At the leafy and sedate Three Ws Oval in Bridgetown, England’s cricketers blew off the cobwebs from a near two-month international break with the first hit of their all-important 2019.
Preparation for next Wednesday’s first Test against West Indies consists of back-to-back two-day games against a President’s XI. In the first of them Joe Root led the way, the Test captain shrugging off a disappointing recent spell in Australia’s Big Bash League with a run-a-ball 87 as his side made 317 runs for the loss of 10 wickets.
Having registered three Ws in Sri Lanka in November, Root spent the festive break at Sydney Thunder in pursuit of the Twenty20 experience the packed schedule rarely affords him. The Yorkshireman never got going, however, and a top score of 26 from seven innings followed.
But back in the whites of England his game appeared unaffected, as he creamed 12 fours and two sixes in a largely frictionless workout before a top-edged sweep made him the first of five wickets for the spinner Bryan Charles. Ben Stokes, who conversely took up the scheduled downtime, also spent two hours and 20 minutes at the crease for 56 from 97 balls.
Though in keeping with the modern trend of tour games that resemble extended middle practice, two Test-capped bowlers in Miguel Cummins and Alzarri Joseph and a pitch offering variable bounce early on made it a handy refresher against seam given the dominance of spin in the Sri Lanka series.
The tourists, who left out Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid from that series win, had gone into the match with 12 players and the intention of batting all day regardless. This came to pass as the lazy sun slunk towards the Caribbean sea, Keaton Jennings emerging for a second innings of the day – having been caught at short leg for 10 during the morning session – and making an unbeaten 15.
Rory Burns had looked the more assured opener with 35 from 70 balls, adapting to what he described as a “tacky surface” first thing. While eventually lbw after lunch to Chemar Holder, ending a stand of 72 with Root, the left-hander had been suitably watchful, clipping runs off his hips and occasionally unfurling drives either through cover or straight.
“I didn’t feel great, to be honest, but it’s one to build on. [Root] played very nicely. Sometimes you have to play second fiddle when someone is flying,” said Burns, who had watched the England captain hit his first three balls after lunch to the boundary.
While Burns, Root and Stokes enjoyed decent time in the middle – as did Moeen Ali, who batted an hour for his 21 runs before an ugly heave off Charles – others missed out. Jonny Bairstow, in at No 3, earlier fell for four, caught behind attempting an expansive drive, having looked as scratchy as the family of chickens loitering around the Malcolm Marshall nets all day. Ben Foakes and Sam Curran failed too – both nicking off to Holder – as England technically lost their last five wickets for 46 runs.
Chris Woakes, joined by Jennings before the close, ploughed on for a typically dutiful 37 not out. Wickets may be his main currency but his runs are certainly handy. Given Buttler, the vice-captain, is a definite starter next week, and Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson are expected to resume their new ball partnership, the Warwickshire all-rounder is hoping to avoid being one of two that must make way from this 12.
West Indies will be trimming down from a squad of 13 players (plus one reserve), having shown their hand for the first Test and given Darren Bravo, the talented but unfulfilled left-hander who once drew comparisons with Brian Lara, a first call-up for two years.
The 29-year-old recently returned to first-class cricket with Trinidad and Tobago – his Test exile was initially sparked by calling the West Indies board president Dave Cameron a “big idiot” in a tweet back in 2016 – and he joins the uncapped pair of John Campbell and Shamarh Brooks in a batting lineup reshuffled after a 2-0 defeat in Bangladesh.
West Indies squad Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Oshane Thomas (cover for Joseph)