Spirited Windies have surprised us and served up treat of a series
IF WHAT we have seen so far is anything to go by, cricket fans are in for a real treat during the rest of this series between England and West Indies. The first match at Lord’s, which England won by five wickets on Monday, was the best Test in this country for quite some time.
What surprised me most was the Windies’ resilience. Even when things did not go their way they showed a backbone that we have not seen from them in recent years.
They lost the toss and were behind after the first innings, having been bowled out for less than 250, yet they stuck at their task and caused England more than the odd jitter.
Had a few close calls not gone the hosts’ way – Jonathan Trott escaped being given lbw by the finest margin early in the second innings – it might have been even nervier.
WOUNDED
I had expected West Indies to be better than perhaps some had billed them, but they surpassed my predictions and, while wounded, will take some heart from their spirited performance earlier this week.
England did well, as you would expect from the world’s No1 Test side, and it was very much a team success, with most players contributing.
The win was built on the first-innings performances of seven-wicket Stuart Broad and Andrew Strauss, who batted superbly for his 122.
Hopefully this will silence the captain’s critics. Strauss came into the game under extreme pressure but did nearly everything right and led England to the win. Now let him get on with it.
Seamer Tim Bresnan looks likely to be dropped for the second Test, however. Bresnan bowled very tight and straight but England need a bit more than that in very good conditions.
I have mentioned before that I would be delighted to see Graham Onions recalled but my hunch is that Steven Finn will take Bresnan’s place for the next instalment of a surprisingly gripping series.
Andy Lloyd is a former England Test cricketer, and captain and later chairman of Warwickshire.