Day 1
ENG 258
WI 19/1
Ben Stokes defied a much-improved West Indies with a superb century before James Anderson struck late on day one of the second Test at Headingley.
Arriving at 71-4, Stokes counter-attacked in thrilling fashion, reaching his sixth Test hundred off 122 balls.
He was dropped twice, including the ball before making his century by Shannon Gabriel, who removed Stokes for 100 as the hosts were all out for 258.
Anderson snared Kieran Powell as the tourists closed on 19-1, 239 behind.
Following a dismal showing in the first Test at Edgbaston, West Indies bowled menacingly in the first two sessions, inspired by Kemar Roach (4-71) and returning fellow fast bowler Gabriel (4-51), to edge an engrossing first day.
However, they will rue dropping four catches in total and a ragged spell after tea that helped England - who lead the three-match series 1-0 - recover from yet another fragile top-order display.
Stirring Stokes shows the way
England's batting flaws were exposed again but Stokes belied his team-mates' struggles with an enjoyable innings of power and poise.
He had to grind at the start but found fluency by getting onto the front foot to hit thumping cover drives, reaching his half-century with one that whistled to the fence.
The longer his innings went on, the better Stokes looked, deftly punching down the ground and also charging the fast bowlers to clip forcefully through mid-wicket in hitting 17 boundaries in total.
It was far from a chanceless knock - Kraigg Brathwaite's drop was tough but catchable, Gabriel shelled a very simple chance at mid-on with Stokes on 98, while there was also an inside edge that dropped short of wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.
But in the context of where England were when he came to the crease, this was perhaps Stokes' most important Test century.
In his five previous hundreds, England's lowest score when the Durham man arrived at the crease was 120-4 - this innings underlining how the vice-captain is thriving on increasing responsibility.
Resurgent Windies let England escape
Reactions to West Indies' demoralising defeat by an innings and 209 runs at Edgbaston encompassed pity, scorn and frustration.
The problems are far-reaching, but it was heartening to see this side respond with a disciplined bowling display infused with the odd burst of fire from Roach and Gabriel.
The latter proved how much his side missed him in the first Test, regularly bowling up near 90mph as he found the outside edge of Alastair Cook's bat to remove the in-form opener for just 11.
The burly 29-year-old has previously struggled to replicate that pace in subsequent spells but returned to have Jonny Bairstow caught well in the slips by Jason Holder before exchanging words with Stokes after gaining quick revenge for his poor spill.
The bowling was threatening but the fielding was forgiving - Powell dropping a straightforward chance with Joe Root on just eight before the England captain went on to hit a world record equalling half-century in 12 consecutive Tests, later edging Devendra Bishoo to first slip.
Windies captain Holder also let Root and Stokes accumulate after tea with some questionable field settings on an otherwise promising day for his side.
Familiar failings
England's problems at two, three and five show no signs of being solved.
Opener Mark Stoneman played watchfully for his 19, only to drive loosely at a pitched-up ball from Roach and inside edge him behind.
Tom Westley looks to have been sussed out in just his fourth Test match - once again his head falling over a full, straight ball that trapped the number three plumb lbw.
And Dawid Malan edged the nagging but gently-paced Holder on to his own stumps - the number five holding a lovely pose entirely at odds with just having played down the wrong line.
The uncertainty over these positions since the last Ashes series has contributed to England having just the sixth best average number of runs at the fall of the third wicket of all Test-playing nations over the past two years.
Australia are top by some distance, adding to the fear England will arrive down under this winter both unsure of their best team and unequipped to defend the Ashes.
That feels a long way away. For now, an under-strength West Indies are proving too much for a trio being forced to adapt to Test match cricket in a rush.
Day 2
ENG 258
WI 329/5
Headingley has a bit of form in the upset department and while only two days of this Test have been completed that reputation may be enhanced. When West Indies arrived in Leeds the general consensus was they did so with no hope alongside the brothers Kyle and Shai. Now they are, rather brilliantly, in charge of the game. They may not win it, but they are the strong favourites to do so. In a nutshell that is one good reason why we keep turning up.
