Life without James Anderson finally begins for England, as Ben Stokes’s men look to seal a series victory against West Indies in Nottingham.
If the departure of Anderson at Lord’s last week was a grand occasion, it was not a sporting one; England’s dominant innings and 114-run victory papering over the cracks of what was a tame spectacle between two mismatched teams.
It would be harsh to criticise the West Indies too heavily.
First, because the contest was one between the haves and the have-nots of the world game. Second, because it was only six months ago that the tourists were in this very position: beaten heavily by one of the three major nations, on that occasion Australia, before bouncing back to defeat them at the Gabba in Brisbane in the most dramatic of circumstances.
“We don’t take anyone for granted,” said Zak Crawley. “They’ve got some really good players, who we know are very capable of taking the game away from us. We have to be sharp and perform like we did at Lord’s. It was a really good performance and we want to back that up.”
Nevertheless, the sight of the Test finishing in two days and one hour was in keeping with the theme of the week. Just days before the Test started, Lord’s hosted the inaugural World Cricket Connects meeting. A talking-shop consisting many of the key stakeholders across the sport, designed to discuss and debate some of the major challenges facing the world game, such as the lop-sided nature between Test nations that was then evidenced on the pitch a mere 48 hours later.
One potential solution given was to reduce the number of Test-playing nations to six in order to concentrate the standard; an idea that would not curry favour in the West Indies dressing room.
“Test cricket is the No1 priority for me,” said West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva. “And I know it’s the same for a number of guys. In Australia, we came back and we won the Test. If we can replicate that, all of us will be really happy, [but] it’s not going to be easy.”
It is easy to forget that when these two sides last met, in 2022, West Indies won the three-Test series 1-0 in the Caribbean. Those matches were the last of Joe Root’s captaincy, as his time as England leader ended with the acrimonious record of one win in his last 17 matches.
England’s fortunes have since changed, in a dramatic about-turn that gives cause for optimism that others, such as their opponents, can also turn things around and that there is competition left in this series.
In one boost for the tourists, fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who was feared to have picked up an injury at Lord’s, has been training at full tilt and is expected to play, with West Indies likely to go unchanged for the Second Test at Trent Bridge.
Meanwhile, in the England camp, Mark Wood has returned to the starting line-up in place of the retired Anderson.
It is the only change for England, which means that Nottinghamshire bowler Dillon Pennington will not make his debut on his home ground.
“It’s certainly a changing of the guard,” Crawley said of England’s first home Test since 2012 to feature neither Anderson nor Stuart Broad. “It’s really good to see some young talent coming in. Gus [Atkinson], Dillon [Pennington], lots of other guys, Pottsy [Matthew Potts] — these guys are really talented bowlers and I find them hard to face. They’re all going to go well and get the chance like Gus did [at Lord’s].”
While England have to make do without Anderson the player, he is still with the squad in a mentorship role and is continuing to bowl at England batters in the nets.
“I hope he’s going to bowl cross-seam,” Crawley joked. “I’ve faced enough seam-up balls from him, a few fluffers, a few half-volleys, hopefully. He’ll put the ball wherever he wants, I suppose, but just half-volleys from now on I think, Jimmy.”
