This match is set for a thrilling finale that deserves a full house at the Ageas Bowl rather than banks of empty seats with West Indies and England locked in a riveting contest that could go either way.
Zak Crawley won the scramble for survival in the top four on Saturday, but a more desperate battle lies ahead for his team after West Indies quick bowlers rocked England in the final hour.
Crawley’s attractive 76, his highest Test score, should guarantee he plays at Emirates Old Trafford next week and that his Kent colleague Joe Denly makes way for Joe Root’s return.
But what the series scoreline will be by then is harder to predict. The late burst of wickets took the draw out of the equation and West Indies are favourites with England 284 for eight, a lead of 170. It is not a straightforward run chase already on a fifth-day pitch and if the tailenders can show some courage to take the target to 200 then England will still have enough runs to win.
But it will take some England new-ball bowling as good as the efforts put in by Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph on Saturday evening for that to happen. It was an outstanding display of fast bowling and stamina to summon up such energy in the final hour to drag West Indies back into the ascendancy as England lost five wickets for 30 runs and with it their strengthening grip on the game.
Joseph was superb all day, bowling well both sides of lunch before offering real penetration in the final session to remove Crawley and Jos Buttler.
Gabriel had looked dead on his feet as Ben Stokes flogged him with the second new ball but he rallied to back up Joseph by bowling Dom Bess and Ollie Pope as the match slipped away from England.
After 15 matches Denly averages 29 and he just cannot transition from defence to imposing himself on attacks. At the age of 34 he knows if he is left out next week then it will be the end.
Joe Denly gifted the simplest of catches off Roston Chase - GETTY IMAGES
Crawley is 22 and batted with the game and his place in the team on the line but handled the pressure with a youthful energy that contrasted with Denly’s tentativeness. Crawley’s only fault was that he did not go on to make the hundred so important for his own career and this match.
This has been a Test match of missed opportunities for England batsmen. Rory Burns began the theme. He looked calm and controlled, settling his team’s nerves in a solid first hour as England started 99 behind. James Anderson called this a “new-ball” pitch so it was vital Burns and Sibley did the hard work, and they combined for 72 runs, England’s highest opening partnership in a home Test for three years.
Ten minutes before lunch Burns leaned back and cut a long hop from Roston Chase straight to backward point for 42. England had been careful not to underestimate Chase after his eight for 60 in Barbados last year but Burns and Sibley had ground to a halt, scoring just 11 runs in 13 overs leading up to Burns getting himself out.
Sibley shrugged off the pain from an elbow cut by a ball from Holder to make 50, displaying his composed powers of concentration that bring to mind Alastair Cook. He is happy to stay in, forget the scoreboard and play his own way, content with his limitations.
But with so few scoring options on the off side, opponents can shut him down. Just 10 of his 50 runs were scored on the off side, and with Sibley also struggling to score off the spinners, West Indies just had to bide their time.
For such a leg-side player, Sibley’s strength has been turned into a weakness. He has a problem with the short ball into the chest because he does not pull or hook, which will be terminal in Australia in 18 months’ time if he lasts that long, and was caught on the on side for the fourth time in Test cricket since Port Elizabeth in January. This time he flicked Gabriel off his hip with keeper Shane Dowrich taking an excellent low catch.
England moved into the lead when Denly connected sweetly with a pull shot. He played a wonderful drive down the ground for four that boded well after a nervy start.
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Denly is such an attractive batsman at county level and returned to international prominence with his performances in Twenty20 competitions. But since the end of last summer his strike rate in Test cricket has slowed as speculation over his place has grown.
This time he was starting to look at ease sweeping Chase to the boundary but two balls later a leading edge to short mid-wicket was the lamest of dismissals and Denly knew the significance. His head dropped and as he walked off a frustrated bash of the bat on the LED advertising board before he walked up the steps to the dressing room said it all.
Stokes was watchful, allowing Crawley to play the major role. Crawley was superb against spin, encouraging for the winter tour to India, and a well crafted half-century included six fours off 80 balls.
At the second new ball, England were 93 ahead with seven wickets remaining, and the Test in the balance. A weary Gabriel started to resemble a fast bowler playing his first Test for a year, as Stokes drilled him for three fours and England moved along at 4.5 an over. Stokes was looking in the mood and quick runs were vital to give England any hope of having enough time left to win the game.
It was again a moment for a captain to stand up. Jason Holder brought himself on and in his second over went 2-1 up in his personal duel with Stokes when he edged to gully.
Six balls later Crawley’s leading edge gave Joseph his first wicket of the Test before bowling Buttler, whose limited footwork led to a big inside edge knocking over leg stump.
It was a poor dismissal and Buttler’s approach contracted badly with opposite number Dowrich, who dug in for his team on Friday. A similar performance from Buttler would have gone a long way to making sure England could not lose but now he goes into Old Trafford with questions again over his place in Test cricket.
Gabriel had been rallied by Joseph’s performance. Bess played inside the line to lose his off stump to Gabriel. His pace and bounce pushed back Pope who played on a shortish ball into the body. The close, and the chance to regroup, could not come quickly enough for England.
