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Ugly? Yes. Boring? Very. But Dom Sibley's patience is exactly what England needed

England vs West Indies, second Test day one: live score and latest updates from Old Trafford - GETTY
England vs West Indies, second Test day one: live score and latest updates from Old Trafford - GETTY

Dom Sibley provided the calming influence England badly needed on a chaotic day as West Indies wasted an opportunity to seize hold of this match and the series.

The England players woke up to a text message summoning them to a team meeting to be told that Jofra Archer had been put in solitary confinement and their plans for this match ripped up at the last minute.

What they needed was a solid batting display in difficult conditions to steady nerves and refocus on beating West Indies and levelling the series.

In Sibley they have an opening batsman who will never inspire crowds to rush to take their seats for ball one of the day and if there had been a crowd at the ground on Thursday most of them would have spent it in the beer tent and drifted away early but his unbeaten 86 from 253 balls over the course of six hours was just what his team needed, guiding them to 207 for three.

He has a very limited range of strokes, an open, ugly stance and scores so heavily on the leg side that at one stage the West Indies barely bothered defending it when the off spinner was turning it into his pad, stationing three men, one in the deep, at midwicket. But he has focus and drive to succeed proving to England during lockdown he could improve his lifestyle by losing nearly two stone in weight to prepare for the summer. He showed the same application out in the middle to resist temptation to make his second successive fifty. He had luck too and was twice dropped but was patient and has set it up for the middle order to attack on Friday.

He was partnered by Ben Stokes, 59 not out, in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 126 and he was equally disciplined. He gave away his wicket twice in the first Test but this time he showed better control and has the option on Friday of going on the attack. England have plenty of batting in the side with Sam Curran and Chris Woakes two of four changes to the side beaten in Southampton.

West Indies wasted the new ball, their attack leader Shannon Gabriel was only half fit and they were flat in the field, dropping Sibley on44 and 68. With the team in turmoil, Australia would have crushed England but West Indies let it slip.

Gabriel and SIbley - GETTY
Gabriel and SIbley - GETTY

Light rain delayed the start and the clouds convinced both captains to bowl if they won the toss despite teams opting to bat first in every Test at Old Trafford since 1993. The pitch will turn as it wears but both Holder and Root believed wickets in cloudy conditions with the new ball on day one offered their best hope.

England’s changes at least would have given Root a fresh attack. But West Indies remained unchanged and their bowlers were weary. With the first session reduced to an hour and the light gloomy, it was a perfect time to be bowling but there were too many poor balls from all seamers.

Holder turned to Chase for the obligatory one over of spin to run the clock down before lunch. It was almost an admission of failure that Holder had to summon the off spinner in the first session of the match with the floodlights on.

Rory Burns has developed a habit of getting in but not staying around long enough to influence the match. He played for too much turn against Chase and was beaten by a ball that straightened. Wasting a review compounded the misjudgement.

Zak Crawley’s dismissal was the doziest thing done by an England player not called Archer. Holder positioned himself at leg slip for the first ball after lunch and Crawley graciously obliged by guiding the ball straight into his hands to put Chase on a hat-trick.

Facing a hat-trick ball was not ideal for Root in his first innings for more than four months. He played sketchily and tried too hard to force the pace while Sibley sleepwalked at the other end.

England were slowly getting on top and when Gabriel went off for treatment on his thigh they had a chance to really press the advantage but Root drove hard at a wide ball from Alzarri Joseph that Holder held at second slip.

ROot wicket - AFP
ROot wicket - AFP

West Indies did not attack Sibley enough with the short ball. He was patient to wait for the straight delivery that he could work on to the leg side and his efforts were appreciated by Root who banged on the dressing room window when he reached his half century off 164 balls with two fours, both scored through third man. Root does not care that Sibley chugs along, here at one an over, like a driver content to sit in the middle lane.

It is a test of a player’s patience to bat with Sibley because strokemakers like Stokes and Root have to accept they will spend a long time at the non-striker’s end. It could be why Root played such a loose shot but Stokes can be very measured and he chose his moments to attack.

He struck Chase down the ground for six and used the slog sweep, a risky shot against a spinner on a bouncy Old Trafford pitch, to add urgency to the innings.

They crept up to a fifty stand off 156 balls thanks to Sibley being dropped at short leg off Chase, and on 68, a much more straightforward chance by Holder at second slip off Gabriel. He was so incensed he lost his line in his next over and bowled a wide to second slip, which at least Holder caught this time.

Full commentary below


06:34 PM

Stumps on day one: England's day

Dom Sibley was picked to play Test cricket for England because of his ability to occupy the crease and he has done exactly that today. I can't say it's been pretty, but it's been effective. He has been dropped twice too though: once a tough chance at short leg, then a sitter at second slip. He'll be back tomorrow with a superb chance to reach his second Test century. 


06:30 PM

OVER 82: ENG 207/3 (Sibley 86 Stokes 59)

One more run from Sibley off Holder and, for the first time today, the sun is coming out at Old Trafford!

Holder beats Stokes with a beauty off the last ball of the over. Stokes has a little smile at his allrounder counterpart...and that's stumps. 