With a composure that belies West Indies’ recent record and in stark contrast to their efforts at Edgbaston Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope compiled a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 246, which enabled their side to be 71 runs ahead with five wickets in hand when a weary England side withdrew to their dressing room for some chastened contemplation. This was not in the script.
Brathwaite, resolute and organized in defence and occasionally impish against the spinners, posted his sixth Test century in a manner that must make England’s selectors envious. They would readily settle for him as Alastair Cook’s opening partner.
While Brathwaite’s qualities as a gutsy opener are well-established, Hope has only flickered in the past. A touch of class has always been evident but the figures have not matched that impression – a batting average of 18 after 11 Tests. Yet here he hit his maiden century in some style. Hope crunched a pull to the boundary on one leg in the manner of Gordon Greenidge to reach 99 before nonchalantly flicking the single, which took him to three figures.
This felt like a landmark innings. No doubt there will be hurdles ahead. But he can play. The technique is sound enough but more impressive than that was his calmness in the face of adversity. When he joined Brathwaite the score was 35 for three and everyone was preparing for more of the same: Edgbaston – rather than paradise – revisited. Four hours later, this pair was still together with centuries to their names and Joe Root was running out of ideas despite using six bowlers.
In the morning, this state of affairs had seemed highly unlikely. There was some cloud cover, a newish ball and Jimmy Anderson on song. The nightwatchman, Devendra Bishoo, was stranded at Anderson’s end and he swished and missed at a long sequence of deliveries, which, as one old Headingley hero often observed, were “far too good for thee”. Eventually, Anderson’s worst ball of the morning, a little short and a wide, induced an edge and Bishoo was out for a plucky one from 33 balls.
Then Kyle Hope, Shai’s older brother, was superbly held at second slip by Root diving to his left off Anderson, who was still doing his Richard Hadlee impersonations: the run-up was smooth and purposeful, the seam high and the length unerring. Once again Anderson operated on a different level from the other English pacemen, who had an exasperating day.
Stuart Broad strove hard with a hint of impatience and nothing much happened. He was replaced by Chris Woakes, who looked more threatening. The Warwickshire all-rounder conjured more pace and swing and beat the bat several times with the ball often thudding into the upturned gloves of Jonny Bairstow. This looked terrific but there were no wickets and gradually his line deteriorated so that the batsmen could frequently allow the ball to pass harmlessly by.
Likewise, Ben Stokes began with more vim than accuracy. England needed to strike more than twice throughout that morning session since the clouds were dispersing and the ball was ageing. Root tried Moeen Ali who almost had Brathwaite lbw – the umpire’s finger was raised but the batsman’s review was successful and he celebrated by hitting the next delivery for six. It was a minor triumph for the tourists that they could have lunch at 109 for there.
By the time they resumed the sun was out and even Anderson yielded a few boundaries in his afternoon spell. Hope soon started to catch up with Brathwaite, his easy swing of the bat more pleasing to the eye and a source of joy for those like, Jeffrey Dujon and Stuart Law, who have been patiently championing his talents.
If this is a landmark innings for Hope in his 12th Test he will be in good company. Great batsmen who have averaged way under 30 after 11 Tests include Dennis Amiss (19), Martin Crowe (20), Jacques Kallis (23) and Graham Gooch (26).
Brathwaite reached his 50 and his 100 with a six, an oddity since before this match he had hit three sixes in Test cricket. Here, he revealed himself to be partial to off-spinners, Moeen in the first instance and then Tom Westley, who was deposited into the rugby stand when bowling his first over in Test cricket. Suddenly, Brathwaite comes out of his shell when the spinner emerges as if he has made a study of the batting of Misbah-ul-Haq.
England, now labouring in the Headingley sunshine, limped to the second new ball, which eventually delivered another wicket after a barren four and a half hours. Broad finally pierced the defence of Brathwaite with a delivery that jagged back between bat and pad. But Hope kept going, striking two crunching boundaries against Woakes, whose brief evening spell suggested that either he has a phobia of bowling up the hill here or he has yet to readjust to the rigours of the five-day game after such a long lay‑off.
Stokes promptly replaced Woakes and soon dismissed Roston Chase, who has surely never sat with his pads on for so long in his brief Test career.
