5 key highlights from Day 1 of the Nottingham Test

Duckett’s record fifty

After Zak Crawley’s dismissal in the first over, Ben Duckett absorbed the pressure in the blink of an eye. At the non-striker’s end throughout the first over, Duckett started with four fours in a row to begin his innings. England were soon 50/1 in only 4.2 overs with Duckett doing most of the scoring. 

The left-hander eventually reached his fifty in only 32 balls, scoring the fastest Test fifty by an England opener. He was out minutes before Lunch for 71 from 59 balls. 

Pope cashes on

Ollie Pope wasn’t at his fluent best but batted over four hours to notch up his sixth Test ton. He first played second fiddle to Duckett in a 105-run partnership where Pope contributed 31 runs. 

Between balls 31 to 60, he had a false shot percentage of 33.3%. Later, Pope was dropped twice, on 46 and 54. However, after the second dropped catch, he scored 65 from 76 balls. He was out for 121 from 167 deliveries. All of his six Test tons have come against different nations. 

Sloppy West Indies

Opting to bowl first, the visitors were quite sloppy. Their new ball bowlers, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales went at an economy of 6 and 6.3 respectively. Alzarri, however, picked three wickets but looked threatening only in patches. 

Their fourth seamer, Shamar Joseph pulled his hamstring and bowled only 11.3 overs in the day’s play. Meanwhile, Jason Holder went wicketless. 

Overall, West Indies seemed to lack any plan or penetration with the ball. To add to it, they dropped Pope twice. 

Stokes finally contributes with bat

Ben Stokes didn’t only get into double figures after six innings but also amassed his second Test fifty of the year. Scoring 69, he started slow, batting at a strike rate of 43.3 for the first 30 balls of his innings but keeping his control percentage up to 96.7%. 

He later picked up and stitched vital partnerships with first Pope (80 runs) and then Jamie Smith (61 runs). 

WI spinners restrict England

The duo of Kevin Sinclair and Kavem Hodge pulled England from 342/5 to 370/8 in a phase where West Indies were resting their pacers for the second new ball. The lull period for England included wickets of Stokes, Smith and Gus Atkinson. 

Consequently, the West Indies’s skipper Kraigg Brathwaite delayed the call for the second new ball. England, looking for a big first innings score, bundled out for 416 in the last over of day’s play. 

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.