England vs West Indies 3rd Test, Day 1: Highlights from Edgbaston

What a memorable series it's been! England bid farewell to the legendary James Anderson with a victory in the first game and then went on to secure a clean sweep against the Windies. Ben Stokes, the English skipper, has just received the Richards-Botham Trophy, and the team is celebrating together with some photos. Some of the England players will now head off to join their teams in The Hundred 2024, while others will enjoy a well-earned rest. Meanwhile, the West Indies will be gearing up for a two-match Test series against South Africa, starting on Wednesday, August 7th. Be sure to join us early for all the pre-match build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Ben Stokes, the victorious skipper of England praises Mark Wood's spell, calling it amazing and acknowledging Wood's incredible effort whenever he dons the England shirt. Stokes highlights Wood's skill and speed, noting how he creates pressure even when not taking wickets. He enjoys pairing Wood with Bash due to their contrasting speeds and is delighted with Wood's performance. Stokes commends newcomers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith for their impressive debuts. He praises Atkinson's 12-wicket haul and Smith's exceptional batting and wicketkeeping. Stokes notes the team's improved ability to assess conditions and make smart choices, contrasting their current approach to how they would have responded 18 or 20 months ago. He concludes by emphasizing the team's focus on winning and their pride in representing England, always aiming for victory with the three lions on their chest.

Kraigg Brathwaite, the captain of West Indies says that 280 was not good enough on a wicket that suited batting, but they did well with the ball. Adds the communication between the guys was a bit down and they were not able to put pressure on the batters for longer periods. Tells that they were just not consistent enough with hitting the top of off like they were in Australia. Says that the thing that he liked the most in this series was that never gave up, and always tried to fight their way out of difficult situations. Mentions that Jayden Seales was good in patches and Motie did well too, but a longer break between the games would have helped a bit. Further adds that they are now looking forward to the two Tests against South Africa and it is important that they show growth and learn from their mistakes.

Jayden Seales is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES FOR WEST INDIES for his good bowling performances picking up a total of 13 wickets. He expresses pride in representing his team. He emphasizes the importance of his comeback in the series and the deliberate decision to play at Sussex to adapt to English conditions. Seales acknowledges the challenge of facing opponents who play freely and seize opportunities. He believes that with continuous learning and growth, the West Indies will become a formidable force. Despite the physical demands, he feels his body is holding up well and looks forward to recovering in time for the tour to South Africa.

Gus Atkinson is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES FOR ENGLAND for his amazing bowling efforts and picking up a total of 22 wickets. He feels honored to have taken 22 wickets. Without high expectations initially, he finds this achievement particularly special. Reflecting on the series, he describes it as an incredible and unforgettable experience. Atkinson credits his success to running in hard, hitting the wicket, swinging the ball in different situations, and utilizing the crease. He looks forward to playing against Sri Lanka next. He expresses joy in bowling alongside Mark Wood, appreciating his advice and finding Wood's performance particularly inspiring. Atkinson cherishes the series and eagerly anticipates the future.

Mark Wood is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his seven wickets including a stunning fifer in the second innings. He expresses relief and gratitude. He mentions feeling down initially but credits Jimmy for a motivational talk during the break, which helped him refocus on his strengths. Wood highlights the confidence boost from his first wicket, stating he adapted to conditions by concentrating on bowling fast as per Stokes' directive. Despite fluctuating speeds due to injuries, he commits to maintaining pace throughout the summer. He emphasizes the importance of mindset, especially while bowling with a reversing ball, and appreciates his team's unwavering support. Wood acknowledges the challenge of back-to-back Tests and thanks the physio for keeping him fit.

Presentation Time...

Chasing a paltry total of 82, England had a new opening pair, as Zak Crawley had gone for scans on his right index finger. Skipper Ben Stokes opened alongside Ben Duckett. Stokes made his intentions clear, starting aggressively and hitting boundaries for fun. The visitors failed to contain the English skipper, who raced to fifty in just 24 balls, bringing up the fastest fifty for England in Tests. Duckett also found boundaries as both made short work of the chase. Stokes and Duckett remained unbeaten on 57 and 25, respectively, as England chased down the total in just 7.2 overs with 10 wickets in hand.

West Indies lost Brathwaite (0) and Kirk McKenzie (8) cheaply in the evening session of day two. Alick Athanaze (12) looked good but departed the next morning. Mikyle Louis and Kavem Hodge built a solid 72-run stand before the former fell on 57 after notching up his maiden Test fifty. Hodge played some wonderful strokes and brought up his fifty, but lacked support from the other end. It was a short stay for Jason Holder (12) at the crease. The ball started reversing, and Mark Wood dismissed Joshua Da Silva (5) and Alzarri Joseph (2) in quick succession. Hodge (55), Jayden Seales (0), and Shamar Joseph (4) were sent packing in a single over by Wood, who picked up a fifer as West Indies were bundled out for 175 in 52 overs.