06:02 PM
Close of play - England lead by 170
What a fine comeback from West Indies in the final hour or so. And what an intriguingly poised final day we have in store. You have to say West Indies are favourites from here, but you wouldn't stick a huge amount of money on them.
06:00 PM
End of over 104: Eng 204 & 284-8 (Wood 1, Archer 5); West Indies 318
This from Gabriel is probably the penultimate over of the day unless a wicket falls. A Wood prod through point gets him of the mark and Gabriel then repeatedly beats Archer's outside edge. In fact, that will be all for tonight. No time for any more and that is the close of play.
05:55 PM
End of over 103: Eng 204 & 283-8 (Wood 0, Archer 5); West Indies 318
Archer averages almost 26 in first-class cricket, yet seems almost unable to hold a bat when it comes to the international game. How England could do with him scoring some runs here. He misses with a huge attempted drive off Roach, blocks the straight ones and then controls a cut shot through gully for four. Smart.
05:50 PM
End of over 102: Eng 204 & 279-8 (Wood 0, Archer 1); West Indies 318
Blimey. Are England even going to see out the day?
05:49 PM
WICKET! Pope b Gabriel 12
Another one in the over! This one is shorter, Pope tries to ride the bounce but only succeeds in deflecting the ball down onto the stumps. Perhaps it was the pace that did for him. FOW 279/8
05:45 PM
WICKET! Bess b Gabriel 3
Full and straight. You miss, I hit-type stuff. The ball is angled into the batsman and then just holds its line with a touch of seam movement to knock out off stump. Bess played inside the line. Fine bowling. FOW 278/7
05:43 PM
End of over 101: Eng 204 & 277-6 (Pope 11, Bess 3); West Indies 318
Roach is called back into the attack. Can West Indies nip a couple more wickets before close? A bit of unexpected bounce beats Pope outside off. One run from the over.
05:38 PM
End of over 100: Eng 204 & 276-6 (Pope 10, Bess 3); West Indies 318
Holder asks Gabriel to have another crack this evening (play can continue until 7pm) and he beats Bess' outside edge twice in succession. Two attempted prods from the batsman and two times he fails to connect. A maiden.
This is interesting:
Highest fourth innings totals at the Rose Bowl, last three County Championship Seasons:
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
05:33 PM
End of over 99: Eng 204 & 276-6 (Pope 10, Bess 3); West Indies 318
Joseph is targeting the stumps here, bowling full and straight. One single from his over.
05:29 PM
End of over 98: Eng 204 & 275-6 (Pope 10, Bess 2); West Indies 318
Two more for Pope, who steps across his stumps and works a couple down to fine leg. And he then whips a pull shot through mid-wicket from outside off. Every run could be vital here. England will be desperate for a lead of 200 at an absolute minimum. It is currently 161.
Buttler has really struggled in Test cricket in recent times:
f - AP
05:25 PM
End of over 97: Eng 204 & 267-6 (Pope 3, Bess 1); West Indies 318
Joseph is purring here. He's bowling rapidly and... should have Bess here! The batsman is totally squared up, the ball takes a thin edge and Dowrich shells the chance low to his right. That wasn't too difficult. Bess is then struck on the front pad next ball, prompting a huge appeal which is turned down. West Indies review and... it's umpire's call. The ball may have tickled the outside of leg stump. Good decision from the umpire, but Joseph is causing all sorts of problems. Maiden.
05:20 PM
End of over 96: Eng 204 & 267-6 (Pope 3, Bess 1); West Indies 318
Holder is giving the batsmen a bit of a working over here. He gets one to pop off the surface into Pope's hand and follows up with a bouncer that Bess shoulders arms to, wearing it on the bicep. Two singles added.
05:15 PM
End of over 95: Eng 204 & 265-6 (Pope 2, Bess 0); West Indies 318
Bess is the new man and he's struck on the thigh pad first ball. West Indies ask the lbw question, the umpire shakes his head and the tourists opt against a review. That's the correct call because it was too high. A wicket maiden from Joseph, who has two scalps in this spell.
05:11 PM
WICKET! Buttler b Joseph 9
Another one falls. Buttler never looked comfortable at the crease today. He attempts to drive Joseph through mid-off, flicks the ball off the inside edge and it smashes into the stumps. FOW 265/6
05:08 PM
End of over 94: Eng 204 & 265-5 (Pope 2, Buttler 9); West Indies 318
A big appeal as Buttler is slightly squared up and rapped on the back pad by Holder. The finger is raised, but Buttler quickly reviews. Was it high? Was it missing leg stump? Ball tracking shows... it was doing both! A poor decision in a really poor Test for these umpires.
Holder then strays too full and Buttler flicks off his pad for four through mid-wicket.
05:03 PM
End of over 93: Eng 204 & 260-5 (Pope 2, Buttler 5); West Indies 318
There seems to be a general theory that England might be able to defend 200 here. Their lead is currently 144 at the start of this over. I'd personally have West Indies favourites if chasing anything up to 250, but it's impossible to know. Just two singles off Joseph's over.