Hope remained strong while Jermaine Blackwood came out playing enough exotic strokes to suggest that it might be worth turning up on time on Sunday morning. England are going to have to battle like fury to avoid defeat – just as no one predicted on Friday morning.
Day 3
ENG 258 & 171/3
WIN 427
ENG lead by 2 runs
The most compelling Test of the summer, brimful of incident, excellence and aberration, hangs in the balance. After three days, during which West Indies have played most of the best cricket, the outcome nonetheless remains hard to predict. The bald figures are that England in their second innings have seven wickets remaining and they lead by two runs.
England’s batsmen have had to scrap for every run; some enjoyed good fortune with catches dropped and, in one case, probably unnoticed and they have had to cope with the unnerving experience of waiting for an umpire’s decision to be overturned. Critically, at the end of a harum-scarum day Joe Root was still at the crease on 45 and he remains the likeliest batsman to influence the result of a contest that has restored faith in Test cricket.
England started their second innings 169 runs adrift and for once the game situation overtook the constant debate about the constitution of the upper order for their winter tour. Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman set about their task diligently, adding 58 together, and Cook, caught behind off Jason Holder for 23, was the first to go.
Then Tom Westley endured an innings that he would rather forget. First he should have been run out after a mix-up with Stoneman but Devendra Bishoo at the bowler’s end dropped the ball, which compelled him to hurl it at the stumps with Westley still yards short. He missed them. No matter; soon after Westley drove wildly at Holder and was caught behind. The selectors would have viewed his failure more sympathetically if he had been the unfortunate victim of a run out.
Stoneman was much more impressive in an unfussy way. He stands still at the crease with minimal pre-delivery movement and not much more after the ball has been released. He played several crisp drives in between calm defence and was able to register his maiden Test 50 before being bowled by a beauty from a perspiring Shannon Gabriel.
In came Dawid Malan to join Root and now England had their escapes. When Malan was on four there was an appeal for caught behind; it was rejected and the West Indies decided not to review but UltraEdge suggested the ball had feathered the bat. Then Root, on 10, was dropped in the gully by Kyle Hope off the deserving Kemar Roach. Later, when 35, Root was given out lbw by umpire Sundaram Ravi, whose decisions have been overturned four times in this match so far and, to England’s relief, this was one of those instances. This was not a passage of play for the faint-hearted and the West Indies could easily have been better rewarded for their efforts.
The first session when West Indies resumed on 329 for five was even more frenetic and flawed on a day when prompt arrivals were rewarded with high drama. Jimmy Anderson’s first ball kissed the outside edge of Shai Hope’s bat, which gave the West Indian the unusual and unwelcome experience of a standing ovation after receiving a solitary delivery. The second delivery from Anderson was edged by Shane Dowrich and a jubilant Root took the catch at second slip.
Out came the West Indies captain, Holder, who negotiated the hat-trick ball with aplomb before guiding a boundary to third man. Then another incident, more commonly witnessed in a club third XI game, had the crowd gasping and Stuart Broad struggling to retain his composure. Jermaine Blackwood drove Broad’s second ball in the air without much power straight to mid-on, where Moeen Ali dropped a catch that would not have taxed many grandfathers – or grandmothers.
Had that catch been taken West Indies would have been 333 for eight. Instead Blackwood and Holder counterattacked boldly, the former improvising impishly, the latter unveiling strokes of classical purity. Holder took 14 runs from a Broad over and England were creaking again in the field. This pair added a quickfire 77 before the next flurry of wickets.
Holder attempted a lofted straight drive against Chris Woakes; he miscued and this time Moeen held a much more difficult chance as he ran back from mid-off. Then came a brilliant piece of fielding from Ben Stokes and a misjudgment from Blackwood, who must be one of the quickest West Indians. Blackwood spied a third run but Stokes pounced and hurled his return, which was deftly gathered by Jonny Bairstow.
Next ball there was another basic error, this time from the England side. Gabriel presented a straightforward catch to short-leg and Stoneman dropped it. Surprisingly, since Gabriel’s batting prowess is miniscule, another 21 runs were added before he was lbw to Stokes.
