WI VS ENG TESTS

So, the post-Pandemic era (or is it?) has begun in an exhilarating manner with West Indies taking the lead in this 3-match series. They will be proud of their performance and will go into the second match with confidence. England, on the other hand, need some inspiration from somewhere. They were disappointing throughout and would have to address the issues, particularly in their batting. Now the teams move to Manchester for the second and third Tests. Join us for the second Test on 16th July at 1100 Local (1000 GMT) for another bout of Test match cricket. Until then, stay safe and take care.

For his fantastic bowling performance, SHANNON GABRIEL IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH! Says that he never had any doubt about his fitness as he knew he would play if he proved his fitness. On his body, he says it is still a bit stiff but he has a couple of days to recover before the next Test. On the pace attack, he replies that it depends on the workload and feels the guys are pretty fit and are willing to play all the games. Shares that the guys were confident coming here after beating England in the Caribbean last year and they believed in themselves.

Jason Holder, the West Indian skipper, considers this as one of the best victories for them. Mentions that Day 4 was the best day he had in Test cricket. Praises all the bowlers for toiling hard. Credits everyone as this has been a long tour and everyone has put in the efforts. Says it has been a long layoff and shares that they had a lot of time to prepare but the mental side of the game was a challenge. Points out the incredible bowling effort in the last hour of Day 4 which was critical for this win as it was a flat pitch. Lauds the batting effort of Blackwood and also feels disappointed that he missed out on his century.

Ben Stokes, the England skipper, says that they are more used to playing in front of a huge crowd but they are happy that they have gotten back to cricket. Adds that they are looking forward to playing in Manchester. Mentions that this was a hard-fought Test match and admits that they did not have enough runs on the board. Tells that you have to believe that 200 is enough and if you are not, you are already losing. Further states that they got themselves into a strong position but did not make full use of it. Goes on to say that they need to learn to add more runs in the first innings. Shares that they are fortunate to leave someone like Broad and states that Broad is a very passionate cricketer. States that pressure shows itself in different ways and they will take positives and learning from this game. Adds that it will be interesting to see how everyone pulls up for the next Test. Ends by saying that he enjoyed the captaincy but it is Root's team and he will be happy to give the captaincy back to him.

Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony! It will be conducted keeping social distancing in mind.

Many questioned Stokes' decision to bat first in the overcast conditions and that move backfired. They were bowled out for just 204 courtesy some exceptional bowling from Holder and Gabriel. The former took a 6-fer while Gabriel finished with a 4-wicket haul. West Indies were good with the bat with Brathwaite, Dowrich and Chase scoring valuable runs to get a lead of 114. Stokes was the pick of the bowlers with a 4-fer while Anderson also contributed decently. In the second essay with the bat, at one stage, England were cruising when Stokes and Crawley were batting but Gabriel's 5-fer pulled things back. With 200 required, Blackwood became a thorn in the English flesh as the visitors overhauled the target quite easily in the end.

England, on the other hand, would not be happy with their performance. Jofra Archer bowled brilliantly throughout this morning but after he gave momentum to the home side, the other bowlers faltered in the afternoon. West Indies scored runs with ease and also got plenty of reprieves. Anderson was good as well but failed to provide the required breakthrough. Stokes bowled exceptionally towards the end but it was a little too late. England need to pull their socks up for the second Test if they want to make a comeback. They have a lot of thinking to do with the make-up of the side. The biggest one being who will go out when Joe Root comes back? Or will Stuart Broad return in the second Test?

What a way to resume international cricket! An interesting match was expected and that is what we got after a long hiatus. Brilliant from the West Indies as they have done it. They have taken a 1-0 lead in this 3-match series with an all-round performance. They were terrific with the ball and were good with the bat as well. Talking about this innings, they were down and out chasing 200 as they lost 3 wickets in no time but Blackwood stood tall and along with Chase and Dowrich, helped his side cross the target with ease. Jermaine scored runs at a brisk pace and was stupendous before he was dismissed for 95. The credit has to go to Chase and Dowrich as well for sticking around and not throwing their wickets away.

That is it! West Indies win the game by 4 wickets and they have started the series in an emphatic fashion. Big win for Jason Holder and West Indies. Fantastic performance from the tourists. Stokes bowls on the pads, Campbell flicks it in front of square leg and takes a single to TAKE A 1-0 LEAD IN THE SERIES.

FOUR! Just a run away now. The scores are level. Short and wide outside off, Campbell is quick to pounce onto it and cuts it through backward point for a boundary.

The hosts will be disappointed with their performance. They were cruising at one stage when Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley were at the crease. Runs wee coming at will and the pair was taking England to a strong position but as has been the case for England for some years now, they collapsed and lost 5 quick wickets in the final session of Day 4. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood added few runs today morning but they might feel that they are a little short. Their bowling line-up is a good one and they need to step up and pick wickets quickly. It will be an interesting run chase. Will England manage to defend this score or will West Indies chase it down easily? Stay tuned to find out...

So, West Indies need 200 to win! Some valuable runs from Jofra Archer in the end has given some respectability to the lead. Terrific bowling performance from West Indies though. It all started with Holder getting the wicket of his counterpart, Ben Stokes in the final session of Day 4 and then Gabriel joined the party and was brilliant with the second new ball. Alzarri Joseph, who had a tough first innings, was also up to the mark and together they have restricted England with a lead of 199. Gabriel has finished with a 5-fer and now it is over to their batsman to come up with the goods and take a 1-0 lead in this 3-match Test series. It is not going to be easy against the hosts' bowling line-up but that will be challenge they need to overcome.

So, West Indies hold all the cards at the moment in this Test match and it will be a surprise if they go on to lose this match. England have a lot of work to do and need their relatively inexperienced batting line-up to step up and perform better than the first innings. They have around 14 overs to survive before Stumps. Will they be able to go into Day 4 with all their wickets intact? Stay tuned to find out.

The English bowlers, on the other hand, would be disappointed with their performance. Barring Anderson and Stokes, no other pacer was able to make any impact. Anderson ended up with 3 wickets while Stokes finished with 4. Bess was good with a couple of wickets. It is upto the batsmen now to get them out of trouble and rub the trail off without losing many wickets.

End of an excellent innings for the West Indies. They lead by 114 runs and would be very happy with the total. They are dominating this game and are looking favourites going into the third innings. Their batting innings started with Kraigg Brathwaite scoring a well deserved half-century. They certainly lost some wickets in the middle overs but the duo of Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich ensured that they get a good lead. Dowrich managed to reach his fifty and added some useful runs before he was dismissed. Holder, the skipper, failed but they will feel that they have enough lead to put pressure on the English batting.

OUT! Bowled! Pacy, full and straight and that is just too good for the tourists' number 11. West Indies all out for 318. Wood steams in and bowls a full ball on middle and off, it shapes in a bit. Gabriel looks to free his arm and go for a big one but he misses, Wood doesn't. West Indies bowled out for 318 with a lead of 114.

On a length on middle, Roach flicks it towards square leg for a single.

Short delivery outside off, Roach looks to fend at it but misses it.

Good length delivery on off, Roach blocks it off the back foot.

On a good length on off, Roach looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.