First ball of the Test, Chris Woakes bowling to Kraigg Brathwaite. It pitched a little short, and the West Indies captain dabbed it into the ground and ran. It felt a little ambitious, if only for a moment – by the time Woakes had extended and diverted his follow-through to reach the ball both he and the batters knew the risk had paid off. Was this, perhaps, a sign that West Indies had come out on the front foot, having won the toss, determined to impose themselves on the game?
Mikyle Louis, Brathwaite’s opening partner, pushed his bat unconvincingly at the first ball he faced, left the last four balls of that Woakes over well alone, and took 22 balls to get off the mark. Perhaps not.