04:59 PM
End of over 92: Eng 204 & 258-5 (Pope 1, Buttler 4); West Indies 318
Just the one single off Holder's over. I tell you what, this match could be heading for a cracking fifth day. The quicker these wickets fall, the less likely a draw is an option.
04:54 PM
End of over 91: Eng 204 & 257-5 (Pope 0, Buttler 4); West Indies 318
Well, well, well. This match has burst into life. England were cruising their way through the session and suddenly they have two men yet to score at the crease. Buttler is the newest of them and he gets off the mark by guiding Joseph to the third-man boundary for four.
04:53 PM
WICKET! Crawley c & b Joseph 76
Joseph is brought into the attack and he gets rid of Crawley, who attempts to turn a full delivery through mid-wicket and returns the ball straight to the bowler via a leading edge. FOW 253/5
04:48 PM
End of over 90: Eng 204 & 249-4 (Pope 0, Crawley 72); West Indies 318
He's so easy to underestimate, but Holder is some bowler isn't he? Stokes had played beautifully until that point. A wicket maiden.
Captains dismissing opposing captains most often in Tests: R Benaud 18 Imran Khan 15 JO Holder 15 GS Sobers 12 DL Vettori 11 SM Pollock 9
Big wicket. Holder picks up the opposition captain again. It's just back of a length and finds Stokes' outside edge to give Hope - who is one of two gully fielders in place - an easy catch. FOW 249/4
04:41 PM
End of over 89: Eng 204 & 249-3 (Stokes 46, Crawley 72); West Indies 318
Two more for Stokes, stepping outside off and turning through mid-wicket off Roach. The England captain looks in cracking touch. Three more singles add to the tally.
04:37 PM
End of over 88: Eng 204 & 244-3 (Stokes 42, Crawley 71); West Indies 318
Gabriel has been poor with this second new ball so Holder brings himself on to try and stem this flow of runs. It does look a pretty dead track at the moment. Unless it breaks up significantly overnight, it will be very hard for England to take 10 wickets tomorrow. Holder does was what Holder does: it's a maiden to Crawley.
04:33 PM
End of over 87: Eng 204 & 244-3 (Stokes 42, Crawley 71); West Indies 318
Stokes continues to use his feet against Roach, advancing down the track and then swiveling to tuck a short ball for two off his hip. Oh my word! Stokes has produced some stunning drives since tea. This one is little more than a push, but it pings off the middle and races away for four wide of mid-on. Perfection. This new ball is being sent to all parts.
04:28 PM
End of over 86: Eng 204 & 240-3 (Stokes 36, Crawley 71); West Indies 318
My word, that is stunning again from Stokes, standing tall and driving Gabriel between bowler and mid-on for a dashing four. Gabriel is leaking plenty of runs at the moment. A single for Stokes, a two for Crawley. Check out this Stokes drive from the previous Gabriel over:
End of over 85: Eng 204 & 230-3 (Stokes 31, Crawley 69); West Indies 318
Time for an impromptu drinks break as Crawley receives a blow in the unmentionables from a Roach delivery. He's all fine to continue after a refreshment and adds two more to the total with a flick through mid-wicket.
04:14 PM
End of over 84: Eng 204 & 228-3 (Stokes 31, Crawley 67); West Indies 318
Gabriel continues to bend his back, but Crawley rides the bounce expertly and drives off the back foot for four through cover. He then inside edges past his stumps for a single that brings up his highest Test score, before skipper Stokes produces a cover drive to absolute perfection. What I'd give to time one ball like that in my entire life. Flew to the boundary in a flash. And he then repeats the trick next ball past point. Expensive over. Thirteen from it.
04:08 PM
End of over 83: Eng 204 & 215-3 (Stokes 23, Crawley 62); West Indies 318
Roach will share new-ball duties and Stokes immediately tries his trick of walking down the track at him, attempting to turn the ball into the leg side and receiving a rap on his finger for his troubles. Roach has a fine record around the wicket to left-handers and he then bangs one past the outside edge with some extra bounce. Maiden. Testing bowling.
04:04 PM
End of over 82: Eng 204 & 215-3 (Stokes 23, Crawley 62); West Indies 318
That's the end of that then. New ball time and Gabriel will be the first man to have use of it. He generates a touch more bounce, as a thick outside edge earns Crawley three to push England's lead up to 100. Not a great deal in this pitch for bowlers to work with at the moment.
03:57 PM
End of over 81: Eng 204 & 211-3 (Stokes 22, Crawley 59); West Indies 318
The new ball is handed to umpire Richard Illingworth, who pockets it because Chase will carry on. I'm not totally sure what the point is in keeping these spinners going, even if Chase has picked up two wickets today. He appears to be posing little threat at the moment, with England picking up four easy runs.
03:54 PM
End of over 80: Eng 204 & 207-3 (Stokes 21, Crawley 56); West Indies 318
Brathwaite continues to bowl in a long-sleeved jumper. His bowling action is almost comically languid. Two singles from the over and the new ball is now available. Will they take it?
03:51 PM
End of over 79: Eng 204 & 205-3 (Stokes 20, Crawley 55); West Indies 318
Two more for Stokes with a push through extra-cover off Chase.