06:27 PM

OVER 81: ENG 206/3 (Sibley 85 Stokes 59)

New ball has not been taken, because Kemar Roach has got the old ball swinging nicely. It's not reverse-swing either. Seems like the lush Old Trafford outfield has helped keep that shiny side nice and glossy. Stokes plays and misses at a big Roach outswinger. 


06:23 PM

OVER 80: ENG 205/3 (Sibley 84 Stokes 59)

Last over with the old ball. But with Gabriel probably out of service and the old ball moving around a little bit, will they take it? Jason Holder toiling into his 19th over now. Just the one run from it. 


06:19 PM

OVER 79: ENG 203/3 (Sibley 83 Stokes 59)

Feels like Sibley and Stokes are playing for the close now. Sibley has the slightly glazed look of a man getting prepared to do exactly the same thing tomorrow. At least, when he's not having bantz with Shannon Gabriel.

d

 


06:12 PM

OVER 78: ENG 203/3 (Sibley 82 Stokes 59)

The BBC's evening highlights show is on air right now, with this over, plus five more, still to bowl. Excellent. 

There's one for the highlights: Jason Holder with a peach to Ben Stokes, beating his outside edge with a near unplayable leg-cutter. 


06:08 PM

OVER 77: ENG 203/3 (Sibley 82 Stokes 59)

'Ello, 'ello, 'ello: a review! West Indies asking whether this ball from Roach might have gone on to hit Sibley's stumps. To be honest, it looked like a review called more in desperation than expectation. Umpire's call on height, so Sibley survives. Just the one run off a no-ball in the over. 


06:03 PM

OVER 76: ENG 202/3 (Sibley 82 Stokes 59)

Good from Rob Key on TV commentary, about the slowest England century, which took 535 balls. It belongs to Colin Cowdrey. Dom Sibley has faced a mere 234 so far.

Just two runs off the over, from Holder to Stokes.  


05:59 PM

OVER 75: ENG 200/3 (Sibley 82 Stokes 57)

Four runs from Sibley as Roach strays onto his pads. And it's a no-ball too, so up comes England's 200.

Tell you what, England fans, you ask the team to play old-fashioned Test cricket and today they have responded admirably. Run rate 2.67 as they grind the Windies down.


05:55 PM

OVER 74: ENG 195/3 (Sibley 78 Stokes 57)

Holder continuing, by now surely regretting his decision to bowl first. What do they say about winning the toss? Nine times out of ten you bat first; on the tenth time, you think about bowling first....then bat first. Anyway, it's a maiden over. 


05:51 PM

OVER 73: ENG 195/3 (Sibley 78 Stokes 57)

Kemar Roach comes back into the attack, still wicketless in the series. Sibley seeing the ball nicely now, allowing the ball to swing onto his bat. Has been batting all day, remember. 


05:45 PM

OVER 72: ENG 193/3 (Sibley 76 Stokes 57)

Holder brings himself back into the attack. Quite possibly because everybody else is refusing to bowl. It's a maiden over at least.


05:41 PM

OVER 71: ENG 193/3 (Sibley 76 Stokes 57)

A half-century for Stokes, brought up with a mistimed drive for three off Joseph. The 31st time he's reached that mark in Tests. And he's turned nine of those into centuries. Then three for Sibley, four more for Stokes, and another long three to end the over as Stokes cuts to the deepest boundary on the ground. This partnership now well into three figures. 

Three threes in that over. Sibley will be pleased he lost all that weight during lockdown

s

 


05:36 PM

OVER 70: ENG 180/3 (Sibley 73 Stokes 47)

A boundary! The first for a while. Stokes timing the ball sweetly off his toes. Was a long half-volley from Gabriel, truth be told, but you've got to put them away and England's best batsman(?) did that with aplomb. 

Argh. Gabriel falling apart a bit now. First a front-foot no-ball (why are the umpires calling these all of a sudden?), then another wide. This will surely be the last over of his spell. 

Finally the over ends. That took a LONG time. 


05:30 PM

OVER 69: ENG 172/3 (Sibley 73 Stokes 42)

Sibley and Stokes have run between the wickets nicely so far today and pick up another quick single here off Joseph.


05:23 PM

OVER 68: ENG 171/3 (Sibley 73 Stokes 41)

Shannon Gabriel delivers a ball straight to second slip! Steve Harmison eat your heart out! At least Jason Holder caught it cleanly this time. Big wide and poor old Gabriel is going to have to bowl seven balls in the over. 

s

 


05:21 PM

OVER 67: ENG 168/3 (Sibley 72 Stokes 40)

Sibley moves into the 70s with a tuck off the hip, which is misfielded, allowing three runs off Joseph. No sign of the umpires resorting to their light meters again yet, which is good news.


05:14 PM

OVER 66: ENG 165/3 (Sibley 69 Stokes 40)

Dropped! Gabriel pitches up to Sibley who chips a catch straight to Jason Holder at second slip, but it's put down. Really bad drop from Holder too: he watched it all the way in...and all the way out again. Will big Shannon ever forgive him? So galling for the captain: he brings the big man back to make a breakthrough and then denies him the wicket himself. 