In reply, England lost three wickets in quick succession and were tottering at 54/5 on the second morning before Joe Root (87) and skipper Ben Stokes (54) led the recovery. Both played beautifully, keeping the Windies at bay. Another solid 106-run stand between Jamie Smith (95) and Woakes (62) helped England gain a lead of 94. For the Windies, Alzarri Joseph picked up a four-fer but was expensive, while Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph chipped in with three and two scalps, respectively.

England have completely outplayed the West Indies in the third and final Test, securing a clean sweep and starting their men's international summer outstandingly. All smiles in the English camp as their skipper led from the front in the chase of 82, completing it in just 7.2 overs. England beat the West Indies by 10 wickets, whitewashing the Caribbean side. Let's recap this Test match. West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (61) played a solid knock at the top, stitching a good partnership with fellow opener Mikyle Louis (26). England stormed back into the contest with quick wickets, but Jason Holder (59) and Joshua Da Silva (49) stitched a brilliant 109-run stand for the sixth wicket. England broke the stand and quickly wrapped up the Windies’ tail, knocking them over for 282. Gus Atkinson picked up four wickets for England, while Chris Woakes grabbed three.

A statement series whitewash for England! We can say that 'Bazball' is well and truly revolutionizing Test cricket here. The English skipper led the chase from the front and broke the record of the fastest fifty for an English player in this format. However, the credit must go to that scintillating spell from Mark Wood that set up this victory for the hosts. West Indies can take a few positives from this series and this will be a great learning curve for the not-so-experienced Windies side.

7.2: Kraigg Brathwaite to Ben Stokes, SIX! Ben Stokes finishes things off in style! Kraigg Brathwaite tries to bowl another bouncer, angling into leg, Ben Stokes skips down the track and smashes it away over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. ENGLAND WIN BY 10 WICKETS AND WIN THE SERIES 3-0!

7.1: Kraigg Brathwaite to Ben Stokes, Oh..wow! Kraigg Brathwaite comes around the wicket bangs in a bouncer down the leg side, Ben Stokes leaves it alone.

Kraigg Brathwaite joins the attack now.

6.6: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, SCORED LEVEL! Short of a length and on middle, Ben Stokes pulls it away to deep square leg for a single.

6.5: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, Pitched up and around off, Ben Stokes drills it straight to short covers.

6.4: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, SIX! FIFTY FOR STOKES! He gets to it with a bang! He may have missed out on the fastest half-century in Test, but this is the fastest by an Englishman in this format. Back of a length and on middle, Ben Stokes cleats his front leg away and whacks it all the way over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

6.3: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, Fuller and well outside off, Ben Stokes lets it go.

6.2: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, A bouncer now, on middle, Ben Stokes ducks under it.

6.1: Shamar Joseph to Ben Stokes, Overpitched and on middle, Ben Stokes drills it down the ground, the fielder from long on runs to his left and puts in a great dive to stop it. Two tuns taken.

Shamar Joseph joins the attack now.

5.6: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, FOUR! THREE ON THE TROT! Same shot, same result! Short and on middle, Ben Duckett plays the pull shot perfection and beats the deep square leg fielder to his right for four more runs. 20 runs off the over! England 10 away from the win!

5.5: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, FOUR! TWO IN TWO! Jason Holder continues with the short length and on middle, Ben Duckett sits back and waits for this one, swivels and heaves it in front of square on the leg side for another boundary. England on the verge of the win now!

5.4: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Just wide! Short again from Jason Holder, on middle, Ben Duckett stands tall and pulls it aerially, the fielder at mid-wicket dives to his left but the ball goes past him and to the fence for a boundary.

5.3: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, Short of a length and on middle, Ben Duckett rolls his wrists and pulls it away nicely wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. England just 22 runs away from the win now!

5.2: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Ben Duckett joins the party now! Vey full and on middle, Ben Duckett stays deep inside his crease and drills it down the ground for a lovely boundary.

5.1: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, Fuller and around leg, Ben Duckett flicks it away wide of deep square leg for a brace.

4.6: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, Full again but way down the leg side, Ben Stokes misses his flick.

4.5: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Duckett, Touch fuller, on leg, Ben Duckett clips it through square leg for one.

4.4: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Duckett, BEAUTY! Hard length and on middle, nips back in sharply, Ben Duckett this time gets cut in half and gets beaten on the inside edge,

4.3: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, Misbah-Ul-Haq can take a sigh of relief! His record still remains intact! Short of a length and outside off, Ben Stokes tries to go big but only manages to swat it down to long off for a single.