England know they need to kick on now if they want to win this Test. Their attack shot percentage since Tea - 31% - is well above the average, as is the run rate of 4.5rpo. #ENGvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
03:48 PM
End of over 78: Eng 204 & 203-3 (Stokes 18, Crawley 55); West Indies 318
Joseph's spell lasts just one over as Brathwaite is asked to try some more of his offies with the new ball three overs away. Plenty of easy singles on offer and England go beyond 200 with the lead nearing triple figures.
03:44 PM
End of over 77: Eng 204 & 199-3 (Stokes 16, Crawley 53); West Indies 318
Crawley squirts two through backward point off Chase, before pushing another single.
03:42 PM
End of over 76: Eng 204 & 196-3 (Stokes 16, Crawley 50); West Indies 318
A bowling change sees Joseph - who, like Holder, is wicketless so far in this match - thrown the ball. And he soon produces a peach of a delivery, seaming across the left-handed Stokes and totally squaring up the England captain as the ball fizzes past the outside edge. A touch more length allows Stokes to push for a couple to the off-side boundary sweeper. But Stokes is then hugely fortunate not to be heading back to the changing room when top-edging an attempted hook, which sails high into the air and just out of the reach of the slip fielder haring after it. Stokes is batting with some intent here.
03:37 PM
End of over 75: Eng 204 & 190-3 (Stokes 10, Crawley 50); West Indies 318
Oh hello! A first chance for Stokes to have a look at Chase post-tea and he drops down onto his knee, swinging his arms in a glorious arc for a lofted four over mid-wicket.
03:33 PM
End of over 74: Eng 204 & 185-3 (Stokes 5, Crawley 50); West Indies 318
Holder is operating just back of a length here. One run off the over.
f - AFP
03:29 PM
End of over 73: Eng 204 & 184-3 (Stokes 4, Crawley 50); West Indies 318
Chase continues to Crawley and - as with his previous over - drops one short outside off stump, allowing the batsman to chop it away for four behind square on the off side. And he then brings up his half-century with a reverse-sweep for four more! What a way to do so. A fine innings so far and at a decent rate off 80 balls.
03:26 PM
End of over 72: Eng 204 & 176-3 (Stokes 4, Crawley 42); West Indies 318
Having won the battle of the captains in England's first innings (although Stokes gained revenge when West Indies batted), Holder brings himself on to have another crack at the England captain here, with Stokes yet to score from 15 deliveries. That scoreless streak ends in some style though, as Stokes punches straight back past the bowler for a lovely boundary to get off the mark.
03:22 PM
End of over 71: Eng 204 & 172-3 (Stokes 0, Crawley 42); West Indies 318
Chase will kick things off after the break and he beats Crawley's outside edge straight up with his first ball back. But the Kent man then capitalises on Chase dropping marginally short, rocking back and punching off the back foot through cover for four. Big chance for him to seal his place in the side here over Denly.
03:14 PM
Final session
Afternoon all, Rory Burns has been speaking at the interval and refused to put a figure on what England's lead needs to be if they are to win this, but he did flag the variable bounce starting to emerge in the surface. What do you reckon? A 200-run lead? Hard to know.
03:01 PM
Tea: England lead by 54, with seven second-innings wickets in hand
That's me done for the day, live-blogging wise, at least. The evening session will be described by Ben Bloom.
02:58 PM
End of over 70: Eng 204 & 168-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 38)
Oh hello, we've got a review for a slip catch. Has Stokes feathered an edge here? Nope. Bat on ground. Stokes survives the rest of the over, without getting off the mark, and that's tea, with England leading by 54.
02:55 PM
End of over 69: Eng 204 & 165-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 35)
Crawley down the wicket again to thump Chase for four down the ground. Tea coming up shortly. Time for at least one more over though. Looks like Kraigg Brathwaite will bowl it. "Right arm optimistic" is how Michael Holding just described him .
02:51 PM
End of over 68: Eng 204 & 158-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 28)
Runs off Denly's thigh pad and then tucked behind square. Stokes faces his tenth ball without getting off the mark.
02:48 PM
End of over 67: Eng 204 & 154-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 27)
Crawley gets lucky as a leading edge loops into the air and hangs there for an eternity before falling safe. England pick up another two runs, taking the lead to 40.
02:46 PM
End of over 66: Eng 204 & 152-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 25)
One run off the over. The new question of the moment is whether Joe Denly's Test career should continue. Since making 50 at Centurion, Denly's Test scores have been 31, 38, 31, 25, 27, 8, 18 and 29.
02:40 PM
End of over 65: Eng 204 & 151-3; West Indies 318 (Stokes 0, Crawley 24)
England captain Ben Stokes blocks his first three balls. England effectively 37 for three.
02:38 PM
WICKET!
Oh my goodness. Another soft, soft dismissal for Roston Chase as Denly just clips the ball straight into the hands of short midwicket. Really tame dismissal. Denly did all the hard work, got himself well and truly settled. . . .and then did that.
Denly c Holder b Chase 29(70)
02:36 PM
End of over 64: Eng 204 & 151-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 29, Crawley 24)
Denly, who has been backing up a little too far for fairness, almost gets his comeuppance when Crawley drives the ball back onto the stumps, but Joseph couldn't get his hand to the ball on its way through .