(Just quietly, there was a no-ball called in this over too. The umpires having a good day today)


05:09 PM

OVER 65: ENG 161/3 (Sibley 66 Stokes 40)

West Indies looking a little bit flat now as Joseph gets dinked for two runs off the over. Reminder that Holder chose to field first. He'll have to answer some questions about that later on. 

Ah, Shannon Gabriel is coming back on. Come on, archangel, give your team something here...


05:03 PM

OVER 64: ENG 159/3 (Sibley 65 Stokes 39)

Roston Chase continuing after drinks and Sibley cuts him for three, from the 200th ball of his innings. A double dentury, if you will. Stokes bashes a single down the ground and then England nick two runs to Shannon Gabriel in the deep. Picking the man there. 


04:59 PM

Players having a drink

Twenty overs left in the day

 


04:56 PM

OVER 63: ENG 153/3 (Sibley 60 Stokes 38)

Alzarri Joseph into the attack. He bowled beautifully earlier. But the ball is older now, and these two batsmen are set. Sibley opens the face to guide three runs through point. Looks like there's a decent amount of swing here for Joseph still. The fact that he's bowling, rather than Gabriel, may tell us that Gabriel isn't feeling too special. Mind you, not sure Gabriel ever feels too special.


04:54 PM

OVER 62: ENG 150/3 (Sibley 57 Stokes 38)

It's reverse sweeps all over the shop now. Sibley first, missing, but picking up three leg byes when the ball deflects off his jumper. Then Stokes absolutely nailing his own reverse sweep for four. 

s

 


04:47 PM

OVER 61: ENG 143/3 (Sibley 57 Stokes 34)

Sibley inside-edges Holder into his pads and picks up a leg-bye to finish the over. Is Gabriel fit to bowl? If he is, I'd be giving him a run now. Hasn't bowled since the middle of the afternoon session. 

Oh, Holder's going off now. Possibly just a "comfort break". He didn't look like he was troubled.


04:40 PM

OVER 60: ENG 142/3 (Sibley 57 Stokes 34)

Sibley misses an optimistic reverse sweep. Didn't know he had that in his locker, to be honest. Not totally convinced that Sibley knew he had it in his locker either. Just one off the over. 


04:38 PM

OVER 59: ENG 141/3 (Sibley 56 Stokes 34)

Coupla leg byes as Holder loses his line to Stokes. Crowd would be getting so boozy now, were there a crowd in place. Keep forgetting that the noise on the TV coverage is faked.


04:34 PM

OVER 58: ENG 139/3 (Sibley 56 Stokes 34)

Stokes brings up the half-century partnership between this pair with a somewhat agricultural heave over midwicket. Wasn't trying to hit a six; just finding a gap in the field. Then two more down the ground to the vulnerable Gabriel.

But oh wow, now a fabulous sweep through midwicket. Hit so, SO hard. Looks like Stokes wants to get on with it a bit. That might be the shot of the day so far. Right out of the screws.


04:30 PM

OVER 57: ENG 130/3 (Sibley 56 Stokes 25)

Lovely couple of outswingers from Holder to Sibley, beating the outside edge. A fourth slip goes in as the West Indies captain starts to find something in the air. Just seen a slow-mo  and the seam position is impeccable. An appeal for leg-before against Sibley too, but that ain't worth reviewing. Going down. 


04:24 PM

OVER 56: ENG 130/3 (Sibley 56 Stokes 25)

Run rate is hovering just under 2.5. Quite a bit of quiet chatter on commentary and on social media about how this is sub-optimal. But is this not exactly how you win Test matches? Grind teams down in the first innings. It's simple, boring, but effective. Especially when you've been put in to bat on a grey day in Manchester. 

d

 


04:21 PM

OVER 55: ENG 127/3 (Sibley 54 Stokes 24)

Jason Holder replacing Kemar Roach from the James Anderson end. Speaking of Anderson, do we think he woudl have been left out of today's team (on his home ground) had a full crowd been allowed in? Would the selectors have dared? 

Holder beats the outside edge twice. Loving this battle between him and Stokes. The England man picks up two in the leg side.

Meanwhile, stats are getting a little bit silly now, aren't they?


04:16 PM

OVER 54: ENG 125/3 (Sibley 54 Stokes 22)

Whoa! Almost a run out as Sibley turns Chase into the leg side and sets off only to be turned back by Ben Stokes. He makes his ground with a little dive-cum-fall. 


04:13 PM

OVER 53: ENG 124/3 (Sibley 54 Stokes 21)

Sibbers motoring now. He clips four runs off his hip through square leg. I mean, I'm taking the mickey a little bit here, but this is a proper opening batsman's innings. He's been in good control, generally. Doing exactly the job that England have asked him to. Now time to turn it into a ton.


04:09 PM

OVER 52: ENG 120/3 (Sibley 50 Stokes 21)

Oh, Shannon Gabriel is back on the field. I only know this becuase he's just hobble-run to collect a ball in the outfield. Presume that injury he suffered after bowling earlier isn't too bad then. Stokes misses a sweep shot off Chase but picks up three to put Sibley on strike. Sibley goes to 50 from 164 balls with yet another nudge into the leg side. 

 


04:06 PM

OVER 51: ENG 116/3 (Sibley 49 Stokes 18)

Sibley moves to within one run of his third Test half century, by tucking two runs off his pads down to long leg. I literally can't remember the last run he scored on the off side. 


