Kavem Hodge etched his name into Test cricket history with a maiden century as West Indies defied the odds to make England sweat on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge. In reply to England’s first-innings 416, the West Indies reached 351-5 at stumps, leaving them just 65 runs adrift of their opponents.
Hodge, who was dropped on 16, showcased his class and determination by compiling a brilliant 120 runs in his seventh Test innings. He formed a crucial 175-run partnership with fellow Windward Islands batsman Alick Athanaze, who scored 82 before narrowly missing out on a century of his own. The pair’s resistance, particularly in the face of England’s bowling attack, exemplified the skill and resilience that many commentators had feared was lacking in the West Indies squad.
The second session saw the West Indies pair bat with unwavering focus, defying the challenging situation they found themselves in. After a shaky start at lunch, with the score at 84-3, Hodge and Athanaze steadied the ship and put together a remarkable stand. This was a situation where England would have typically relied on the experience and guile of veteran paceman James Anderson. However, Anderson’s recent retirement from Test cricket, after a stellar career that saw him claim 704 wickets, left a noticeable void in England’s bowling attack.
The absence of Anderson, along with his long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who retired after last year’s Ashes, marked a new era for England’s Test bowling. In their place, Chris Woakes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who made a stunning debut at Lord’s, formed the new-ball pairing. England captain Ben Stokes opted for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir as his second change, a move that yielded early success as Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie fell to rash shots, giving Bashir his first Test wickets on home soil.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who was looking in good form, was dismissed for 48 when he edged a rising delivery from Atkinson straight to Ollie Pope at short leg. However, just as England had benefited from dropped catches on the previous day, Hodge was given a reprieve when he edged a Mark Wood delivery to first slip, only for Joe Root to drop a simple catch.
Athanaze, who had reached 48, was struck on the helmet by a rapid bouncer from Wood but recovered to score his maiden Test fifty. Hodge, who had previously made a top score of 71 in a thrilling win against Australia earlier in the year, continued his steady progress.
The partnership was eventually broken when Stokes, introduced into the attack in the 50th over, had Athanaze caught at gully by Harry Brook. Hodge, who had reached 97, pulled Stokes for four before driving him for a boundary to complete his century in style.
His celebrations, which included a joyful leap into the arms of Jason Holder, were short-lived as he was given out lbw to Woakes. The dismissal was upheld after a review, but the West Indies had already amassed 305-5, surpassing the 257 runs they managed across their two innings at Lord’s.
Woakes finished the day with figures of 1-59, but Wood, who repeatedly clocked speeds of 93 mph, was unable to make a breakthrough, ending the day with 0-51 before being forced to leave the field with an injury.
Hodge’s century, combined with the resilience of the West Indies batting lineup, has undoubtedly thrown a spanner in England’s plans. With the West Indies showing they have the ability to fight back, the second Test is set to be a captivating battle.