02:30 PM
End of over 63: Eng 204 & 149-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 29, Crawley 22)
Chase continuing with a packed leg-side field and a very straight line. Looks like the Windies are more concerned about limiting England's lead than making any new inroads.
02:29 PM
End of over 62: Eng 204 & 148-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 29, Crawley 21)
Alzarri Joseph replaces Kemar Roach. Crawley picks up three more runs. He's looking at ease now too. This really has been the easiest day of batting so far in this Test. If there were signs this morning that the pitch might crack up it certainly hasn't done so yet.
02:24 PM
End of over 61: Eng 204 & 145-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 29, Crawley 18)
Nice lofted drive down the ground for two from Denly. England's lead creeping up to 31. Can Stokes start to think about when he might like to declare? Have England got any hope of forcing a result or is this game going to meander to a draw?
02:20 PM
End of over 60: Eng 204 & 143-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 27, Crawley 18)
Maiden from Roach, who still hasn't taken a wicket in this game, despite all those stats about how he's the most dangerous bowler in the world for top-three batsmen.
02:16 PM
End of over 59: Eng 204 & 143-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 27, Crawley 18)
Denly sweeps four runs off Roston Chase and then Crawley attempts the reverse sweep but misses. Will be interesting to see how the England captain plays when he arrives at the crease. Do England think they can win this game or are they banking on a draw. The lead now is 29.
02:12 PM
End of over 58: Eng 204 & 137-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 22, Crawley 17)
A peach from Kemar Roach, getting a ball to hold its line beautifully past the outside edge of Zak Crawley's bat. Honours even for the over though as the Kent man absolutely smashes an on-drive through mid-on for four. Then a streaky outside edge for two through second slip.
02:08 PM
End of over 57: Eng 204 & 129-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 22, Crawley 9)
Crawley definitely looking to be positive here, trying to find gaps in the leg side off the offspinner.
02:05 PM
End of over 56: Eng 204 & 125-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 20, Crawley 7)
Roach replaces Gabriel and bowls a maiden as my lunch, smoked haddock and lentils, is delivered to my desk in south east London.
02:02 PM
End of over 55: Eng 204 & 125-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 20, Crawley 7)
Roston Chase has come into the attack after drinks and Crawley, perhaps with instructions to be a bit more positive, dances down the pitch to loft him over mid-on for four. England's lead now 11 runs.
01:54 PM
End of over 54: Eng 204 & 119-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 19, Crawley 2)
Crawley off the mark with a thick inside edge through straight midwicket, off Gabriel.
01:49 PM
End of over 53: Eng 204 & 117-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 19, Crawley 0)
Jason Holder reviews a not-out decision after Denly attempts a pull shot, but the ball came off the batsman's shoulders only. Oh, nice! Now Denly cracks away a pull — the first one he's really connected with. England now lead by three runs.
01:43 PM
End of over 52: Eng 204 & 113-2; West Indies 318 (Denly 15, Crawley 0)
Well it all went on in that over, didn't it? The upshot being that West Indies have a breakthrough, with England now trailing by just one run.
01:42 PM
WICKET!
Sibley caught behind down the leg side! Well, that ends a very busy four balls: first Sibley went to his half century, then he immediately played on off Gabriel only for a zoomed-in replay to show that there no part of the bowler's foot behind was behind the line, meaning Sibley survived by about 2mm. Then just two balls later, he really was on his way back to the pavilion, tickling a ball down the leg side and through to Dowrich behind the stumps.
Sibley c Dowrich b Gabriel 50 (164)
01:34 PM
End of over 51: Eng 204 & 110-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 48, Denly 15)
Shot! From Denly as he check drives Holder down the ground for four. Shot of the day? Probably. Sun is coming out again and the conditions are looking gorgeous for batting again.
01:32 PM
End of over 50: Eng 204 & 105-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 47, Denly 11)
Bit looser here from Gabriel as Sibley edges towards his second Test half century. He turned the first of those into a ton.
01:24 PM
End of over 49: Eng 204 & 98-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 41, Denly 10)
Tight from Holder in the first over of his spell. Maiden. This game isn't really going anywhere at the moment.
01:20 PM
End of over 48: Eng 204 & 98-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 41, Denly 10)
Denly chinese cuts for two off the archangel...and Holder is bringing himself back on.
01:16 PM
End of over 47: Eng 204 & 95-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 41, Denly 7)
Good lines here from Kemar Roach, but not a lot happening off the pitch. Suspect that Jason Holder will bring himself back on to bowl as the first change after lunch.
Here's Ian Healy's Aussie upstart niece throwing shade at our brave boys.
End of over 46: Eng 204 & 95-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 41, Denly 7)
The big angry bear that is Shanon Gabriel comes back into the attack. Hobbles to his mark, rolls his way to the crease, delivers 90mph bombs when he gets there. Big of shape in the air from the big man too.
01:07 PM
End of over 45: Eng 204 & 92-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 38, Denly 7)
Two off the Roach over but a pretty wholehearted shout for LBW against Denly too. Roach thought it was going down and the Windies don't review it.