04:01 PM

OVER 50: ENG 114/3 (Sibley 47 Stokes 18)

Leg slip, backward square leg and shot leg for Sibley facing Chase but he threads a ball somewhere between them and runs a quick single. It's a run-out chance too, but - another shock! - the umpire decides not to send it upstairs. Never seen confidence like it. 


03:59 PM

OVER 49: ENG 113/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 18)

Big moment for the world of cricket here as an umpire actually calls a front-foot no-ball. Game-changing moment that. Someone call the ICC and let them know that something VERY strange is going on in Manchester. 

Here's that six Stokes struck before tea, BTW.

 


03:54 PM

OVER 48: ENG 112/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 18)

Roston "Dangerman" Chase continuing after tea with some clubbable off-breaks. Sibley smothers back a maiden. 


03:53 PM

OVER 47: ENG 112/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 18)

Gorgeous check drive for none, from Stokes. Outfield really is very slow, giving the mid-off fielder an eternity to run round and collect that. Maiden over.


03:48 PM

Players are back out after tea

Seems to have brightened up a bit. Lights still on at Old Trafford though. Kemar Roach to open the bowling, to Ben Stokes. 


03:31 PM

Tea on day one. Honours even?

It's definitely a bowling day, for which reason England will be pretty cheerful about only losing three wickets. And for the Windies there is the additional worry of Shannon Gabriel being off the field injured. Still no update on him. 


03:29 PM

OVER 46: ENG 112/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 18)

Stokes down the pitch to Chase and lofting him for six over long off! Lovely swing of the bat, even if he was duped slightly in the flight. Classic example of a shot that gets called reckless if it doesn't come off, especially in the final over before tea. Now three more runs down to fine leg. And that's tea.

s - s

 


03:27 PM

OVER 45: ENG 103/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 9)

Spin at both ends now as Kraigg Brathwaite gets a turn. Too dark to permit the quick bowlers to continue perhaps? Stokes cuts one run to the point sweeper. 87 balls since the last boundary apparently. 


03:23 PM

OVER 44: ENG 102/3 (Sibley 46 Stokes 8)

Roston Chase with a little trundle before tea...and he almost snares Dom Sibley! What is it about England and Roston Chase?! Sibley turns the ball into leg where it nestles momentarily in the groin of the short leg fielder before dropping to the floor. And now he's beaten on his outside edge. I swear Roston Chase is not this good a bowler. 


03:19 PM

Umpires checking the light

Looks proper murky in Manchester. 

Here's the weather in Bridgetown. 

Ba

 


03:17 PM

OVER 43: ENG 100/3 (Sibley 44 Stokes 8)

Roach is indeed around the wicket to Stokes, swinging the ball away from the left-hander. No shots played though. Roach has series figures of 0-111 at this point.


03:15 PM

OVER 42: ENG 100/3 (Sibley 44 Stokes 8)

Joseph and Sibley locked in a battle of wills here. Sibley not willing to play a shot; Joseph not really giving him much chance to either. He's bowling with beautiful control though. Sibley does find a couple of runs, tucked off the pad, natch.

Now back to Roach v Stokes. He'll be going round the wicket at some point, you can be sure. The West Indies have mastered the art of bowling around the wicket to left-handers, as Tim Wigmore explained in this excellent Cricket Nerd piece yesterday. 

This mode of attack is becoming more popular for a very simple reason: it works. When going around the wicket to left-handers since 2018, right-arm quicks pay 20 per cent less for each wicket: 24 runs, instead of 30. Five of the most successful practitioners — the West Indies’s trio Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder, and England’s pair Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad (who snared David Warner seven times from around the wicket in last summer’s Ashes) — are poised to face off at Emirates Old Trafford. 


03:10 PM

OVER 41: ENG 98/3 (Sibley 42 Stokes 8)

Two byes, then Stokes wanders down the pitch to Roach but drives him straight to the cover fielder. Like the menace in the way Stokes does that - especially when it's combined with the good sense to block the ball or leave it. "I could smash this if I wanted to...but I'm not giving you the satisfaction."


03:06 PM

OVER 40: ENG 96/3 (Sibley 42 Stokes 8)

Sibley on a bit of a blockathon here. He has 42 from 131 balls. England's bowlers won't mind that one bit.

And Roach is indeed replacing Holder for the next over...


03:02 PM

OVER 39: ENG 96/3 (Sibley 42 Stokes 8)

Sibley push drives through the covers (also looking a bit like Cook, if you ask me) and the batsmen exchange a couple of singles too. Should think Holder is considering taking himself off again now. Time for a bit of Roach, perhaps?

Holder

 


02:59 PM

OVER 38: ENG 91/3 (Sibley 38 Stokes 7)

Sibley scores his first run in what seems like ages with - yep, you've guessed it - a nurdle off the pads. Increasingly he reminds me of Alastair Cook, in mirror image obviously. The double backlift, the weight on his front foot in his stance, the endless tucking off the pads. 


02:53 PM

OVER 37: ENG 90/3 (Sibley 37 Stokes 7)

Holder to Stokes: a maiden as England's best player seems determined not to get out to the West Indies' No 1.


