The quality of the cricket, especially the top order batting, between two tired teams has left plenty to be desired but, after a couple of dry Tests, we have a thrilling decider on our hands in Grenada. These are two average teams scrapping for their lives.
West Indies take the advantage into the second innings. In response to England’s 204, they have eked their way to 232 for eight. That lead is already very handy but – in the knowledge that batting last could be very awkward – they will have designs on swelling it a fair way yet.
However far they get, England will face a very awkward third innings on a pitch that saw six of their top seven dismissed for single figures first time round. Only time will tell if Kraigg Brathwaite’s decision to bowl first at the toss was a good one.
Close to stumps on day two, Josh da Silva became the first batter in the match to reach a half-century – until then No11 Saqib Mahmood’s had the top score. Having come in at 95 for six, it was an outstanding contribution from da Silva.
It was not just in the top score coming from down the order that West Indies’ innings resembled England’s.
It started quietly, with the new ball wicketless. Chris Woakes particularly failed to make the Windies’ batters play, and John Campbell is always keen to score. The opening partnership eased its way to 49 – plenty more than England’s 23 – when a flurry of wickets fell before lunch.
Already, the ball was doing plenty. Balls scooted through, with Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks lbw to Ben Stokes and Saqib Mahmood respectively. Campbell was hit on the helmet twice by Craig Overton, but that had as much to do with the fact that he was not watching the ball as the behaviour of the pitch. Shortly before lunch, that short ball strategy worked, with Campbell caught down the legside on review.
Like West Indies a day earlier, England made a fast start to the afternoon session. Woakes – and the short ball! – were the unlikely destroyers. Nkrumah Bonner was caught behind periscoping under a decent bouncer, then Jason Holder played a horrible shot, again, to be caught in the deep.
Jermaine Blackwood completed a trio of quick wickets for Woakes when he was marginally lbw. He had already been dropped by Ben Foakes off Saqib Mahmood. Blackwood looked to leave the ball, but it took a sharp deflection off his bat, and Foakes dived hard to his right, and one hand could not quite cling on.
It had been a fine spell from Woakes, and welcome respite after a horrible winter. He is only playing in this game because of England’s many absentees, and it will probably be his last Test overseas. It was a slight help to his gruesome overseas Test numbers, but should not be seen as an indicator of any great revival. Woakes has not taken a wicket with the new ball all series and has been unusually inaccurate, floating plenty down the legside.
But the ball went soft, fewer balls misbehaved, and batting got a little easier. England got one more freebie, from Kyle Mayers, who had played some handsome shots. He plopped Stokes to mid-on and, at 128 for seven, England had designs on a healthy lead.
Da Silva had other ideas. Like England on day one, the fightback began in earnest from No8, but da Silva is a nuggety player who could be higher up the order.
He shared 49 with Alzarri Joseph, who played the aggressor until a very ugly dismissal to Overton, then an unbeaten 55 with the brave Kemar Roach. England tired, and whittled their reviews away in familiar fashion.
West Indies moved into the lead in the final half-hour of the day. There were umms and ahh from England fielders, but no clear-cut chances, and every run would have felt like a punch in the gut – especially the ones scooting through the slips.
They cannot say that they were not getting a taste of their own medicine, though.