01:02 PM
End of over 44: Eng 204 & 90-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 38, Denly 5)
Four for Sibley, guiding a rapidly rising ball down to third man. Here's how the pitch has been changing in character over the past four days.
PitchViz Bounce Consistency throughout this Test (higher = less consistent)
Day 1 - 5.8/10 Day 2 - 4.9/10 Day 3 - 4.7/10 Day 4 - 7.4/10#ENGvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
12:58 PM
End of over 43: Eng 204 & 86-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 34, Denly 5)
Another single pinched at the feet of the plodding Shannon Gabriel, a fielder cast from an old-fashioned mold.
If there was a little bit of seam movement on show before the break there doesn't seem to be much now.
12:54 PM
End of over 42: Eng 204 & 85-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 33, Denly 5)
Runs for Denly down the ground off Joseph, because a stiff-looking Roston Chase fails to stop the ball. And then a very cheekily stolen single when Denly notices that Shannon Gabriel is on his heels at mid-on.
12:49 PM
End of over 41: Eng 204 & 79-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 31, Denly 1)
Sibley pats back a maiden from Roach. Bowling duties to be shared by Alzarri Joseph.
12:43 PM
Players are back out
England's rebuilding project continues. Starting with this match, finishing with a guaranteed Ashes victory in January 2022.
Roach to open the bowling after lunch.
12:04 PM
Lunch: England trail by 35
Good session there for the home team. Only 64 runs, but if England can reduce the deficit to nil without losing another wicket, they'll be back in the game.
12:03 PM
End of over 40: Eng 204 & 79-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 31, Denly 1)
Not sure Denly needs to be playing big pull shots against Joseph in the last over before lunch, but there you go. He tries it twice and almost gets bowled off a bottom edge second time around. Last ball before lunch is....a dot, but almost an lbw shout against Denly.
12:01 PM
End of over 39: Eng 204 & 77-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 30, Denly 0)
Nasser Hussain saying on TV commentary, quite accurately I think, that Sibley only seems to have one scoring option against the offspin of Roston Chase, which is the nudge through midwicket.
Last over before lunch coming up.
11:57 AM
End of over 38: Eng 204 & 77-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 30, Denly 0)
Four leg byes and a single for Sibley. Now a chance for Joe Denly here, in fine batting conditions. He doesn't yet have a century from his 15 Tests, but he does have six half centuries. Joseph beats him outside off stump. Possibly done him for pace there, actually. And then a scorching bouncer that properly puts the willies up the England No 3. Much whooping from the slip cordon.
11:53 AM
End of over 37: Eng 204 & 72-1; West Indies 318 (Sibley 29, Denly 0)
A wicket maiden. But if you're telling me that Roston Chase is the most dangerous bowler in this West Indies attack, I'm telling you that you're wrong.
11:52 AM
WICKET! Burns c Campbell b Chase 42 (104)
Oh! There's where. Burns cuts Roston Chase straight into the hands of backward point. Did the ball get a little bit bigger than he was expecting? Just a lapse of concentration, more like. Burns will be furious with that. He'd played so nicely for his 42.
11:49 AM
End of over 36: Eng 204 & 72-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 29, Burns 42)
One off the Joseph over. Where's this wicket coming from then?
11:44 AM
End of over 35: Eng 204 & 71-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 29, Burns 41)
Another Chase maiden. Deficit down to 43 now.
11:42 AM
End of over 34: Eng 204 & 71-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 29, Burns 41)
Joseph does indeed come into the attack, and he induces a hurried back-foot defence from Burns, to a ball he initially wanted to leave.
11:39 AM
End of over 33: Eng 204 & 69-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 28, Burns 40)
Burns prods away a single and then Sibley clips four runs through midwicket. Nice shot that: used his feet and threaded the ball into a gap.
Here's the story of how Dom Sibley lost almost 13kg during lockdown, after becoming embarrassed by his weight compared to the senior England players.
11:35 AM
End of over 32: Eng 204 & 64-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 24, Burns 39)
Holder continuing and bowling one ball that keeps a little low. Just wondering if maybe this pitch is beginning to break up a little bit. If so, that Captain Stokes decision to bat first (and thus bowl last) might be proved a good one. All eyes on Dom Bess. England have scored just two runs in the past half hour.
11:32 AM
End of over 31: Eng 204 & 64-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 24, Burns 39)
Not much of interest here from Roston Chase. Why hasn't Alzarri Joseph had a bowl?
11:26 AM
End of over 30: Eng 204 & 64-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 24, Burns 39)
Cor blimey! Jason Holder gets a ball to spit out of the pitch like an absolute cobra, smashing into Sibley's elbow as he attempted to withdraw the bat. Looks like the ball took a chunk out of the pitch when it bounced. Sibley now bleeding from his elbow where that ball struck him.
11:23 AM
End of over 29: Eng 204 & 64-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 24, Burns 39)
Sibley breaks the stalemate with a nurdle off Chase through midwicket.
11:20 AM
End of over 28: Eng 204 & 63-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 23, Burns 39)
Third maiden on the trot. England under Andrew Strauss would say that the chances of a wicket have suddenly rocketed.