4.2: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Duckett, Back of a length and angling into the leg side, Ben Duckett tries to heave it away but misses as the ball goes off his thigh pads towards the short fine region. A leg bye is taken. England breaks their own record of the fastest team fifty in Tests. They made it in the last Test only!

4.1: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Duckett, Fuller and on middle, Ben Duckett knocks it back to the bowler.

3.6: Jason Holder to Ben Stokes, Short of a length and outside off, Ben Stokes looks to slap it away but loses his bottom hand and mistimes it a bit, the ball lands safely wide of long off. Two runs taken. Stokes need 9 runs from 2 balls to break the record of the fastest Test fifty.

3.5: Jason Holder to Ben Stokes, FOUR! ANOTHER ONE! A slower one, full and on middle, Ben Stokes picks it up early, waits for it and thumps it over the bowler's head for a four more runs. 

3.4: Jason Holder to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Ben Stokes is chasing the fastest Test fifty here! Jason Holder sees the batter advance and bangs this short, on middle, Stokes may have got a bit hurried but still goes through the shot and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

3.3: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, Overpitched and on middle, Ben Duckett drills it away towards deep point for a single.

3.2: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, Full again and on off, Ben Duckett drives it firmly but straight to mid off.

3.1: Jason Holder to Ben Duckett, Fuller and around off, Ben Duckett steers it towards point.

2.6: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, OUCH! Back of a length and on middle, angling in, Ben Stokes looks to heave it away but gets an inside edge straight on this box. He goes down screaming in pain. Maybe that can slow him down a bit because the bowlers are looking clueless here. England need just 44 runs to win now!

2.5: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR! There she goes again! Full again and around middle, Ben Stokes stays back in his crease, presents the full face of the bat and lifts it over the bowler's head, does not get it form the middle but generates enough power for it to race away to the long off fence for four more runs.

2.4: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, Goes fuller this time, on middle, angling in, Ben Stokes clips it away nicely past mid-wicket for a brace.

2.3: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR MORE! Ben Stokes getting himself ready for The Hundred! Short of a length and on middle and leg, Ben Stokes is expecting that length, swivels and pulls it away behind square on the leg side for his sixth boundary in no time.

2.2: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Put away! Alzarri Joseph bangs this one short and around middle, Ben Stokes sits back and waits for that, transferring his weight on the back foot and swats it away over mid-wicket for another boundary.

2.1: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Duckett, On a length and on leg, Ben Duckett flicks it away through square leg for a single.

1.6: Jayden Seales to Ben Duckett, Back of a length and around off, Ben Duckett cuts it away towards deep point for one more. 23 for no loss in two overs!

1.5: Jayden Seales to Ben Stokes, Short of a length and outside off, Ben Stokes punches it to sweeper covers for one.

1.4: Jayden Seales to Ben Stokes, FOUR! SMACKED! Ben Stokes is dealing only in boundaries here! Hard length and just outside off, not that short and neither that much room, but Stokes is Stokes, uses his power and muscles it away through covers for another smashing boundary.

1.3: Jayden Seales to Ben Stokes, On a length and on leg, Ben Stokes pats it down to the leg side, a run is available but Stokes is no interested.

1.2: Jayden Seales to Ben Stokes, FOUR! The England skipper looks in a hurry here! Full and around off, Ben Stokes sits down on one knee, extends his arms and carves it over extra covers for a boundary.

1.1: Jayden Seales to Ben Duckett, Jayden Seales begins with a full delivery, on middle, shaping in, Ben Duckett tucks it away towards mid-wicket for a single and gets off for the mark.

Jayden Seales will be bowling from the other end.

0.6: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, On a length and on middle, Ben Stokes blocks it out from his crease.

0.5: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR BYES! That one beats everyone! Hard length from Alzarri Joseph, on middle, jags back in a long way and keeps a bit low, Ben Stokes gets cut in half as the ball sneaks past the inside edge, Joshua Da Silva dives to his right, gets a hand to it but that is not enough as the ball still races to the third man fence for four more runs. 12 rusn already in the first over!

0.4: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR MORE! Fine shot! This time it is fuller delivery, on middle, angling in, Ben Stokes brings his wrist into play and flicks it away beautifully through mid-wicket for a boundary.

0.3: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Ben Stokes and England are underway in fine fashion! Alzarri Joseph land this short of a length but outside off this time, Ben Stokes gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a cracking boundary.

0.2: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, Back of a length and angling into leg, Ben Stokes fails to flick it away but misses as the ball lobs up off his thigh pads on the pitch.

0.1: Alzarri Joseph to Ben Stokes, Alzarri Joseph starts with a hard-length delivery, on middle, nips back in with good bounce, Ben Stokes loses his bottom hand but manages to keep it out to the off side.