How Did Day 1 Unfold in the ENG vs WI 1st Test?

In this article, we will discuss how Day 1 Unfold in the ENG vs WI 1st Test. Day 1 of the first Test between England and the West Indies at Lord’s was a rollercoaster of emotions, unexpected twists, and individual brilliance. While the stage was set for a grand farewell to James Anderson, it was the debutant Gus Atkinson who stole the spotlight, delivering a performance for the ages.

With overcast conditions favoring seam bowling, England’s captain, Ben Stokes, made the decisive choice to bowl first after winning the toss. This decision quickly turned into a masterstroke, as England’s bowlers dismantled the West Indies batting lineup, which had previously shown flashes of promise, in dramatic fashion.

Atkinson, making his debut, was handed the new ball alongside Anderson. He struck gold almost immediately. Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies captain, fell to a loose shot, chopping onto his stumps in the second over. Atkinson continued to probe with precision and pace, touching 90mph/145kph regularly. His second spell, however, was where he truly shone, causing a monumental collapse in the West Indies middle order.

He bowled with a scrambled seam, creating movement off the pitch that was difficult for the batters to negotiate. His ninth over was particularly devastating, as he claimed three wickets in four balls, reducing the West Indies from a precarious position to a near-hopeless one. Atkinson’s figures of 7 for 45 were the second-best by an England bowler on debut, behind only Dominic Cork’s 7 for 43.

West Indies started with some promise despite the early setback. Mikyle Louis, on debut, showed confidence and flair, particularly against Anderson, whom he dispatched for consecutive boundaries. However, his innings was cut short by a brilliant diving catch from Harry Brook off Ben Stokes’ bowling.

Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge offered some resistance, adding 44 runs and navigating through the lunch interval. However, once Athanaze was caught low at slip by Joe Root, the floodgates opened. Jason Holder, returning to Test cricket after a year, was dismissed on the first ball, and Joshua Da Silva soon followed, giving Jamie Smith his first Test dismissal.

Hodge, witnessing the chaos from the non-striker’s end, tried to counter-attack but fell to a stunning diving catch by Ollie Pope. Atkinson’s spell continued to wreak havoc, with Alzarri Joseph’s brief counterattack ending in a mistimed shot, and Shamar Joseph falling in comical fashion to Pope at point.

James Anderson wrapped up the innings by trapping Jayden Seales lbw, ending West Indies’ innings at a paltry 121. Anderson, playing his 188th and final Test, received a warm ovation from the Lord’s crowd for his contribution to England cricket, despite not taking as many wickets as he would have liked.

Chasing a modest total, England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took to the crease. Duckett fell early to Seales, edging to the wicketkeeper. However, Crawley and Ollie Pope steadied the innings with a brisk partnership. Crawley’s aggressive intent was evident as he scored heavily through both the offside and leg side. Despite riding his luck, he capitalized on his opportunities, racing to 76 before being bowled by an inswinging yorker from Seales.

Pope, on the other hand, played with controlled aggression, bringing up his first 50-plus score in a Test since his 196 against India. He combined well with Crawley, and their partnership of 94 runs was crucial in giving England a solid lead. Pope eventually fell lbw to Holder, but not before putting England in a commanding position.

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