| First Test, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (day one): |
| England 268-6: Bairstow 109*, Foakes 42; Holder 2-15 |
| West Indies: Yet to bat |
| Scorecard |
Jonny Bairstow’s sensational hundred rescued England after their new period started with a well-known batting collapse on day one of many first Test in opposition to West Indies in Antigua.
Bairstow got here in at 48-4 and hit 109 not out, his second ton in as many Tests, to steer England to 268-6 on the shut.
He placed on 67 with Ben Stokes and 99 with Ben Foakes, who made a composed 42 on his recall to the group.
In their first Test since their humiliating 4-0 Ashes defeat, England misplaced 4 wickets in the primary session, together with captain Joe Root – bowled by Kemar Roach for 13.
Alex Lees made simply 4 on debut whereas Zak Crawley nicked behind for eight to observe his fellow opener in departing inside 4 overs.
But Bairstow confirmed nice utility earlier than changing into more and more aggressive as West Indies misplaced their self-discipline and drained late in the day.
He shared an unbeaten stand of 54 with Chris Woakes to succeed in the shut unbeaten, Woakes ending 24 not out.
On a sluggish pitch Bairstow’s knock put his aspect in an honest place, one which seemed out of attain earlier in the day, as they give the impression of being to maneuver on from their Ashes fallout and a run of 1 win in 14 Tests.
Bairstow rescues ‘new’ England
All of the speak in the lead-up to this sequence has been of England’s “red-ball reset”.
Former head coach Chris Silverwood departed final month and record-breaking bowling pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been ignored. But when the highest order wilted as soon as once more, England had been in a scenario that turned all-too-common throughout the Ashes.
They made six adjustments from the ultimate Ashes Test defeat in Hobart however it was Bairstow, a 32-year-old enjoying his 81st Test, who stood-up when his aspect seemed like plunging additional.
After being recalled for the third Test in Australia, Bairstow hit the one England century of the sequence a match later in Sydney earlier than lacking the ultimate Test by means of harm. This century was each bit as spectacular as that brave knock in the drawn Test on the SCG.
The solely scare got here on 59 when he was given out caught behind off left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, however a right away evaluation noticed him reprieved, having clearly missed it.
He took 128 balls to succeed in 50 however solely one other 62 to go to his eighth Test hundred, attacking the growing quantity of width on supply.
After Stokes was bowled by 20-year-old seamer Jayden Seales for a scratchy 36, it was the partnership between Bairstow and Foakes that swung the day in England’s favour.
Wicketkeeper Foakes seemed impressively assured till getting a supply from Jason Holder that stored a bit low and trapped him lbw.
The day can be remembered for Bairstow’s knock – an innings that would show essential in halting the downward spiral of this England aspect.
Another top-order collapse
That spiral solely seemed like persevering with after one other dismal top-order show.
Lees was maybe unlucky. The 28-year-old Durham left-hander was set-up brilliantly by Roach to be trapped lbw from around the wicket – a choice that was upheld on evaluation however an in depth umpire’s name on affect.
But opening accomplice Crawley performed an terrible, free drive and was beautifully caught off an inside edge one-handed by wicket-keeper Joshua da Silva diving to his proper.
Having promoted himself to quantity three in this new line-up, Root made a uncommon error and was bowled leaving a ball that nipped again from Roach, whereas Dan Lawrence, recalled to bat quantity 4, poked to supply a catch to second slip on 20, having beforehand seemed settled.
England ended the primary session of their new period 57-4.
Experienced pair Roach and Holder, who bowled 5 overs with out conceding a run earlier than lunch, had been glorious in the primary session however kids Seales and Alzarri Joseph supplied too many boundary balls afterwards, spoiling West Indies’ wonderful begin.
Holder additionally put down Woakes on nought – a tricky diving probability at slip off Joseph – and the sluggish floor noticed different edges fall in need of fielders.
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