11:17 AM
End of over 27: Eng 204 & 63-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 23, Burns 39)
Another maiden. Sunshine. Batsmen blocking the ball. Draw looking likely. It's all very Test cricket right now.
With a 44% chance of victory according to WinViz, a clear favourite has emerged in this Test - sadly, it's the draw rather than either of the two sides. #ENGvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
11:14 AM
End of over 26: Eng 204 & 63-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 23, Burns 39)
Maiden over from Holder.
This stand between Burns and Sibley is the highest by England openers in a home Test since the Lord's Test v South Africa in 2017 (80 by Cook, Jennings). No reason why England shouldn't have a good day here. Decent batting conditions
End of over 25: Eng 204 & 63-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 23, Burns 39)
Roston Chase continues after drinks. Just the single off the over. Here's another good stat.
This is England's highest opening stand in their last 20 home Tests, since the 1st Test v SA at Lord's, in July 2017, when Cook & Jennings added 80 in 2nd innings. https://t.co/GzKBeZ2kCp
End of over 23: Eng 204 & 61-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 23, Burns 37)
England's opening pair playing Chase with relative ease here. Deficit down to 53.
A classic Dom Sibley innings so far. He's made 22 runs, and only one has been through the offside. #ENGvWIpic.twitter.com/qOtIrGKmle
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
10:55 AM
End of over 22: Eng 204 & 57-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 22, Burns 34)
Another false shot as Holder gets the ball to bounce a fraction higher than expected and Sibley gets an uncomfortable inside edge down to fine leg for four. Then more runs off the inside edge as Sibley lunges forward. And a third inside edge in the over as Burns fails to connect properly. I wouldn't say that Holder is making it talk, but he's definitely getting more out of the pitch than Gabriel or Roach managed to.
10:51 AM
End of over 21: Eng 204 & 52-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 17, Burns 34)
Chase continuing....and beating the forward prod of Rory Burns. Possibly the first false shot this morning.
Last time England faced Roston Chase, he took 8-59.
According to our Expected Wickets model, the balls he bowled would normally take 1.4 wickets, making it the "worst" Test eight-fer in our database.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
10:48 AM
End of over 20: Eng 204 & 51-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 16, Burns 34)
A rare short and wide ball from the West Indies captain and Burns cuts for four. Then a little leg-cutter to Burns, showing more deviation than anything Roach or Gabriel managed earlier this morning. Suppose if there's anyone who's going to find something in this pitch, it's Holder.
10:43 AM
End of over 19: Eng 204 & 47-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 16, Burns 30)
Burns bunts away a full toss for one. Sibley does the same. You need to pitch the ball here, Roston. Now he does so, but too short and Burns cuts away three runs. No significant spin on show yet.
A double change now as Jason Holder brings himself on to replace the archangel.
10:40 AM
End of over 18: Eng 204 & 42-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 15, Burns 26)
Sibley sways out the way of a Gabriel bouncer, very much in the manner of a man who's seeing the ball well and trusting in the pitch. Decent sweat on the big fast bowler now, which at least ought to make it easier to shine the ball.
Roston Chase is replacing Kemar Roach. First time that the West Indies have turned to a spinner in this match so far.
10:34 AM
End of over 17: Eng 204 & 40-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 14, Burns 25)
Oh, nice from Burns, rocking forward to drive for four down the ground. The deficit now down to 74.
10:31 AM
End of over 16: Eng 204 & 34-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 14, Burns 19)
First boundary of the morning as Burns pushes Gabriel through cover. And four for Sibley too, who tucks the ball of his pads. He has 14 from 55 balls. Nothing wrong with what the England openers are doing here, but wish they had looked this solid on day one.
10:24 AM
End of over 15: Eng 204 & 25-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 10, Burns 15)
Pitch looking properly flat now. Funny how it will do that when the sun comes out. Love to see some of the science behind it - geographical or psychological.
10:19 AM
End of over 14: Eng 204 & 22-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 10, Burns 12)
Maiden over from Gabriel. Still so strange to see a completely empty ground on such a gorgeous day for cricket watching. Hopefully plenty of those who would ordinarily be packed into the Ageas Bowl are instead playing their first game of cricket this summer now that the cricket lockdown has been lifted (after considerable pressure from a Telegraph Sport campaign). More on the return of recreational cricket here.
10:14 AM
End of over 13: Eng 204 & 22-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 10, Burns 12)
Kemar Roach bowling in the low 80s here, which is about the same (or a fraction slower) than James Anderson yesterday. Fascinating what a three-month break can do for a bowler.
Burns gets off the mark for the morning with a little dink into the leg side.
10:09 AM
End of over 12: Eng 204 & 17-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 7, Burns 10)
Shannon Gabriel opening the bownling from the pavilion end this morning. Running in like a bad-tempered bear. Another burgled single from Sibley, then some blockage from Burns, who is being required to play the ball rather more than he might like.
