Throughout a Test match, there are many opportunities. Some present themselves for individuals and others for teams. Whether they are taken or not can decide results, series and careers. The first day of the second Test at Headingley was full of opportunities for both England and the Windies. Some were taken. Plenty weren’t.
By winning the toss and batting on a blameless surface, England’s top-five had a great chance to prove their worth ahead of the Ashes. Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley and Dawid Malan all needed to convince that they can form the basis of a solid top-order capable of propelling England to a win in Australia this winter. At 71 for 4, that opportunity had passed them by.
The second innings of this match is shaping up to be a pivotal one for these three players. Given the lack of runs from numbers two, three and five in the order, England’s batting plans are looking increasingly in disarray. If these three players cannot nail down their spots, where do the selectors go from here? Back to Alex Hales and Haseeb Hameed? Perhaps. All three of the incumbents will get one more chance.
Ben Stokes, who made his sixth Test hundred, seems to have no problem taking his opportunities. Coming in with his team in trouble, Stokes produced a typical Stokes innings, full of bristling aggression, classy shots and responsibility. The last of those characteristics has been a feature of his play this summer. Without him, England would have been staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat. As it was, he got them to a half-decent score.
Where England’s batsmen largely fluffed their lines, the Windies did far better. They had an opportunity with the ball, on a ground which has traditionally been difficult for run-scoring, to prove that their poor showing at Edgbaston in the previous match was not a true reflection of their ability. The returning Shannon Gabriel bowled quickly, the indefatigable Kemar Roach and captain Jason Holder bowled accurately and they had reduced England to 156 for 6 just before Tea.
Windies’ performance with the ball largely had much of what was so sorely lacking in Birmingham. There was aggression, discipline and energy. There was much skill and determination. It was a good riposte to all those who had criticised them after the first match of the series. Those who think the Windies should be grouped in a second division of Test nations may think again. They have a chance of winning this match.
“We had an open discussion [after Edgbaston],” said Roach. “The guys were honest with themselves. We weren’t good enough in the first Test. We had a point to prove in this Test, to try our best and play as we can. It was a good day for us. The guys took up the task very well and did a pretty good job. It’s good to have Shannon back, he bowled very well today and he’s been our best bowler for the last year.”
Yet it could have been so much better. Joe Root was dropped by Keiran Powell at first slip off Gabriel on 8. It cost them 51 runs. Ben Stokes was dropped on 9 by Kraig Brathwaite off Roach. That cost the tourists another 91. Stokes was also dropped by Gabriel at mid-off on 98 and Stuart Broad was dropped by the keeper on nought. There were other misfields, some ordinary field placings and a few no-balls thrown in. It allowed England to recover to 258. Although Windies had a good day, it could have been a brilliant one.
“That’s cricket, these things happen,” said Roach. “It can be frustrating as a bowler when you’re working quite hard to set a batsman up. No one drops a catch on purpose so it’s just a mistake. Keep your head up and come again next ball.”
The opportunity for the visitors’ batsmen has now arrived. After 19 wickets fell on the final day in Birmingham, it is a batting line-up which has plenty to prove. Tomorrow, they will need to show they have learnt their lessons from Edgbaston, much as the visiting bowlers did today. Conversely, England will be thinking they have another chance to exploit their opponent’s technical and mental flaws which were so evident in the first Test.
Today was a day of opportunities. Which side will take theirs tomorrow?
