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Follow UsKraigg Brathwaite continues to disappoint
February 4 2023 was the last time Kraigg Brathwaite scored a Test century. Over his last 13 innings, the right-hander has only crossed the 50-run mark once, against India. Five times out of his last 14 innings, Brathwaite has been dismissed for a single-digit score.
He continued that tradition here at the Lord’s when he was dismissed for a 33-ball 6, a painful knock that never took off. Where is Brathwaite’s career going from here? Only he knows.
Mikyle Louis’ determination on debut
While Brathwaite looked brittle, Mikyle Louis was quite compact on his Test debut at Lord’s. Louis was handed a Test cap after his stellar display in the domestic arena, where he amassed 682 runs, averaging 48.71, including two centuries.
The right-hander, who also happens to be the first Kittitian Test cricketer, showed great composure and technique in his 58-ball 27, smashing four fours and a six. Louis might have been undone for 27, but during his stay at the crease, he looked totally at class and at ease.
Gus Atkinson sparkles on dream debut
A five-wicket haul on Test debut, and that too at Lord’s? Life was such for Gus Atkinson, whose pace completely blew the lids off the West Indies batting unit.
Atkinson first removed Brathwaite off his second ball before a fiery spell that saw him dismiss Alick Athanaze, Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva in the same over. The 26-year-old finished with figures of 7/45 on a day that will always be memorable for him.
Ollie Pope’s ultra-aggressive display
When the chips are down, Ollie Pope always has a battle up his sleeves.
At 29/1, England needed their No.3 Pope to step up, and the right-hander did exactly that, with an ultra-aggressive approach that took the Men in Maroon completely by surprise. Off his third delivery, Pope scored his first four before punishing Alzarri Joseph twice more in the same over.
While the introduction of Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder did slow him down, he collected his composure and scored his 12th Test fifty, oozing class all over at Lord’s.
Jason Holder’s solid comeback
Jason Holder had a disappointing return with the bat. But with the ball, the 32-year-old was bang on target in his long spell, bowling three overs on the trot before the lunch break and four after that.
Across these seven overs, the all-rounder was very accurate in his line and length, often targeting the stumps, making the English batters uncomfortable. While Ollie Pope survived an early scare, Holder’s nip-cracker almost got Zak Crawley at the other end.
But despite Holder's display, it was England who won the day comfortably, thanks to Pope (57) and Zak Crawley (76). They ended the day on 189/3, 68 ahead of Windies' score, with Joe Root and Harry Brook unbeaten.
You can check out the full scorecard here
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