02:51 PM

OVER 36: ENG 90/3 (Sibley 37 Stokes 7)

Three off the Joseph over, but the kid is bowling nicely. Has got the ball moving off the pitch (which looks like it must be damp underneath) and in the air. Still no sign of sunshine in Manchester. 

Meanwhile, here's the weather in Antigua. We really do owe the West Indies.

Weahter

 


02:45 PM

OVER 35: ENG 87/3 (Sibley 37 Stokes 4)

Sibley very nearly gets himself out in this over waggling at a ball on his hip again. Weird the way he wants to play it through fine leg rather than square leg. He breaks the sequence of dots with an edge to third man. 


02:40 PM

OVER 34: ENG 85/3 (Sibley 35 Stokes 4)

Wowzers. Now a nip-backer from Joseph to Stokes, which Stokes missed altogether. The young bowler is looking really slippery here, even if the speed gun says low 80s. Another maiden.


02:37 PM

OVER 33: ENG 85/3 (Sibley 35 Stokes 4)

Holder continuing with a maiden.

If you're interested in the way Alzarri Joseph was varying his position in the bowling crease during that previous over, you should read Tim Wigmore on why variety is the key to the success of this West Indies attack. And how captain Holder uses his bowlers so effectively. 

At times on the fourth day at the Ageas Bowl, Joseph seemed to have been forgotten by Holder; he bowled only 11 of the first 90 overs in England’s second innings. The impression of neglect was an illusion, of course: Joseph was managed, so, in the last throes of the day, he still retained his freshness, dismissing Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler in a burst that shifted the course of the Test. It encapsulated the great strength of having a four-pronged pace attack with a range of gifts as broad as the West Indies: bowlers can remain fresh, so they are empowered to attack the right opponent at the right time.


02:33 PM

OVER 32: ENG 85/3 (Sibley 35 Stokes 4)

A couple of twos from Stokes and Geez! Joseph almost cleans up the new batsman with a nip-backer delivered from over the wicket. Stokes left it on line but miscalculated how close the bowler had got to the stumps. Would have had his heart in his mouth there, only for the ball to fly through an inch or two over his off stump. 

 


02:29 PM

WICKET!

Joe Root edges Alzarri Joseph to slip! A quick ball from Gabriel's replacement, well pitched up and Root threw his hands at it. Jason Holder takes a simple chance at second slip. 

A touch of away swing there too. Will Root think he played a bit too loose there? Maybe. Wasn't a shocker. 

Root c Holder b Joseph 23 (49)


02:24 PM

OVER 31: ENG 81/2 (Sibley 35 Root 23)

Root clips three runs off his pads deep into the slow outfield then Sibley plays a dangly drive outside off stump off Holder and an edge flashes through the slips for four. That brings up the 50 partnership.

Sachin's tuned in. 

 


02:21 PM

Gabriel injured

The big man was frequently stretching during that last over and went off at the end of it. Got to say I called that (albeit only to my wife) at the toss when I heard that the Windies were fielding an unchanged team. And as Tim Wigmore pointed out earlier, the risk of a bowler breakdown was only increased by Holder's decision to bowl first rather than giving his men an extra day's rest.


02:19 PM

OVER 30: ENG 74/2 (Sibley 31 Root 20)

Gabriel bowling to Sibley with a leg slip, preying on that strange propensity for getting caught down the leg side. Sibley, obviously vitally aware of it, decides to wear a ball somewhere above his hip rather than waving his gloves/bat at it and risking a touch. Ballsy batting if he's going to opt to play 90mph balls with his cricket jumper rather than his bat. Got to admire that. 

Now a nice front-foot drive from Sibbers for two. 

And Shannon Gabriel is limping off the field...

Sibley

 


02:16 PM

OVER 29: ENG 70/2 (Sibley 27 Root 20)

Couple of runs scrambled through square leg here from the returning England captain, who must surely have been feeling rusty as he got himself established at the crease. He's ticking along nicely now though. Balance looks good.


02:12 PM

Round of applause for Luke Slater

Good stint from the boy, seamlessly switching from covidiocy to cricket. 

If you're only just tuning in now, here's the full story of Jofra Archer's indiscretion, and here's Nick Hoult explaining how England and Archer are still working each other out


02:09 PM

OVER 28: ENG 68/2 (Sibley 27 Root 18)

Shannon Gabriel continues. Economical but not really threatening. Sibley takes advantage of width (and shortness) to flay away his first four of his innings. Sibley knew he would likely be able to get it over the slips and took the risk. 

That's me done for the day, handing over to Josh Burrows to take you through to close. 


02:06 PM

OVER 27: ENG 64/2 (Sibley 23 Root 18)

Okay Jason Holder. Do your thing. First ball is wide outside off and left, but a bit of movement in the air. Sibley gets a single with an edge down through the slips. Never in danger. Perhaps a little movement off the pitch as well. Would say that, in these conditions, Curran, Woakes, Stokes and Broad would like a bowl. Not much express pace in the England side but plenty of guile. 


