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First Test

Shahid Afridi Returns Backs To Pakistan Leaving LPL 2020 In Midway
Shahid Afridi. Image Credit: Twitter.
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England vs Pakistan 2020: Former Great Cricketers React To Pakistan Loss In The First Test

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England cricketers Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes‘ wonderful partnership became the nightmare for Azhar Ali-led Pakistan Test team in the first Test match in Manchester. Pakistan were the predicted winners but England has always bamboozled the oppositions. They chase down the 277 runs target in the fourth innings which was deemed to be tough to get at a pitch like Old Trafford. But Joe Root-led England set the examples of making impossible possible and so they did on the fourth day. 

Notably, Buttler and Woakes had struggled to score runs in the last month Test series against West Indies. Also, in the first innings against Pakistan, they can not do much with the bat. The wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler had also a forgettable experience behind the stumps, leaving two crucial catches and one stumping. He left the catch of Shan Massod at 46 who went on to score 156 runs. On the other hand, allrounder Chris Woakes had performed amazingly with the ball but had failed to even touch 20 runs mark in his last four Test innings. Nevertheless, on the fourth day of the Test match, the duo got under the skin of Pakistan’s bowler.

Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes
Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes. Image Credit: Getty Images.

In the second session, England were battling at 117 for five. The visitors had almost the game in their hand because they had got the wicket of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. But who knew that Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes were yet to show their best skills. 

Pakistan’s unfortunate loss:

Pakistan tour of England, first test
Captain Azhar Ali. (Credits – Twitter)

Pakistan could not control runs because of their lousy fielding and failing to capitalise on the opportunities. They had two times missed the catch of Buttler. However, finally, spin bowler Yasir Shah gave breakthroughs to the team. He broke the 139-runs partnership of Buttler and Woakes, picking the wicket of the wicketkeeper-batsman at 75 runs (seven fours and one six). But it was too late. The host needed only 21 runs to win that match. Woakes scored most of those match-winning runs and remained not out on 84 runs, guiding his team to unbelievable victory. 

The Green Army lost the deserving match by three wickets. Their defeat had not only stunned them but the former great cricketers Shahid Afridi, Michael Vaughan and Mohammad Yousuf. 

Here is the reaction of former cricketers on Pakistan’s defeat: 

michael vaughan, Pakistan tour of England 2020
Michael Vaughan. Image Credit: Twitter.

Shahid Afridi, who had earlier posted the picture of him enjoying watching the game, was also disappointed with Pakistan’s bowling attack. He said that ‘such opportunities can not be wasted’. 

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was amazed to see his countrymen getting the lead in the three-match Test series. 

Meanwhile, the second match of the series will be played at Southampton from 13th August.

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Chris Woakes, Jos Buttler
Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)
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Eng Vs Pak 2020, 1st Test: Day 4 – Chris Woakes And Jos Buttler Secure A Dramatic Series Leading Victory

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On the fourth day of the opening game of the three-match Test series against Pakistan at Manchester, Chris Woakes and the wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler secured a dramatic three-wicket victory for the hosts England to secure the 1-0 lead in the series with two to go.

Starting the day on their overnight score of 137/8, Pakistan were all-out for 169 runs. Chasing down the 277 runs target, England were once battling on 117/5, but Jos Buttler (75 runs off 101 balls; 7 fours and only six) and Chris Woakes (84 not out off 120 balls; 10 fours) didn’t give up and inspired the hosts to snatch a three-wicket victory as the hosts reached the target after losing seven wickets.

Pakistan’s second innings: Yasir Shah added 21 runs off just nine balls on the morning session

While Pakistan only managed to play 16 balls on the fourth-day morning session, Yasir Shah added 21 runs off just nine balls on that morning as he fired up with 33 runs off just 24 balls (5 fours and only six) before losing his wicket.

Pakistan
Yasir Shah (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

Among the England bowlers, pacer Stuart Broad (3/37) was the most successful bowler in that innings as he took three wickets, adding one wicket on this morning. Also, Chris Woakes (2/11) and Ben Stokes (2/11) got two wickets each while Dom Bess (1/40) and Jofra Archer (1/27) collected one wicket each.

Chasing 277 runs: English middle-order batsmen Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler controlled the game after England lost four wickets in 31 runs

In the fourth innings, after Mohammad Abbas dismissed the English opener Rory Burns (10) cheaply, another opener Dom Sibley and skipper Joe Root handled that early pressure very well. They built up the solid 64 runs partnership for the second wicket, but once their partnership was broken, English batting suffered a collapse.

