Anderson retires in style as dismal WI fold at Lord’s

Jul 20, 2024

VETERAN ENGLAND pace bowler James “Jimmy” Anderson retired from Test cricket in style as the hosts trounced the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs in the first Test at Lord’s, London.

SCORES: WEST INDIES 121 AND 136 VS ENGLAND 371.

This match ended quicker than most would have envisioned, as England needed less than seven sessions to secure victory – the game ending before lunch on the third day.

Anderson ended his illustrious 188-Test match career with 704 wickets, but it was one of his heirs apparent, Gus Atkinson, who took the Man of the Match award after collecting figures of 12 wickets for 106 runs.

Under cloudy conditions on the first day, England captain Ben Stokes opted to bowl first after winning the toss. After a steady opening stand of 34 between WI skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and debutant Mikyle Louis (the first St Kitts player to represent WI in Test cricket), the introduction of Atkinson swung the balance of the Test firmly in England’s favour.

Atkinson forced Brathwaite (six) to drag a wide ball back to his stumps while Kirk McKenzie (one) snicked one to Zak Crawley at second slip. Louis (27) was well-held by an outstretched Harry Brook at third slip as the West Indies lost three wickets before lunch.

From 61/3 at lunch, the West Indies subsided to 121, losing their last seven wickets for only 33 runs. Atkinson claimed three wickets in one over – Alick Athanaze (23) guided a wide ball to Joe Root at first slip, Jason Holder (duck) and Joshua Da Silva (duck) edged swinging deliveries to Brook at second slip and rookie wicketkeeper Jamie Smith respectively.

Kavem Hodge slashed a wide ball from Chris Woakes to Ollie Pope at cover for 24 to leave West Indies reeling at 88/7. Atkinson got rid of the unrelated Josephs, Alzarri (17) and Shamar (duck) in the space of three balls, and Anderson trapped last-man Jayden Seales leg-before for two.

Atkinson had a haul of 7/45 and he was supported by Stokes (1/14), Anderson (1/26) and Woakes (1/29).

England took advantage of inconsistent bowling as they strolled to 189/3 off just 40 overs at stumps, led by Crawley’s 76 (89 balls, 14 fours) and Pope’s 57 (74 balls, 11 fours).

Shamar Joseph had to seek medical attention a few times due to a left hamstring issue, which may have resulted from his late arrival in England due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

The other Joseph, vice-captain Alzarri, had a forgettable outing with the ball, as he had figures of 18-1-106-1, including four no-balls.

Seales and Holder, who both featured in the English county circuit during the months of April and May, were the only pacers who stood out – Seales had 4/77 off 20 overs and Holder 2/58 off 18. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was very impressive, as he snapped up 2/41.

Needing 250 to make England bat again, the result was all but complete after the second day as the West Indies struggled to 79/6.

Brathwaite, lacking in form and confidence, was bowled by Anderson for four while another struggling batsman McKenzie (he scored 323 runs at 24.84 with only one half-century during the WI Four-Day Championships) was leg-before by Stokes for a duck.

Louis (14) nicked one to the keeper off Stokes, Hodge (four) got an outside edge from Atkinson back onto his stumps, Athanaze (22) edged Anderson to Smith and Holder fended a bouncer from Atkinson to Pope at forward short leg.

Anderson and Atkinson bowled unchanged on the final morning, but Anderson’s final wicket was Da Silva, who was caught behind by his opposite number Smith for 9.

Motie scored West Indies’ highest individual score of the match – 31 (35 balls, five fours) but Atkinson would have the final say, as he removed Alzarri Joseph (eight), Shamar Joseph (three) and Seales (eight).

The second Test is scheduled to begin from July 18th at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Caribbean Cricket News

Discussion about this post