02:01 PM

OVER 26: ENG 63/2 (Sibley 22 Root 18)

I am not sure I'd have brought Shannon Gabriel back on, Jason Holder. I'd have brought Jason Holder back on, Jason Holder. Sibley tucks one behind square on the leg side for another single. Can't think that he's played many — if any — expansive shots in this innings. Not a single boundary so far. 

A half-hearted appeal for a glove through to the keeper as Root attempts a pull. Umpire says no and no review. 


01:56 PM

OVER 25: ENG 62/2 (Sibley 22 Root 18)

Roach continues. He's not rapid at the moment. Low-mid-80s currently. Root swings one out to midwicket off the pads, well timed. It trickles, and I do mean trickles, to the boundary for four. 18 off 34 for Root, who has looked his usual busy self.  33 run partnership @ 2.86rpo for these two so far. 


01:52 PM

OVER 24: ENG 58/2 (Sibley 22 Root 14)

Well it will be another quick bowler but it won't be Holder (who obviously is not quick). It's Shannon Gabriel to return. He had a wayward start in his three overs, after his player of the match performance in Southampton, with nine wickets. Chinese cut from Root, not far from the stumps at all! He gets a single for it. 

Shannon Gabriel - AP POOL/Jon Super

How is his first over back? Moderate.  


01:46 PM

OVER 23: ENG 55/2 (Sibley 21 Root 13)

Sibley clips one off his pads for two, taking him into the 20s. 72 balls faced. Steady. Root on 13 off 26 already. Sibley, it seems, loves to leave. 


01:43 PM

OVER 22: ENG 53/2 (Sibley 19 Root 13)

Root down on one knee and sweeping. It brings him two. Intent from Root to the spinner. Wonder if two seamers might be the better option to Root early on here. Holder, maybe? Chase liable to be milked by Root, it seems. 


01:40 PM

OVER 21: ENG 49/2 (Sibley 18 Root 10)

Sibley not doing anything too flashy here. Just quiet accumulation at the moment. Root looking to force things a little more, as he tends to do. Not with boundaries but quick ones and twos. A push off the back foot gets Root a single. 


01:36 PM

OVER 20: ENG 47/2 (Sibley 17 Root 9)

Chase slides one past Root's outside edge. Didn't turn much, it's full and Root played back. Chase then strays too wide, Root flays it away well for three. We haven't seen too many run to the boundary today, outfield isn't the quickest. 

England's captain Joe Root bats during the first day of the second cricket Test match between England and West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Thursday, July 16, 2020. - AP/Jon Super

 Sibley knocks one towards midwicket for a single. Four runs from the over. Chase looking a little dangerous, if inconsistent. 


01:33 PM

OVER 19: ENG 43/2 (Sibley 16 Root 6)

Root plays hard at one outside off and it flies off the outside edge between slip and gulley. For four runs. If you're going to flash... Flash hard! He does exactly the same next ball but plays and misses. Root really loves to feel bat on ball and get the runs going early on. Root tucks the final ball of the over away for a single on the leg side. 


01:29 PM

OVER 18: ENG 38/2 (Sibley 16 Root 1)

Root off the mark with a sweeping single. Chase changes his line up a little. And a little TOO much. Way, way wide of off stump, Sibley steers down to third man for another two. 


01:26 PM

OVER 17: ENG 35/2 (Sibley 14 Root 0)

Kemar Roach continues. He's without a wicket for 62 overs now but he is really bending his back here. Sibley plays down to long leg for two. Twice, in fact. 


01:21 PM

OVER 16: ENG 31/2 (Sibley 10 Root 0)

Roston Chase converts his spinner's "one over before lunch" into "one over partly before lunch and the rest of it after lunch and then another one immediately after the first". He salutes the four corners of the ground. Seriously, though, he is bowling well. A quick single to Sibley all that's there this over. 

Roston Chase - AFP

 


01:18 PM

OVER 15: ENG 30/2 (Sibley 9 Root 0)

Well, a promising start has been squandered by England in the space of a single over. 


01:18 PM

Decision upheld, Root survives

This looks outside the line to me. Yeah, it is, well outside. By about 15cm I reckon. Waste of a review. Not quite as bad as Burns earlier on, but still, probably in the same league. 


01:16 PM

West Indies review LBW decision...

Sibley edges hard through the slips! Was it a chance? No, about 20cm short of Holder's hands. It's a single. Kemar Roach steaming in, by the way. 

BIG APPEAL fourth ball  for LBW and WI review after umpire says no. 


01:12 PM

OVER 14: ENG 29/2 (Sibley 8 Root 0)

The hat-trick ball is down leg side but Root leaves... sort of. He tried to tickle it before withdrawing his bat. Same again, quite a fair bit of turn already. And Chase isn't exactly known to give it a big rip. 


01:10 PM

WICKET! Crawley 0 b Chase c Holder

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. A golden duck for Zak Crawley who tries to turn his first ball down the leg side. He does that, but straight into Holder's big, big bucket hands at leg slip. 

Roston Chase on a hat-trick...!

FOW 29/2


01:09 PM

....aaand we're back

Roston Chase has four balls to finish his over. Crawley to face. 


12:31 PM

LUNCH ENG: 29/1 (Sibley 8 Crawley 0)

Well, worth bringing on the spinner! England would have been pretty happy at their first hour's work after being put in but now... less so. Burns goes, 15 from 35. And he wasted a review for no good reason, really. 