At first, the Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Sibley for 32 runs. Sixteen balls later of that dismissal, Root (42) was dismissed by Naseem Shah. Ben Stokes (9) and Ollie Pope (7) both failed to reach the double-digit mark after Yasir and Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed them respectively. At that time, England lost their last four wickets in just 31 runs.

Yasir Shah, Pakistan
Yasir Shah (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

While the visitors were dominating at that moment as that game was well in their grip, Buttler and Woakes rescued the hosts and set up the game-changing 139 runs partnership for the sixth wicket.

Woakes, Buttler, England
Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

Though Yasir tried hard till the end of that game as he dismissed Buttler and Stuart Broad (7) at the very late moment of that chasing, it was too late for the visitors to return to the game. Yasir finished that innings with the bowling figures of 30-2-99-4.

It was England’s sixth successful fourth-innings chasing in their home Test history. It is also the highest successful chase for a team in the fourth innings of a Test match against Pakistan in the 21st century. Woakes undoubtedly won the Player of the Match award.

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England, Pakistan
Image Credit: ICC Twitter
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Eng Vs Pak 2020, 1st Test: Day 3 – England Bowlers Bring Back The Hosts Into The Game

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The third day of the first game of the England vs Pakistan Test series at Old Trafford (Manchester) was full of thrilling actions. While the visitors Pakistan managed to gain 100+ lead at the end of the hosts England’s first innings, England bowlers brought the hosts back into the game strongly with the dominant bowling performances.

Starting the day on their overnight score of 92/4, England managed to score 219 runs before losing their all wickets in their first innings. Beginning their second innings with the lead of 107 runs, Pakistan ended the day on 137/8 with the lead of 244 runs.

England innings: Ollie Pope scored 62 runs; Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah picked four wickets

Overnight English batsmen Ollie Pope and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler started the day patiently. But after settling the 65 runs partnership for the fifth wicket, Pope was dismissed by the teenage Pakistan fast-bowler Naseem Shah with a superb delivery. While Pope completed his fifty in the early overs of the day, he was dismissed for 62 runs off 117 balls (8 fours).

Ollie Pope, England
Ollie Pope (Image Credit: Twitter)

Then, Buttler built up the 32 runs partnership with Chris Woakes, but the wicketkeeper-batsman was bowled by the leggie Yasir Shah after scoring 38 runs. At the very late moment, Stuart Broad once again played a crucial cameo knock of unbeaten 29 runs off 25 balls (4 fours and only six) but just failed to secure the trailing less than 100 runs.

Pakistan
Pakistan cricketers (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah bagged four wickets as he finished with the bowling figures of 18-2-66-4. Also, pacer Mohammad Abbas (2/33) and another leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2/13) took two wickets each while the fast-bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/51) and Naseem Shah (1/44) scalped one wicket each.

Yasir Shah, Pakistan
Yasir Shah (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

Pakistan innings: Batsmen failed to reach the 30s

In their second innings, Pakistan lost their wickets at the regular intervals as the visiting batsmen failed to reach the 30 runs mark in this innings yet. Only Asad Shafiq (29), wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (27) and opener Abid Ali (20) have managed to score the 20-run mark in this innings. At the stumps of the day, Yasir Shah (12*) and Mohammad Abbas (0*) were not out at the crease.

England, England bowlers
England cricket team (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

England pacers Stuart Broad (2/23), Chris Woakes (2/11) and Ben Stokes (2/11) bagged two wickets each while the off-spinner Dom Bess (1/40) picked up one wicket.

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England, Pakistan
Image Credit: ICC Twitter
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Eng Vs Pak 2020, 1st Test: Day 2 – England Top-Orders Struggle After Shan Masood’s Brilliant 156

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Though the visitors Pakistan had a difficult start at the beginning of the second day of the ongoing opening game of the three-match Test series against the hosts England at Old Trafford (Manchester), opener Shan Masood’s incredible 150+ and Pakistan pacers’ brilliant start marked the day for the visitors.

Starting the day on the overnight score of 139/2, Pakistan were struggling on 187/5 at the lunch, but Shan Masood’s 156 runs off 319 balls (18 fours and 2 sixes) massively helped the Pakistan team to manage the first innings total of 326 runs. In reply, Pakistan ended the day two on 92/4, trailing by 234 runs.