Since the start of 2019, Rory Burns has left 26% of his deliveries in Test cricket - only one top order batsman (min 5 matches) has left more in that time.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 11, 2020
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10:03 AM
End of over 11: Eng 204 & 16-0; West Indies 318 (Sibley 6, Burns 10)
Sibley leaves alone a couple of nip-backers from Roach. Heart in mouth stuff, but he judges them nicely then steals a single to mid-on to keep the strike. Glorious morning for batting.
10:00 AM
Right, we're about ready to rumble
Kemar Roach to Dom Sibley, with four slips in place. England trailing by 99, on 15 for no wicket...
09:56 AM
Captain on captain action
Enjoyed this, from the TMS scorer.
... Two captains dismissing each other in the 1st innings of a Test:
Scyld Berry, writing about yesterday's play, says that by simply playing this Test match, cricket has achieved something deeply impressive: making life appear almost normal. Read the rest of his report here.
Cricket gives the appearance, or illusion, of continuity and of stability. When a newsreader announces that England have collapsed - not the economy but the national cricket team - it could be any time in living memory. When it is West Indian fast bowling that England have collapsed against, it could be any time since the 1960s, or even earlier: England and West Indies were touring each other before the Great War. We thereby become part of a pageant that links the two eras: Cricket BC or Before Covid, and Cricket AD or after the devastation.
It was a shame that not a single member of the public could be allowed into the Ageas Bowl for love or money to enjoy the first sunny day of this series, but it was still a vicarious pleasure for those who wanted to watch or listen - perhaps in a garden or park, perhaps in self-isolation, perhaps in a hospital, breathing heavily. The simple fact that West Indian batsmen were scoring runs and building a lead, while England’s bowlers and fielders chipped away, helped time to pass more happily for many people than it has in the four months hitherto.
09:38 AM
Stokes v Holder, it's what Test cricket needed
In his report of yesterday's play, Nick Hoult noted that when Ben Stokes had Jason Holder caught at long leg yesterday it marked the first time since 1996 that Test captains had dismissed each other in the same match. The contest between the World's No 1 and No 2 allrounders is set to become a theme of this series.
"At tea, the innings was at a turning point. England had the second new ball but Dowrich and Chase took on the challenge moving along at five an over as the game started to slip away from England. It was the most comfortable time to bat so far in this match and it was a crucial moment when Anderson had Chase lbw ending an 81 run partnership.
The Stokes-Holder contest is just what Test cricket needed on its return. The absence of crowds is forgotten when the world’s two best allrounders are contesting an absorbing head-to-head battle. Holder followed his career best six wickets by saying he wanted to match it with a hundred and with his side leading by 63 when he came in and Dowrich well set, the situation was ideal.
Knowing when to bowl yourself is the key for captain allrounders and Stokes stepped up. Holder gave away his wicket, his eyes lighting up at Stokes short ball that he pulled to a tumbling Archer at fine leg.
It’s going to come down to how well England can bat second innings. There are no terrors in the pitch now. The pitch is good for batting, not too quick , the lateral movement has gone. So it ‘s about mental discipline, concentration and not gifting the opposition wickets. It is possible for England to score enough runs to put West Indies under pressure in the fourth innings but it requires a great team batting performance.
“I'm not a particularly emotional person but I've found the last couple of days quite tough. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement... you're disappointed if you drop your phone and the screen breaks.
“I’ve been frustrated, angry, gutted. It’s a hard decision to understand. I've probably bowled the best I've ever bowled the last couple of years. I felt like it was my shirt. I was in the team for the Ashes and going to South Africa and winning there. We are also in a unique position this summer with all your bowlers fit and ready to go.
“I don’t think I have anything to prove. England know what I can do. The selectors know what I can do and when I get that opportunity again you can bet that I will be on the money.”
09:22 AM
Broad - gets better with every minute he's out the team
Morning all. England resume today on 15 for no loss, still 99 runs behind West Indies. Play is due to get under way at 11am, and the forecast in Southampton is sunshine. (The forecast for the Test next week is even better, by the way).
The top story yesterday was very much the toils and tribulations of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. Yes, they're the quickest bowling pair ever put on the field by England — indeed one of the quickest bowling duos ever seen in Test cricket — but they were wicketless all day yesterday until Wood finally bowled Shannon Gabriel with the last ball of the West Indies innings. Combined figures for Wood and Archer? One for 135.
That's only half the story, of course. Because watching from the wings was Stuart Broad, whose control of length and ability to move the ball off the seam would surely have made him deadly.
As Tim Wigmore writes in this piece, the choice the England selectors made was to start building a team to win the Ashes, not necessarily a team to win this Test match.
"Test cricket is in an age of increasingly pronounced home advantage; even India, the best-balanced side in the world, were comfortably defeated in New Zealand earlier this year. All teams are struggling to build an adaptable side to thrive on the road. The contrast between conditions in England and those in most other countries renders the tension between building the best possible team at home and a side that can compete best away from home particularly acute.
"Looking at the narrow task of picking the strongest XI to win the first Test against the West Indies, the omission of Broad was hard to justify. This is not just about his sterling 13-year body of work in an England Test shirt. Simply consider his 23-wicket haul in the last Ashes, when he led the attack with zest, and his control and threat in South Africa, when he took 14 wickets at 19.4 in England’s 3-1 win. "
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