In James Anderson’s farewell Test, debutants from either side sparkled in the opening session of Day 1, with England’s regular strikes helping them gain ascendancy over West Indies. The visitors went into Lunch on Wednesday at 61/3.
Ben Stokes decided to bowl in overcast conditions at Lord’s, with both elevens having been announced a day earlier. Atkinson vindicating the call of his captain as he bowled West Indies skipper Kraigg Braithwaite off his second ball in Test cricket.
The Surrey quick added another to his kitty when he lulled Kirk McKenzie into an ambitious drive, leaving the inexperienced West Indies middle-order exposed. The visitors found themselves in a spot of bother at 36/2, but the 23-year-old Mikyle Louis chanced his arm to keep the scoreboard moving.
Ben Stokes’ fitness was also under the microscope, with the England captain having decided to skip the IPL and the T20 World Cup to get back in prime shape. He introduced himself into the attack at the start of the 14th over and bowled till the close of the first session, sending down eight overs in his first spell. He was moving the ball both ways and varying his lengths to keep the batters honest. He even found the inside edge of Louis’s bat but the ball missed the stumps and rolled into the fence.
Stokes’s persistence eventually paid off as Louis got a thick outside edge to third slip where Harry Brook pulled off a stunning one-handed catch.
Brief scores: West Indies 61/3 (Mikyle Louis 27, Kavem Hodge 12*; Gus Atkinson 2-2, Ben Stokes 1-14) vs England
One of the best slip catches you will EVER see from Harry Brook! 😱
That reaction from Ben Stokes though… 🤣 #EnglandCricket | #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/0MQwMVDH4H
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 10, 2024