England, Shan Masood, Pakistan
Shan Masood (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

 

Pakistan innings: Shan Masood and Shadab Khan put the sixth wicket partnership of 105 runs

On the sixth ball of the day, English pacer James Anderson sent Babar Azam (69) back to the pavilion without adding any run on the team’s scoreboard.

Then another overnight batsman, opener Shan Masood completed his half-century (156 balls) in the next over. Meanwhile, English pacers Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes dismissed Asad Shafiq (7) and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (9) cheaply in the first session of the day.

 

However, in the second session, Masood built up the crucial 105 runs partnership for the sixth wicket with Shadab Khan. During that partnership, Masood completed his third successive Test century in 251 balls and became the sixth Pakistan batsman (second Pakistan opener) to score three consecutive Test centuries.

England, Shan Masood, Pakistan
Shan Masood and Shadab Khan (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

On the other hand, Shadab scored 45 runs before losing his wicket as it was the only wicket in that innings for the English off-spinner Dom Bess.

Around half-an-hour later, Jofra Archer dismissed Yasir Shah (5) and Mohammad Abbas (0) on back-to-back deliveries.

Then Masood played some big shots to add the runs quickly on the board. At the tea break, Pakistan were batting on 312/8.

On the seventh delivery of the last session, Broad dismissed Masood (lbw). Though the Pakistan opener took the DRS, there was no different luck for him. In his next over, Broad finished the visitors’ batting line-up after dismissing Naseem Shah for a duck. Shaheen Shah Afridi remained not out for nine runs.

While Broad (3/54) and Archer (3/59) took three wickets in that innings, Woakes (2/43) got two wickets and Anderson (1/63) managed to pick the same number of wickets of Bess (1/74).

England innings: All the top four batsmen lost their wickets cheaply

In reply, England were struggling on 12/3 in the sixth over. While the opener Rory Burns (4) was the victim of Shaheen Shah Afridi on the fourth ball of that innings, his opening partner Dom Sibley (8) was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas. English Test vice-captain Ben Stokes was then bowled by Abbas for the seven-ball duck.

England, Pakistan
Image Credit: ICC Twitter

English Test captain Joe Root handled that early tensed situation with Ollie Pope, but the Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Root (12) just after the 50 runs partnership for the fourth wicket with Pope. Pope (46*) and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler (15*) remained not out at the stumps of the day while they have already set up the 30-run partnership for the unbroken fifth wicket.

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Jofra Archer
(Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
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Tino Best Feels Jofra Archer Shouldn’t Have Replied In The Middle Of A Test Match

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During the recent Southampton Test between England and West Indies, the veteran Caribbean pacer Tino Best and the 25-year-old English pacer Jofra Archer were involved in a tweet war. Best feels that Archer shouldn’t have replied to him in the middle of a Test match.

It was the first Test of the ongoing three-match Test series between England and West Indies which Southampton hosted between 8th and 12th July. It was also the first international match since the sudden stoppage from the middle of March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During West Indies’ first innings batting in that Test, English pacer Jofra Archer finished with the wicket-less bowling figures (22-3-61-0). After that innings, the 38-year-old Tino Best heavily criticised Archer’s bowling speed. Best even asked why Archer was selected over Stuart Broad in that Test match.

Jofra Archer, reply
Jofra Archer (Image Credit: Twitter)

Later, Archer teased him by asking him why he wasn’t a coach yet.

Best then replied by claiming that his pace dropped since the Ashes 2019. Archer then tweeted without taking any name, “You must live a miserable life”

My first tweet was that he was bowling military medium, and that he can bowl faster than that: Tino Best about Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer, reply
Jofra Archer (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Best has now claimed that he didn’t expect any reply from the Barbados-born English cricketer Archer in the middle of that Test match. The Caribbean right-arm fast bowler, who played 57 international matches from 2003 to 2014, wasn’t trying to disrespect Archer. And the senior also advised that the youngster would realise with the time progress that he couldn’t fight every battle.

Recently, Archer told Sportskeeda, “The whole Jofra Archer thing was just blown out of proportion. To be honest, when I tweeted, it was only about the way he was bowling in the first innings. He didn’t put in as much effort as I saw from Mark Wood and Jimmy Anderson. I thought he was just going through the motions a little bit.”

Tino Best
Tino Best (Image Credits: Twitter)

He continued, “I am here in Barbados; I didn’t expect him to reply. My first tweet was that he was bowling military medium, and that he can bowl faster than that. You’ve got Wood who was absolutely steaming in every ball, and then you’ve got him (Archer) a little lethargic in his approach.”

