UNDERCOOKED WEST INDIES NEED SUPPORT FROM…

Neck and crop: Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite is bowled by Gus Atkinson at Lord’sPICTURE: Alamy It was evident from the Lord’s Test that West Indies are massively undercooked for this series. If it hadn’t been for the fact that it was Jimmy Anderson’s last Test, and two standout performances from England debutants, the series opener would have been very forgettable indeed. I don’t think anybody was shocked that England won at Lord’s. The margin of victory and

But a change of ball led to a change of luck for the West Indies, with paceman Alzarri Joseph removing both batsmen as England’s 127-1 was soon transformed into 140-3.

Root and Brook, however, restored England’s grip on the match as they scored briskly against a tiring West Indies pace attack, with a third-day pitch still providing an excellent surface for batting.

England opened their second innings 41 runs behind after being frustrated by an aggressive last-wicket stand of 71 between Joshua Da Silva (82 not out) and Shamar Joseph (33) that took the West Indies to 457.

It was the first time the West Indies had made 450 in a Test innings for nearly a decade.

Zak Crawley, dismissed for a duck in England’s first innings, was then unluckily run out for three after Jayden Seales deflected a Duckett drive onto the stumps at the bowler’s e

But Pope underlined England’s determination to wrestle back the momentum with three fours off successive Seales deliveries.

Left-hander Duckett was also in fine touch, sweeping off-spinner Kevin Sinclair for three fours in a row on his way to a 55-ball 50.

But the first delivery following the change of ball ended a second-wicket partnership of 119 when Pope edged an Alzarri Joseph delivery low to Sinclair in the gully. The bowler’s excellent inswinging yorker then had Duckett lbw.

But Brook counter-attacked by advancing down the pitch to drive towering all-rounder Jason Holder for four.

Brook then completed the third fifty of the innings by stylishly check-driving Alzarri Joseph to the long-off rope for a fifth four in 62 balls faced.

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