that Pope is busy and should you tie him down he dances down the wicket and that is whenever you would possibly create an opportunity.
“After tea, West Indies came up with a clear, solid plan for half an hour – went to Duckett’s outside edge, used 7-2 fields. But Test cricket is a long game and you can’t be good for 45 minutes, it has to be hour after hour after hour.”
Joe Root (pictured) and Harry Brook have added an unbroken 108 for England’s fourth wicket
‘Root and Brook confirmed cricket brains’
As soon as Duckett and Pope’s century partnership was snapped, Joe Root and Harry Brook stitched one other in fading mild, largely parking the uber-aggressive batting, save for the odd swipe from Brook.
“There was a bit in that pitch with the overhead conditions, enough for the ball to nip around more than it had done on days one and two,” stated Broad.
“It was not as easy a pitch to come out and take the game to the bowlers so Brook and Root, players with good cricket brains, picked their areas and style of shots they were comfortable scoring with.
Brook will resume on day 4 on 71 not out
“Brook attacks the short ball a lot, opens up the off-side to dink over third man, while he can also pull the ball hard through midwicket and square leg.
“There’s a nice understanding there having performed collectively for Yorkshire, they run effectively between the wickets. England actually gained the final hour and a half with Brook and Root enjoying so superbly.”
Broad’s fellow pundit Michael Atherton added: “On this collection I believe we have now seen a barely extra mature method from England. They’re nonetheless rattling alongside at a speedy price for Check cricket – nearly 5 an over – but it surely hasn’t felt as chaotic.
“They have been criticised in the past for their gung-ho approach, as well as their gung-ho words. Here they have been aggressive and on the front foot, but not reckless and they are in a decent position.”
England will want time to bowl West Indies out
So what can be England’s play on day 4?
Captain Ben Stokes continues to be to bat for England within the second innings and is due in at No 6
Broad added: “They will be aware the Trent Bridge pitch doesn’t deteriorate hugely. It’s not the sort of pitch where you are going to bowl a team out in 25 overs – you are going to need a chunk of time.
“I do not assume they’ll dangle the carrot of 320, 330 to West Indies – they’ll need to be up at 370, 380. However the best way England bat that would occur rapidly.
“I would imagine England will want to bowl 60 overs.”
Watch day 4 of the second Check between England and West Indies, from Trent Bridge, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10.15am on Sunday (first ball at 11am).
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