“He then replied saying I should be a coach, so I asked him not to attack me personally. I wasn’t trying to disrespect him in any way. But he was in the middle of a Test match, and I don’t think he should have replied. The older you get, you realise that you can’t fight every battle.”

In the fourth innings of that Test, Archer bowled impressively and bagged three wickets. He finished that innings with the bowling figures of 17-3-45-3. However, West Indies finally managed to win that Test by four wickets as they chased down the 200 runs target in the fourth innings after losing six wickets.

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Jermaine Blackwood
Jermaine Blackwood (Adrian Dennis/Pool via AP)
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Phil Simmons Credits Jermaine Blackwood’s Incredible Batting For Their Southampton Test Victory

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While West Indies won the first Test of the ongoing three-match Test series against the hosts England, the Caribbean Head Coach Phil Simmons credited their fourth innings hero Jermaine Blackwood for their four-wicket victory.

That Southampton Test was also the resume chapter of the international cricket, which was forced to stop after the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic since last March. After the Caribbean skipper Jason Holder (6/42) and Shannon Gabriel (4/62) dominated during the first innings of this Test as England were bundled out for just 204 runs, the Caribbean team replied with 318 runs with the lead of 114 runs.

Later, Shannon Gabriel’s fifer (5/75) helped the Caribbean team to all out the hosts again for 313 runs. Chasing down the 200 runs target, once the visitors were struggling on 27/3, along with their opening batsman John Campbell’s retired hurt. However, Jermaine Blackwood fought brilliantly from that situation along with Roston Chase (37) and Shane Dowrich (20), and his 95 runs knock helped the Caribbean team to win that match by four wickets as they chased down the 200 runs target after losing six wickets.

Blackwood, Southampton Test
Jermaine Blackwood (Image Credit: AFP)

It was only Blackwood’s second Test since October 2017. Caribbean Head Coach Phil Simmons praised right-handed middle-order batsman Blackwood for his incredible batting performance in the most crucial time.

Phil Simmons, Southampton Test
Phil-Simmons (Image Credit: Twitter)

 

Simmons said according to ESPNcricinfo, “I think he must be commended because he has worked very hard on trying to get that temperament right for each part of his innings. As we saw in the first innings, it was still there a bit, but in the second he controlled it a lot better. And that helped him to bring home the game for us.”

After playing 29 Tests, Blackwood has scored 1469 runs with an average of 31.25. His latest 95 runs knock was his first Test fifty since August 2017. At present, he has scored 605 runs in seven Tests against England with an average of 55.00.

Jermaine Blackwood looked at the situation and played it as well as he could have: Phil Simmons

Simmons feels that Blackwood’s mindset is improving, which is important to stretch his international career.

Jermaine Blackwood, Southampton Test
Jermaine Blackwood. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images for ECB)

 

The Caribbean coach added, “Try to get him irrational, but I think he held his own. He looked at the situation and played it as well as he could have. So that shows that his mindset is improving, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Jermaine Blackwood, who made his Test debut in June 2014, he also played two ODIs in late 2015 where he managed to score a total of 11 runs.

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Jason Holder, West Indies tour of England, England vs West Indies
Jason Holder. Image Credit: Getty Images.
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England Vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test: Jason Holder Was Surprised To See Stuart Broad’s Exclusion

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The exclusion of the senior English pacer Stuart Broad was one of the most talking points during the international cricket return, which was the recently concluded Southampton Test between England and West Indies. Even West Indies Test captain Jason Holder was also surprised to see the omission of Broad from that opening Test of England’s new home season.

Stuart Broad was one of the most consistent performers among the English Test cricketers in the last few years. He was England’s highest wicket-taker during the Ashes 2019 at home and the last Test series against the hosts South Africa. But the 34-year-old pacer missed out the Southampton Test, where West Indies won by four wickets. It was his first home Test missing after 2012 as he appeared in 51 successive home Tests.

Stuart Broad, Southampton Test
Stuart Broad (Image Credit: Google)

Though Jason Holder was a little surprised to see the exclusion of Broad from the playing XI of the Southampton Test, the Caribbean Test captain had no doubt about their quality pace bowling attack during that Test match.

Holder recently wrote in his column for Daily Mail, “I was a little surprised England didn’t pick Stuart Broad. His record, particularly in this country, is outstanding and I thought they would leave out either Jofra Archer or Mark Wood. But they put out a high quality attack, that’s for sure. It was the first time we have played a Test against Jofra and he was eager to get going against us and we were eager to get going against him.”

