If the first day is anything to go by, England’s much-trumpeted reset is going to be a rollercoaster. Dire straits in the morning, the top four all gone with just 48 on the board. But, by stumps, a rather prettier picture, 268 for six.
For that they had Jonny Bairstow to thank. He made his second century of 2022 in his second Test of the year, continuing his promising return since a mid-Ashes recall. This, just as in Sydney in January (England’s only Ashes century, and the only game they did not lose), was a sensational backs-to-the-wall effort; patient, but punctuated with punchy boundaries.
By the close, when he had 109, surviving a tricky final half-hour against the new ball, he had hit 17 fours, delighting a crowd that was English in the main. Bairstow often looks angry when celebrating his hundreds, but this one was all smiles, with his trademark stare at the sky and guttural roar, before raising his bat to all corners of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
England’s position suddenly felt strong, if not impregnable, thanks to Bairstow’s successive partnerships of 50 or more with Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes and Chris Woakes (that one unbeaten) that steered them away from choppier waters. In Sydney, he and Stokes had helped England recover from 36 for four. Here, it was 48 for four.
Bairstow, who missed the Hobart Test in January with a thumb broken during his hundred, was one of six changes to the team. Since, then England have also sacked their Head Coach, Batting Coach and Managing Director, as well as making some very considerable selection calls.
Initially, the changes made a horrible start as West Indies, led by the evergreen Kemar Roach, bowled superbly to put England – who won the toss – under the pump in fair batting conditions.
First to go was the debutant, Alex Lees, who had been presented his Test cap by Bairstow. Roach, who is superb against left-handers, pinned him in front from round the wicket, with a review not saving him.
In the next over, Zak Crawley was caught behind brilliantly off the inside edge by Joshua da Silva, diving to his left. It was a smart bit of bowling from 20-year-old Jayden Seales, who went wide on the crease to get his man, but a poor shot from Crawley, who tried to repeat two excellent drives by going too hard at the ball.
Joe Root, promoted to No3, had cut his first ball for four beautifully, but was outfoxed by Roach. A zealous cut had gone fast through the hands of fourth slip, and Root resolved to play fewer shots. Next ball, he was bowled by a beauty that he left. England were 27 for three.
Dan Lawrence zipped to 20, playing some nice shots through midwicket (as ever), but fell to Jason Holder, with the wily former captain frustrating him into a loose shot outside off, which found the hands of third slip. Holder bowled a five-over spell without conceding a run; even by the end of the day he had given away just 15 in 16 overs.
Stokes and Bairstow carefully began a rebuild before lunch, taking no risks, before putting the foot down a little after the break. Stokes was the luckier of the two, with a prod at Alzarri Joseph sailing past Holder at slip. Another edge dropped just short. Eventually, with the stand worth 67 and having just pulled and turned authoritative fours, he was bowled off the inside edge by the excellent Seales.
Foakes immediately looked in rare touch, cutting and flicking into gaps. His partnership with Bairstow, now opening up, fizzed along, especially after tea, when boundaries flowed.
With the stand one shy of a century, Foakes was caught by surprise by one that just seemed to stay a touch low from Holder, and pinned in front. West Indies’ attack had been flagging, with Veerasammy Permaul attacked hard by Bairstow, but Holder found a moment of inspiration. Nevertheless Foakes’s 42, as much for its style as its size, represented a very encouraging return to Test cricket after a year away.
Bairstow, now with Woakes, ploughed on. England had averted a crisis and, with batting to come, will have designs on the sort of total that felt unimaginable throughout the morning session.