12:29 PM

WICKET! Burns LBW Chase 15

Trapped in front playing forward to spinner Roston Chase. Only his second ball. Umpire says yes!

Burns reviews...

This looks out to me. No bat. Yep, that's as out as out can be. Hitting three-quarters of the way up of middle stump. Burns has to go! FOW 29/1


12:27 PM

OVER 13: ENG 28/0 (Burns 15 Sibley 7)

Joseph full and wide, Burns cover drives handsomely just forward of point, but it doesn't reach the boundary. It's three. Measured shot. Sibley standing quite firm, not really looking to take too many risks. Again, not much point this early on unless it's a rank ball. Perhaps this and one more over before lunch. Sibley picks up a single with a poorly timed push on the off side, straight into the ground. 


12:23 PM

OVER 12: ENG 24/0 (Burns 12 Sibley 6)

Burns shovels one down the leg side and it races away for four. Just going towards his hip and well picked up by Burns. England's first boundary off the bat. The next one from Holder is wide outside off, played down with an open face through point by Burns for another three. Holder quite wide on the crease to the right-hander Sibley, just forcing him to play. But not much going on for him, especially not at 78mph. 

Rory Burns - Reuters

12:19 PM

OVER 11: ENG 17/0 (Burns 5 Sibley 6)

Joseph has been decent so far. He's making the batsmen play more than Gabriel — and to a lesser extent, Roach — did. Another maiden. 


12:17 PM

Exclusive: ECB will not force players onto team bus despite Jofra Archer incident

England team permitted to use their cars because coach travel is believed to pose greater risk of contracting coronavirus. Read Tim Wigmore's latest news on a turbulent morning for the England set-up here. 


12:16 PM

OVER 10: ENG 17/0 (Burns 5 Sibley 6)

Holder finding a bit of extra bounce to Sibley, who gets well in behind it and plays it off the splice, removing his bottom hands from the bat after impact. Sibley runs one off the face of the bat just wide of gulley for a single.  Holder beats the edge final ball to Burns! Around the wicket and just a hint of movement away. Burns was trying to withdraw his shot as the ball flew past...


12:12 PM

OVER 9: ENG 16/0 (Burns 5 Sibley 5)

West Indies rotating early on. Not a surprise, Gabriel looked suspect. Joseph is finding a bit of swing in on a decent line and length, if perhaps a bit short. Burns pushes one on off stump down the ground for two. 

Not much to gain in this opening hour for England, but a lot to lose. Getting to lunch without loss will be the target.  


12:08 PM

OVER 8: ENG 13/0 (Burns 3 Sibley 4)

Nope, it's not a change of ends for Roach. It's Jason Holder replacing Gabriel. Just the two from it to, Rory Burns. Steady start for England here without too much alarm. 


12:04 PM

OVER 7: ENG 11/0 (Burns 1 Sibley 4)

Alzarri Joseph replaces Roach, who may just be swapping ends. Sibley steals a quick single. Looked tight but was fine in the end. That 12kg he lost in lockdown will have helped getting him home. Joseph gets one to come back into Burns, who plays defensively backwards. Burns gets off the mark at the 21st time of asking, with a push into the leg side and a sprinted single. 


11:59 AM

OVER 6: ENG 9/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 3)

Shannon Gabriel still struggling to find his line. Suppose when that is the case naturally, having a left- and right-hander at the crease will make things worse. He's up into the mid-80s, though, and is now coming over the wicket to the left-handed Burns. 

Shannon Gabriel - West Indies' Shannon Gabriel walks back to bowl on the first day of the second Test cricket match between England and the West Indies at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England on July 16, 2020

 Big shout for LBW on Burns, though! Umpire says no. Two noises and may not have been hitting, but good delivery that evaded Burns's defence. A maiden. 


11:53 AM

OVER 5: ENG 9/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 3)

Big shout from Roach on Sibley, for LBW, but it's going down leg. Umpire Michael Gough says not out. Not an atrocious shout but a good four inches away on ball tracking. Roach's time to bowl a terribly wide ball, this one to Sibley pitches on the cut strip by about two feet...


11:49 AM

OVER 4: ENG 8/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 3)

Gabriel down the leg side again. Another push on leg stump towards deep backward square leg gets Sibley another single. Burns yet to get off the mark from his nine balls faced. Gabriel moves to around the wicket for Burns. Fair to say Gabriel has not found his line yet, as he sends one down well outside off of the left-hander which he leaves comfortably. 


11:45 AM

OVER 3: ENG 7/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 2)

Roach has no problems with his radar. Sibley pushes to off this time for his second run. Just that run from the over. 


11:40 AM

OVER 2: ENG 6/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 1)

Shannon Gabriel has to abort his first delivery in his run-up. His first actual delivery is wide down leg. Really, really wide. He looks a bit stiff. He nearly pulled up in that delivery as well. The third one is even wider and evades Shane Dowrich's left hand for five wides. Big problems for Gabriel in the run-up here. This doesn't look good. Not quite Scot Boswell-esque at the moment...