While England were bundled out for 204 runs in the first innings of that Southampton Test, Holder fulfilled his dream to claim a fifer in England by picking up six wickets in that innings. His bowling figures in that innings were 20-6-42-6.

Jason Holder, Southampton Test
West Indies’ Test captain captain Jason Holder ( Photo by AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Holder wrote, “Taking six wickets in the first innings fulfilled a personal ambition for me because I have always wanted to take a five-for in England and dreamt about getting on the Lord’s honours board in this series.”

My next big aim is to make a hundred in England: Jason Holder

Now, Jason Holder’s next big aim is to score a century in England. The Caribbean Test captain also talked about his success against English all-rounder and stand-in Test captain Ben Stokes in both the English innings of that Test.

Jason Holder
Jason Holder (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Holder claimed, “My next big aim is to make a hundred in England. A bit has been made about me taking on Ben Stokes in the battle of the all-rounders but getting him out twice in Southampton was enough for me without worrying about making any points.”

Holder also praised the English all-rounder Stokes and mentioned him as a great competitor.

The Caribbean Test captain added, “Stokesey is a great competitor and an excellent cricketer so to get someone of his caliber twice was great for the team. It really isn’t about individuals. It’s about the collective and what we are trying to achieve on this tour.”

After winning the Southampton Test, the visitors West Indies are leading this three-match Test series by 1-0 with two to go. Old Trafford (Manchester) will host the next two matches of this series from 16th and 24th July respectively.

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England Vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test: Nasser Hussain Raises Questions On Stuart Broad’s Exclusion

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Former England captain Nasser Hussain is unhappy to see Stuart Broad’s exclusion from England’s playing XI during the recently concluded Southampton Test against West Indies where the hosts suffered a four-wicket defeat. Hussain questioned about Broad’s omission from the squad and felt that England underestimated the Caribbean side.

International cricket just returned with the Southampton Test between England and West Indies where the hosts suffered a defeat by four wickets. In the absence of the regular Test captain Joe Root, Ben Stokes handled the Test captaincy for the England team, which was his first leadership experience for the English team.

During the Southampton Test, the trending talking point was the exclusion of the experienced English pacer Stuart Broad, who was actually the best bowler for the England Test team in the last season. Nasser Hussain has raised questions about why the England team management decided to drop Broad from the Southampton Test.

Nasser Hussain, Southampton Test, England
Nasser Hussain (Credits: Twitter)

Hussain told Sky Sports, “All I would say about Broad is that if this had been the first Test of an Ashes series, would he have been playing. I would say, yes, 100 per cent? So why wasn’t he playing against the West Indies? Was it because we underestimated West Indies and took them lightly? They hold the Wisden Trophy – we have underestimated them in the past and they have beaten us, so why do it here?”

Look to the now. Win this game: Nasser Hussain

Even if the England team management took that massive decision by looking to the future, Nasser Hussain has no support as he feels that it is important to focus on the present, the three-match home Test series against West Indies, where England are now trailing by 1-0 after the first Test.

Nasser Hussain, Southampton Test, England
Nasser Hussain (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Hussain added, “Was it because they couldn’t choose between Wood and Archer and so split up Broad and (Jimmy) Anderson and said ‘look to the future’? Look to the now. Win this game. It’s a three-match series and you don’t hold the Wisden Trophy.”

It was Broad’s first home Test missing after appearing in 51 successive home Tests since 2012. While Broad was frustrated to miss out the Southampton Test, the stand-in captain Stokes respected his passion for the game.

Stuart Broad, Southampton Test, England
Stuart Broad (Image Credit: Google)

However, Hussain still feels that the English side has the ability to return to this Test series by playing better cricket in the next two games of this series.

Hussain claimed, “I hope they don’t think ‘two wrongs make a right – Broad has had a bit of moan, maybe he should have played’. Don’t go on the press, go on what you think for the next Test. The good thing for England is that the back-up bowling – Broad and (Chris) Woakes are in reserve at the moment – has experience and a huge amount of skill and as we get to the second and third Tests that might have bearing on this series.”

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Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad
Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad (Image Credit: Twitter)
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England Vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test: Ben Stokes Responds Stuart Broad’s Reaction After Missing Out Southampton Test

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The senior England pacer Stuart Broad is very unhappy after missing out the recently-concluded Southampton Test against the West Indies. However, England’s stand-in skipper Ben Stokes has shown his entire support to the senior pacer.

