Welcome to our live blog where we keep you updated about the England versus West Indies Test match happening in Areas Bowl, Southampton. Today is Day 3 of the first Test between the two teams, which also marks the resumption of International cricket after 117-day stutter due to the Covid-19 pandemic outburst.
Being played in a bio-bubble environment, England versus West Indies Test match was welcomed with some new rules that have been laid by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Day one of the series observed some obstructions due to the unexpected weather changes. Day two was dominated by amazing bowling from West Indies, with Jason Holder taking a six-wicket haul, leaving England all out at 204. On Day 3, Windies are currently at 101-1 in 34 overs.
Windies look fine as of now. Kraigg Brathwaite is just two runs away from a half century while Shai Hope on the runner’s end, having scored 16 runs. They lost their first wicket of John Campbell to an LBW by James Anderson for 28.
All that after a 67-run stand between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. After Stokes was dropped twice in the day. After West Indies occasionally forgot that line and length in England is sometimes all that matters. Glad they had Holder, the world’s top-ranked all-rounder who operated in the most boring of areas around the stumps for the most predictable of outcomes. And it was still exhilarating.
“Today we did a much better job at making them play,” Holder said at the end of the second day’s play. He just keeps it simple.
In this series, both West Indies and England support the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and started the first day with kneeling to pay respect to all those innocent souls who were victims of racism, pledging to eliminate racism from the sport.
If the Windies maintain the pace, they can easily lead and give a good follow-on target to the Englishmen. Also, the weather looks pretty bright and sunny today. This is the first time ever in the history of cricket that there is no audience, a measure taken by the ICC adhering to the social distancing practice, due to the current outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
Do you think Windies can take the lead in England versus West Indies Test match? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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