WINDIES’ TOUR OF ENGLAND

Having taken a heavy beating in their own home at the hands of a full strength Indian squad, the new look West Indian team took off to England to face 3 tests, 5 ODIs and a one-off T20I.  The young and inexperienced Caribbean side, under a very impressive young captain, Jason Holder, were looking to start a new chapter in West Indian cricket.

The day-night spectacle
The England cricket team won the first match, beating the West Indians comprehensively, by an innings and 209 runs in the first ever day-night test match played in the Anglia. Riding high on another Alastair Cook master class, who scored 243 in the 1^st innings to bring up the fourth double ton of his illustrious career, the match seemed like a cakewalk for the Brits. The two debutants, Mark Stoneman for England and Kyle Hope for the Caribbean’s could not impress much.

Alastair Cook

The match was marked by a historic moment for Stuart Broad, who surpassed Sir Ian Botham to become the 2^nd highest wicket taker for England.

The Hope-Brathwaite exhibition
The brightest prospect to arise from the Caribbean islands in recent times, Shai Hope, a young right handed batsman took matters into his own hands to deliver an astonishing victory for Windies in the Lions’ den after 17 years. Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel bowled their hearts out, grabbing 4 a piece in the 1^st innings. Brathwaite and Hope then gritted out the English bowlers, rode their luck and dragged them over the finish line on the last day with 4.4 overs and 5 wickets to spare. You can keep Windies out from T20, but you cannot keep T20 out of the Windies, as was evident by Jermaine Blackwood’s innings at the end.

Shai Hope

Another historic moment was on witness as the England captain Joe Root scored a half century in his 12^th consecutive test match, matching AB De Villiers record.

The Jimmy (Anderson, not Fallon) Show

On a Lord’s pitch that did everything for the fast bowlers; seam, swing and late swing, a not-so-young James Anderson rolled back the years.

The first innings belonged to Ben Stokes, who picked up a 6-for, as he ran riot through the West Indian batting line up. But it was James who lit up the second innings. 
Clean bowling Braithwaite, he joined the elite club of players with 500 test wickets, racking up a personal best figure of 7-42 and 9 wickets in the match. Stoneman and Tom Westley drove England beyond the finishing line with a 9 wicket victory.

One of the major talking points of the test series has to be the fielding in the slip cordon. More chances seem to have been dropped than taken by both the sides, with even Cook dropping sitters. 'Butter fingers' all around. Slip fielding is one of the most important aspects of the cricketing game. Improvements are of demand.

Coming to the English side, their never ending trouble of finding an able opening partner to Alastair Cook still persists. Mark Stoneman looks an unfinished product. The talent is evident, the application not so. In Joe Root, they have one of the best batsman in the world currently and he seems to be doing a good job with the added responsibility of the captaincy. Ben Stokes, arguably the best all rounder in the world at the moment is on top of his game. He has come off age and has been unstoppable. The terrifying duo of Broad and Anderson still going strong.

West Indies, on the other hand, have a long way to go before they match the legacy of past legends again . With deep rooted troubles in their cricket board, the quality of the team has diminished beyond measure. Shai Hope, Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder seem to be the only good thing about their team right now, with Kemar Roach racking up wickets in the series. It’s an interesting story to look forward to, as to how the West Indies go about their business.