Third delivery down leg, but not quite as much. His third legitimate delivery is the first outside off. Sibley gets off the mark with a gentle push onto the leg side. Gabriel sorted his problems out by the end of the over. 


11:34 AM

OVER 1: ENG 0/0 (Burns 0 Sibley 0)

It's Kemar Roach to start. And he finds some movement straight away, coming around the wicket to Rory Burns. Very good first over, one ball down the leg side excepted. 


11:30 AM

Jerusalem, done

Taking a knee, done. 

Time to play...


11:08 AM

Bess looked decent in the first Test


11:05 AM

West Indies unchanged

Joe Root talks of scoreboard pressure and then driving home the advantage from there. He returns to the side in place of Joe Denly, who has been dropped. Root missed the first Test due to self-isolating after the birth of his child. 


11:03 AM

England's XI

  1. Burns
  2. Sibley
  3. Crawley
  4. Root*
  5. Stokes
  6. Pope
  7. Buttler+
  8. Woakes
  9. Curran
  10. Bess
  11. Broad

11:01 AM

West Indies win the toss

They are going to bowl. Overhead conditions the reason.  It's fairly cloudy still, even though the rain has stopped. 


11:00 AM

A minute or two away from the toss

Captains out there in the middle...


10:36 AM

Updated hours of play for the day

Toss: 12 noon

First session: 12.30

Lunch: 13.30

Second session: 14.10

Tea: 16.25

Final session: 16.45-19.00

A total of 83 overs scheduled in the day. 


10:33 AM

While we wait for play to start

It's worth reading Tim Wigmore's latest Cricket Nerd article on why right arm around the wicket is becoming more prominent to left-handed batters

From 2005 to 2007, just 13 per cent of deliveries from right-arm quicks to left-handers were from around the wicket. Since the start of 2018, 52 per cent of deliveries from right-armers to lefties have been from around the wicket.


10:22 AM

Start at 12.30pm

Lunch to be taken at 1.30. 


10:02 AM

Rain has stopped

Covers are about to come off, but estimate that it'll be 90 minutes before it's ready for play...

That should just mean scrapping the first session if true but as this is cricket they will probably do something silly like play for 15 minutes and have a delayed lunch at 1.20pm or something. Or just take lunch at one, despite no play being possible before — and then have a 40-minute wait...

Reserve Umpire Alex Wharf inspects the pitch alongside ground staff during day one of the Second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday July 16, 2020. See PA story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Jon Super/NMC Pool/PA Wire - CRICKET England

 


09:55 AM

More Archer info from Nick Hoult

Archer is understood to have travelled to his house on Monday when the players were given strict instructions to drive direct from Southampton, the venue for the first Test, to Manchester.

England learned about the breach only late on Wednesday night. The players drove on their own in their individual cars to Manchester whereas the West Indies squad travelled in a fleet of coaches. The England players were given strict instructions about low risk places to stop to refuel or go to the toilet. 

But Archer diverted from Southampton to Brighton to visit family and when England discovered this he was dropped from the second Test with England 1-0 down in the series.


09:53 AM

Where does Archer's absence leave England?

In a worse place. With Wood and Anderson rested, especially. Archer bowled superbly in the second innings, despite West Indies' victory. Good chance Archer would have been rested at some point in the run of WI and Pakistan Tests... but not at 1-0 down in a three-match series. And certainly not at Old Trafford. 


09:34 AM

Toss delayed

Currently raining slightly in Manchester and there will also need to be some mopping up going on. So a swift start is unlikely. But hopeful for some play before lunch. 


09:22 AM

Good to see David Lloyd back in the commentary box


09:18 AM

Ain't that a stat...


09:02 AM

Archer update


08:32 AM

Huge setback for England

Morning all, and welcome to coverage of day one of the second Test against West Indies where England have been dealt an almighty blow with the news that Jofra Archer has been excluded from the squad.

Archer has been sent into self isolation for the next five days following a breach of the team's bio-secure protocols

While it is not yet clear what Archer did to contravene the rules, any such breach is sure to have invoked disbelief and fury at the ECB.

The fast bowler has apologised for his actions: "I have put, not only myself, but the whole team and management in danger. I fully accept the consequences of my actions, and I want to sincerely apologise to everyone in the bio-secure bubble."

As Nick Hoult commented in his breaking news story this morning, England must have learned about the breach only very late yesterday because Archer was named in the 13-man squad for the second Test just after 4pm yesterday.

Archer's exclusion is a huge setback for Chris Silverwood's team as the look to avert a first Test series defeat on home soil since 2014.

It is also a frustrating situation for Joe Root to deal with on his return to duties as England captain following paternity leave.

It's a different story for West Indies captain Jason holder and head coach, Phil Simmons, who have attempted to keep their players' feet on the ground since winning the first Test at Southampton.

Holder was on a radio show in Barbados along with Prime Ministers from three islands on Tuesday night showing how united the region is behind the captain.

“The reception we’ve got, not only from the heads of government but the people of the Caribbean has been tremendous,” said Holder. “This Covid period has put a dampener on things for the world and things like cricket, especially in the Caribbean unify. We’ve got a lot more to play for and to be on the show with the three Prime Ministers was great knowing they are 100 percent behind us, great knowing they pay so much attention to it. I was blown away.”