The bowler celebrated silently, which was just as well. In the morning Stokes had received a demerit point for “using language that is obscene or offensive” after being edged for four by Shai Hope on Saturday night. This means that Stokes will be banned for a Test or two ODIs if there is another transgression, which led to the notion that he should “do a Beckham” before the Ashes series. However, he had better behave for the rest of this match, because England may yet need him at Lord’s to ensure a series victory.
Day 4
ENG 258 & 490/8d
WIN 427 & 5/0 (Target 322)
Moeen Ali's fine counter-attacking innings laid the foundation for England to push for a final-day victory in the second Test against West Indies.
England lost three wickets before tea but Moeen made a 93-ball 84 to help his side declare on 490-8, a lead of 321.
Joe Root (72), Dawid Malan (61), Ben Stokes (58) and Chris Woakes (61 not out) also helped England, who started the day just two ahead, take control.
West Indies' openers survived a six-over spell to reach 5-0 at the close.
That leaves the tourists needing an unlikely 317 runs for victory, despite them dominating the first three days at Headingley.
England, who lead the three-match series 1-0, trailed by 169 after the first innings but have moved into a position from which they need 10 wickets on the final day to win.
It would be only the 20th time in Test history a team has won having conceded a first-innings lead of 150 or more.
Moeen and Woakes tip match in England's favour
With Stokes and Malan at the crease, England were cruising in the afternoon session, but three quick wickets for spinner Roston Chase put the match back in balance.
Stokes was caught at long-off from the first ball after a drinks break, Malan was bowled two overs later, and Jonny Bairstow followed soon after as he was bowled playing a reverse sweep.
That brought Moeen and Woakes together, and they survived until tea, when England were seven wickets down with a lead of 188.
At that point the match could have gone either way, but it was England who took control as they added 133 in just 28 overs.
Moeen was his typical attacking self, hitting a series of flowing boundaries through the off side in a 117-run partnership.
Woakes contributed just 31 to that stand but was the perfect foil for Moeen, and took the upper hand alongside Stuart Broad when Moeen was caught in the deep.
Shortly after Woakes became the sixth player to score a half-century in the innings, Root boldly declared, his side having reached their highest ever score without a player hitting a century.
Having missed chances earlier in the day, West Indies were run ragged, but could at least take solace from surviving overs from James Anderson, Broad and Moeen before the close.
Steady Malan closes on Ashes place
Malan started the day alongside Root, with questions still to be answered over his place in the side.
He was by no means fluent in his five-hour innings, hitting just seven fours in 186 balls, but he battled and scrapped his way to a second Test half-century.
It was his slowest first-class fifty but allowed Root, Stokes and Moeen to express themselves as they hit 15, 10 and 14 boundaries respectively.
"Malan tired out the bowlers," said former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott.
"West Indies bowled at him for so long that later in the day they bowled off line and then the middle order kill you, they just give it a whack.
"He was gritty, determined and sewed up one end so West Indies couldn't get early wickets."
England have long been looking for a batsman to score 'ugly runs', and here Malan showed his ability to do that.
But his knock was not chanceless. Having escaped on day three when feathering an edge behind only for it not to be given, he was dropped at slip on 32.
He shared a 118-run stand with Root, who continued his remarkable consistency with his 32nd Test half-century but again fell short of 100 when he cut to gully off Shannon Gabriel.
Day 5
ENG 258 & 490/8d
WIN 427 & 322/5
Windies win by 5 wickets
Hope triumphed over expectation in an enthralling final day on the magical, capricious turf of Headingley. West Indies brilliantly cruised past their victory target of 322, set by Joe Root on Monday, with five wickets and 28 balls to spare.
Their helmsman was Shai Hope, who with his fellow Bajan, Kraigg Brathwaite, forged the critical partnership, just as they had done in the first innings of a magnificent Test match. Hope struck his second century of the game, a feat that had never been achieved at Headingley in 533 matches. In itself this was remarkable but for the West Indies camp of far greater importance was a performance and a result that gives joy and hope to the legions of cricket lovers in the Caribbean.
