James Anderson, in his final international match, led the way with a brilliant spell as England closed in on a crushing innings victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday. The veteran bowler, playing his 188th and last Test before international retirement, delivered a miserly 2-11 in 10 overs as the West Indies slumped to 79-6 in their second innings at stumps on the second day, still a mammoth 171 runs behind England’s first-innings 371.
Anderson, having already taken 700 wickets – the most by any fast bowler in the 147-year history of the format – reached his 701st wicket by dismissing Jayden Seales in the first innings. However, it was his performance on Thursday that truly stole the show. He reduced the tourists to 12-1 by bowling West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite with a ball that nipped back off the seam, showcasing his continued mastery of the art.
England captain Ben Stokes then had Kirk McKenzie lbw for a duck, achieving a significant milestone as he became only the third man, after West Indies great Garry Sobers and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, to take both 200 wickets and score 6,000 runs in Tests.
Mikyle Louis, who had top-scored with 27 in the West Indies’ meagre first-innings 121, was then caught behind off Stokes for 14 as England further tightened their grip on the first of this three-match series. The cascade of wickets continued when Kavem Hodge played on to debutant fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who had already made a spectacular impact in the first innings with a return of 7-45.
England’s debutant wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who made an impressive 70, expressed his admiration for Atkinson’s pace and skill, highlighting the excitement he brings to the team. “It would be nice if Gus could get one more wicket for ten in the match, he’s deserved that, and then Jimmy finish off the rest,” said Smith, who plays alongside Atkinson at county champions Surrey. “He’s got some frightening pace and great skill, it’s very exciting.”
Despite the onslaught, Alick Athanaze offered a measure of resistance for the West Indies, scoring 22 before edging Anderson low to Smith, who was making his Test debut. This brought the West Indies to 55-5, leaving them in a precarious position and England on the cusp of a repeat of their celebrated two-day win over the Caribbean side at Headingley back in 2000.
While the West Indies avoided the embarrassment of a two-day defeat, they did lose Jason Holder to what became the last ball of the day. The former captain was brilliantly caught at short leg by a diving Ollie Pope after fending at Atkinson.
Earlier, Smith, who averages over fifty in the County Championship this season for title-holders Surrey, made an eye-catching 70 during an assured 119-ball innings that included eight fours and two sixes. It was the fifth fifty of England’s innings, with Smith following Zak Crawley (76), Joe Root (68), Pope (57) and Harry Brook (50) to the landmark.
England resumed Thursday on 189-3, already 68 runs ahead, and continued to score briskly against the wayward West Indies quicks. However, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie briefly stemmed the flow of runs by bowling both Stokes and former skipper Root with sharply turning deliveries.
Smith’s selection as England’s wicketkeeper ahead of Ben Foakes was based on the selectors’ belief that he was better at batting aggressively with the tail. He proved them right by going on the attack, pulling a six off Shamar Joseph – who later left the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury – before launching another six off Seales over the stand.
After Shoaib Bashir was brilliantly run out by Louis’ direct hit from point, Anderson walked out to a standing ovation from MCC members in the Pavilion for what could well be his last Test innings. Anderson was left on nought not out without facing a ball, however, when Smith holed out in the deep off fast bowler Seales, who took 4-77.
With Anderson’s retirement looming, the England team, led by Stokes and fueled by exciting young talents like Smith and Atkinson, are poised to embark on a new chapter in their cricketing journey. This dominant performance against the West Indies is a testament to the strength and potential of this new generation of English cricketers.