In the absence of regular English Test captain Joe Root, the Test vice-captain Ben Stokes handled the leadership role during the Southampton Test.

However, the 34-year-old right-arm pacer Stuart Broad missed out that Test, and he was frustrated, angry and gutted for that exclusion. In the last season, Broad was the best English bowler in Test cricket, and that’s why many were surprised on that omission.

After losing the Southampton Test by four wickets, when the stand-in captain Stokes was asked about his view on Broad’s recent reaction after missing out the Southampton Test, the all-rounder showed full support to the senior pacer. Stokes has respected Broad’s passion for the game, who has picked up 485 wickets in 138 Tests.

Stuart Broad, Southampton Test
Stuart Broad. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

Stokes said, “I’d actually be very worried if he didn’t show that passion towards not being selected. Someone who’s played that many Test matches and got that many wickets — to still see that desire and emotion is fantastic as a senior player in this team.”

We’re in a fortunate position that we’re able to leave someone out of Stuart’s quality: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes (Image Credit: Google)

However, Stokes still has no regret for dropping Broad during the Southampton Test. Talking about that, the all-rounder clarified that it would send a wrong message to the other players if he had any regret to not select the experienced pacer.

Stokes added, “If I was to regret that, it sends the wrong message to the other guys I picked. We’re in a fortunate position that we’re able to leave someone out of Stuart’s quality and I thought the interview he gave the other day was fantastic, the passion he showed.”

On the final day, when England set the fourth-innings target of 200 runs for the visitors West Indies, the Caribbean team got a shaky start. The visitors were once struggling on 27/3, including another retired-hurt (opener John Campbell). However, Jermaine Blackwood fought brilliantly with the other middle-order batsmen and gradually moved the scoreboard to the target.

Jermaine Blackwood
Jermaine Blackwood (Image Credit: Twitter)

Blackwood was dismissed after scoring 95 runs. Also, Roston Chase (37) and wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich (20) added some crucial runs in that innings. Their batting helped the visitors to chase down the 200 runs target after losing six wickets.

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West Indies
Image Credit: ICC Twitter
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England Vs West Indies 2020, 1st Test: Indian Cricketers Laud Caribbean Team After Their Victory

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While international cricket just returned with the Southampton Test between England and West Indies, the Caribbean team won that Test match by four wickets. Observing a great Test match, the Indian cricketers and the cricket world reacted after the West Indies secured the series leading victory.

The Southampton Test was the first game of the three-match Test series between England and West Indies. All-rounder Ben Stokes led the English team in this Test due to the absence of regular Test captain Joe Root. After winning the toss, the 81st English Test captain Stokes decided to bat first.

Windies fought big to draw the first blood in England:

Caribbean captain Jason Holder (6/42) and the right-arm fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (4/62) destroyed the hosts batting line-up in the first innings of that match as England were bundled out for 204 runs.

England, West Indies, Southampton Test
Image Credit: AP Photo

In reply, the West Indies managed to score 318 runs in their first innings along with securing the lead of 114 runs, majorly thanks to the Test vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite (65) and wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich (61).

In their second innings, the hosts faced the late batting collapse and they were bowled out for 313 runs. The pacer Shannon Gabriel once again dominated with the ball in hand as he bagged five wickets in that innings (5/75).

West Indies, Southampton Test
Shannon Gabriel picked up nine wickets in the Southampton Test (Image Credit: Twitter)

West Indies chased down the 200 runs target after losing six wickets, majorly thanks to Jermaine Blackwood

West Indies, Indian cricketers, Southampton Test
Jermaine Blackwood (Image Credit: ICC Twitter)

Chasing down the 200 runs target on the final day, the Caribbean team got a nervy start as they were once battling on 27/3, including the retired-hurt of the opener John Campbell (1*). However, the middle-order batsmen fought in great ways and secured the four-wicket victory. Jermaine Blackwood (95) played the most crucial role for his team in that successful chase while Roston Chase (37) and Shane Dowrich (20) also provided very crucial supports.

In the end, Campbell (8* after returning from the retired-hurt) and captain Holder (14*) guided the team to successfully reach the target after losing six wickets (200/6). Gabriel won the Player of the Match award for picking up nine wickets in that match.

Like the other cricket world, the Indian cricketers also enjoyed that Test and congratulated the West Indies team for their victory.

Here are some of those Twitter reactions

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