West Indies had not won in England since the Edgbaston Test of 2000 and no one outside of their dressing room had given them much chance here on Tuesday morning. But Hope and Brathwaite reunited with the same composure that they had demonstrated on Saturday.
This victory was more stunning than the last successful West Indian run chase on English soil. Roddy Estwick, the bowling coach, made reference to Lord’s in 1984 on Monday night, when Clive Lloyd’s side knocked off 344 in 66 overs, but that team contained a catalogue of proven world-class batsmen. That has never been the perception of the 2017 tourists, though the estimations of Shai Hope, in particular, have rocketed in the last week.
Meanwhile Root joins a select band of England captains after this result: Norman Yardley, David Gower and Kevin Pietersen. Along with Root this is now the quartet who have declared in the third innings of a Test match and subsequently lost the game. Root is unlikely to be widely criticised for his declaration – after all, England were not playing Australia – but his side must be chastened after this topsy-turvy contest.
The first sign that this might not be a straightforward day for England was when Alastair Cook dropped a relatively simple catch at slip when Brathwaite was on four. Stuart Broad, the bowler, was not amused but after a bright opening partnership of 46 he just about broke into a smile when he dismissed Kieran Powell for 23. This time Ben Stokes obliged in the slip cordon.
The next catch to be dropped was by Broad himself yet this would still prove a source of some celebration. Brathwaite drove hard: Broad, following through, could not grasp the ball but instead it ricocheted from his fingertips into the stumps leaving Kyle Hope stranded. There were smiles all around the England camp, though on reflection they might have preferred Brathwaite’s wicket since the opener was always going to be more of a danger.
This was England’s last success for 40 overs and their exasperation mounted. After Broad had given away a boundary he was minded to kick the turf like Angus Fraser used to do, but he seemed to get his foot stuck in the soil and might have stubbed his toe. Jimmy Anderson could edge no nearer the magic 500 while Chris Woakes struggled to find a consistent line. The ball spun for Moeen but he was unable to apply much pressure by keeping a batsman trapped at his end.
Braithwaite belied his blocker’s reputation not with any extravagances but by moving positively into the ball and driving firmly. Occasionally he lofted an off-break to the boundary. Meanwhile Shai Hope, his self-belief soaring after the first innings, was sharp, stylish and composed.
His drives were sweetly timed, yet measured. Then just before tea England finally took a wicket. Brathwaite was within five runs of that remarkable Headingley record when he drove at a wide ball from Moeen. Stokes snaffled the catch at slip.
After the break, with the West Indies needing 123 from 35 overs, Root was reluctant to put too much faith in Moeen. Instead with the situation deteriorating he turned to his senior citizens, Broad and Anderson. This pair was determined to squeeze West Indies by bowling straight to a defensive field and they imposed some pressure by delivering three maidens in a row.
Hope, now joined by Roston Chase, was prepared to bide his time. Eventually Root recalled Woakes and Chase decided that this was the time to attack. He swung hard at Woakes’s first ball, which sped to mid-on. There was Mason Crane, the Hampshire leg-spinner, who had just come on to the field as a substitute for Broad. He took off to his left like a goalkeeper and grabbed the ball in two hands, a moment that might have changed the game as well as enhancing the good impression he has made within the England camp.
Out came Jermaine Blackwood and he was skittish from the start. Moeen was briefly recalled and Blackwood cracked a drive over mid-wicket; then he danced around the crease to Woakes as if this was a T20 match.
Root took the new ball as soon as it became available. By then 56 runs were needed from 16 overs and the tourists still had six wickets in hand. If anything this last throw of the dice from England heightened Blackwood’s audacity. He gave himself room to pummel Anderson’s second delivery back over his head for six.
Meanwhile Hope remained calm and secure, reaching three figures and delighting the statisticians with a scrambled single. But on 106, with 37 still needed, he launched off the back foot against Broad and the edge flew towards first slip. In the diminishing light Cook could not hold on. There was not much anyone could say.
Soon Blackwood took the precaution of removing his helmet for the victory parade and was promptly stumped with two runs required. It was more appropriate that Hope should hit the winning runs of a famous victory.
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