July 10-12, Lord’s Cricket Floor, 1st Check Match
West Indies 121 (Louis 27, Atkinson 7-45, Stokes 1-14) & 136 (Motie 31*, Athanaze 22, Atkinson 5-61, Anderson 3-32) England 371 (Crawley 76, Smith 70, Seales 4-77, Motie 2-41)
England gained by an innings & 114 runs
Toss: England, who elected to subject Officers: Nitin Menon, Rod Tucker, Adrian Holdstock, Javagal Srinath, Russell Warren
England married the previous and the brand new in a scientific thrashing of West Indies at Lord’s, James Anderson bidding farewell with a closing masterclass and Gus Atkinson giving a glimpse of what’s to return in an exhilarating debut.
Anderson was at all times going to be the headline act in his 188th and final Check look and the 41-year-old duly delivered by taking 3-32 within the guests’ second innings to finish his profession with 704 wickets. However he shared the stage with Atkinson, the Surrey speedster, who adopted his first-innings haul of 7-45 with 5-61 within the second to report the perfect match figures by an England debutant for 134 years and bowl the hosts to victory by an innings and 114 runs earlier than lunch on day three. West Indies dis not handle to bat the size of an ODI innings in both of their makes an attempt, whereas England appeared barely extra measured than beforehand, scoring at a comparatively modest 4.12 runs per overs throughout 90 overs.
Anderson missed the chance to observe within the footsteps of Stuart Broad and declare a wicket together with his closing supply in Check cricket when he shelled Gudakesh Motie off his personal bowling, however he had earlier given the Lord’s crowd a final reminiscence to savour when he nicked off Joshua Da Silva with a trademark outswinger, including to the 2 dismissals he had taken on day two and his solitary first-innings scalp.
“I attempted to benefit from the week,”
That’s all people:Jimmy leaves the sphere for the ultimate time as an England cricketer
PICTURES: Alamy
Anderson advised Sky Sports activities after the match. “I simply needed to get pleasure from each minute, take in the environment and revel in doing one thing I’ve liked for 20-odd years. Fortunately it swung slightly bit at occasions and the pitch did sufficient all through the sport to check the batters out.
“I bought slightly bit emotional strolling onto the sphere when the 2 groups have been lined up [for the guard of honour on day three]. I simply tried to settle in and get wickets. Perhaps I attempted a bit too exhausting in the direction of the tip. Forgot to place my arms up and dropped a catch!”
Anderson, who will proceed to be a part of the England set-up this summer time in a mentoring capability, paid tribute to Atkinson, who was named Participant of the Match.
“It’s downhill from right here after 12 on debut! What a tremendous week he’s had. The factor I really like about Gus, he went to India within the winter, didn’t play, however labored so exhausting on his sport and his run-up. He’s going to be a tremendous cricketer for England. We’ve bought an awesome group of younger bowlers coming by means of. I’m actually wanting ahead to working with them.”
England’s victory was by no means doubtful from the second they skittled West Indies for 121 on day one, Atkinson opening the floodgates by dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite together with his second supply and later bowling a triple-wicket maiden in a spectacular begin to his Check profession.
The hosts have been already 68 runs forward by stumps and solely three wickets down, with Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57) making half-centuries earlier than Joe Root (68), Harry Brook (50) and debutant Jamie Smith (70) did the identical on day two to present England a first-innings lead of 250.
Every of the 5 half centuries was fluent, however the 23-year-old Smith’s was maybe essentially the most eye-catching innings, as he got here into the aspect to switch Ben Foakes, ostensibly to make sure an England wicket-keeper may bat with the tail whereas enjoying a extra expansive sport. Smith ticked each field, beginning off steadily when in firm of Root and Woakes however opening his shoulders afterward, hitting two large sixes, considered one of which went clear out of the bottom. England added 42 runs for the final three wickets with out their numbers 9, 10 or 11 scoring a run.
Smith’s conserving was additionally blemish-free, with 4 catches taken and no byes conceded on a floor that’s notoriously exhausting for keepers with the ball usually swinging after it passes the bat.
The Windies’ inexperienced batting line-up slumped to 79-6 by stumps, Anderson dismissing Brathwaite for the eighth occasions in Exams earlier than outfoxing Alick Athanaze. Ben Stokes chipped in with two in an in any other case quiet match for the England skipper – though his willingness to bowl lengthy spells bodes properly for the stability of the aspect –, and Atkinson upped his match tally to 9 to go away the vacationers staring down the barrel.
The third and closing day started with an emotional guard of honour for Anderson, who bowled unchanged from the Nursery Finish and gave England supporters a reminder of what they’ll be lacking with a peach to ship Da Silva on his manner.
Then it was over to Atkinson, who picked up the ultimate three wickets to finish his dozen, Ben Duckett nonchalantly catching Jayden Seales on the midwicket boundary to seal the victory.
“I simply wish to say because of Jimmy,” stated Atkinson within the post-match presentation. “Taking part in right here in his final Check has been unimaginable. Rising up, Jimmy was somebody I’d come right here to Lord’s to observe. I used to be at mid-off wanting over at Jimmy working in pondering,
‘I’ve seen this so many occasions on TV’. What’s so good with this group is you’re allowed to return in and be the participant you wish to be.”
The sequence now strikes to Trent Bridge, with the second Check starting on Thursday. Life with out James Anderson might sound unthinkable for a lot of England followers, however Stokes insisted the longer term is in good arms, praising the quick impression of Atkinson and Smith.
“Earlier than the sport begins, it’s at all times superb seeing two younger lads with a boatload of expertise obtain these caps,” stated the England captain. “For them to go on and put in performances like they did could be very pleasing. The long run for these two is wanting superb.”
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