WI VS ENG TESTS

Right then! That is all we have from the fifth and final day of the first Test match between West Indies and England and the match has ended in a DRAW, leaving the three-match series wide open. The second Test match will be played in Barbados from the 16th of March. That match will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but as usual, the build up will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Kraigg Brathwaite, the captain of West Indies says that it was a hard-fought draw and adds that the effort has been good from the team. He mentions that they were good with the new ball and they need to do better when the ball gets old and put pressure on the opposition team throughout the innings. He applauds Nkrumah Bonner for his effort and says that he is a special player. He mentions that there will be more for the pacers in Barbados. He says that there are some areas they can improve especially in the middle overs and they need to tighten up in that aspect.

England skipper, Joe Root says that he is really proud of the team and the character they showed after being put on the back foot right in the first hour itself. He then goes on to hail the performances of Jonny Bairstow and Jack Leach and also mentions Crawley's effort on the last day. On being asked about losing Wood, he says that yes with the ball reversing a bit he would have been useful but no one can stop an in-game injury. Also adds that Crawley is now one of the senior batters in the side and after last year, it has been brilliant from him to pick himself up and put on the performance. Ends by saying that they are looking forward to Barbados now.

Nkrumah Bonner is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that he likes to bat on this venue. He says that they wanted to win the game but are happy with the draw. He mentions that as a Test batter he needs to bat long and he did exactly that. He mentions that they showed a lot of character in this Test and says that they have a lot of positives from this game.

Presentation time...

West Indies bowlers were treated to a barrage of strokes from the English batters early in the day but did well to keep picking up wickets at regular intervals. The visitors did set the Windies a target but the home side never looked likely to force the issue and have a go at winning the match. It was a sensible move though and after a decent start from skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood played a couple of really bad shots to put their team in trouble. It was then a familiar partnership between Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder and just like the first innings, the pair just stood firm and frustrated the opposition bowlers. Bonner especially just gave nothing away and played almost 500 balls in the whole Test match. The Windies will be happy with a draw here but things could have been different and they could have probably taken a couple of risks in the match.

England pressed the issue hard on the final day but it was always going to be a daunting task to pick up 10 wickets on a surface that had barely anything in it for the bowlers in a bit over two sessions. Root was aggressive and did take a risk when he declared just before Lunch. The English bowlers found it difficult to get the opening breakthrough but once they got Brathwaite, they had an opening and one wicket became two in a flash. It was slow going then but on the stroke of Tea, Jack Leach got his second wicket of the innings. The visitors came out for the final session believing and a wicket early in the final session made things interesting. They probed and probed with Ben Stokes bending his back to the fullest as well but couldn't pick up any more wickets, succumbing to the dead pitch. Joe Root will be a bit disappointed here as one could see the look of desperation on his face to win this Test match.

Finally, the two sides decide to call it a day! Joe Root goes up to the Windies batters and shakes hands and the match has turned out to be as we expected. A match that had everything, a few stellar batting performances, a bit of rain delay, a docile pitch and an exciting final day, well barring the last session. But it was the pitch that won and neither side could force the issue enough to get a result in their favour.

Tossed up nicely on middle by Leach. Bonner gets well forward to defend it. The ball goes off the inside half of his blade towards the leg side.

A flatter and quicker delivery, outside off. Holder lets it go.

Quicker and flatter on middle. Holder works it towards the leg side.

Off and fuller. Holder gets well forward and blocks it out.

Tossed up on middle. Holder works it towards mid-wicket.

Tossed up on off. Holder with a solid front foot defence.

Tossed up on off. Holder plays it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Another boundary! This one is pitched on off and turning away. Bonner gets the outside half of his blade as he pushes for it. The ball goes through the third man region for a boundary.