England dominated the opening day of the second Test match against West Indies at Trent Bridge on Thursday, July 18. Ollie Pope recorded a brilliant century as the hosts displayed aggressive cricket to post a towering total of 416 runs by the end of Day 1’s play in Nottingham.
The day began with West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite winning the toss and electing to field, a decision that immediately put England to the test. England’s innings got off to a shaky start when Alzarri Joseph removed opener Zak Crawley for a first-ball duck. However, what followed was a masterclass in aggressive, fast-paced cricket, often referred to as “Bazball.”
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope took control of the situation, constructing an exceptional partnership of 105 runs for the second wicket. Duckett’s innings was especially noteworthy for its pace; he reached his fifty in just 32 balls, guiding England to the 50-run mark in a record-breaking 4.2 overs, the fastest 50 in Test cricket history. Duckett’s quick-fire innings set the tone for England’s assertive display on the opening day.
While Duckett continued to play aggressively, Pope took a more cautious approach initially, yet kept the scoreboard ticking over with regular singles and twos. The aggressive strategy from Duckett came to an end in the 19th over when Shamar Joseph trapped him, but not before Duckett had scored a stunning 71 off 59 balls, including some audacious strokes that left the West Indies bowlers scratching their heads.
Ollie Pope then took over the mantle, establishing vital partnerships with England’s mainstays Joe Root and Harry Brook. Root, continuing his rich vein of form, added stability to the innings, while Pope looked more settled and in control. Ollie Pope’s commanding display saw him reach his sixth Test century, an innings peppered with classic shots and smart cricket. He amassed an impressive 121 runs off 167 deliveries before Alzarri Joseph once again provided a breakthrough, dismissing Pope just before the Tea interval.
The middle session saw another key contribution from England skipper Ben Stokes who scored 69 off 104 balls, reinforcing England’s strong position.
. Stokes’s innings was a mix of resilience and aggression, exemplifying the essence of “Bazball.” By the time Stokes fell, England had already built a substantial foundation that allowed the lower order to contribute freely.
After the Tea break, West Indies’ bowlers managed to claw back some control, taking six wickets in the final session, with Alzarri Joseph leading the charge by finishing with three key scalps. However, England’s tailenders, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes, chipped in with crucial runs, ensuring England crossed the 400-run mark. Smith scored a valuable 35 runs, while Woakes added a swift 38, steering England to a formidable first-innings total of 416 runs in 88.3 overs.
Duckett’s explosive innings saw him achieve a 32-ball fifty, which is now the joint-third fastest in England Test history, a record that will surely be remembered for a long time. Meanwhile, Joe Root continued to make history by surpassing the legendary Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene’s tally, reaching a career total of 11,818 runs in Test cricket. This milestone further cements Root’s status as one of the modern greats in the game.
The day ended with England riding high on a wave of aggressive and strategic play that saw them dominate the proceedings. The West Indies bowlers did manage to find some rhythm in the latter stages of the day, but the damage had already been done by the top and middle-order batsmen.
As the teams prepare for Day 2, the West Indies will need a sharp and disciplined batting display to counter England’s imposing total. With the ball already in their court, all eyes will be on how the Caribbean side responds under pressure.
Here are the teams for this gripping Test match:
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.
West Indies Playing XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.
Stay tuned for more updates on what promises to be an enthralling Test match at Trent Bridge.
