Craig Overton picked up England’s seventh Test duck of the year so far in Antigua
(Picture: Getty Images)The opening Test between West Indies and England is nicely poised as we head into day three of action in the Caribbean.
The hosts closed the second day on 202-4, trailing by 109 runs after England had lost their last four wickets for just 44.
Standard Sport’s cricket correspondent Will Macpherson provides the latest instalment of his tour diary from Antigua...
You had one job
A moment of high farce, when Ollie Pope, the sub fielder, pulled off a direct hit from point to the striker’s end. Nkrumah Bonner, on one, had made his ground but the umpires went upstairs to check.
Replays confirmed he was in but the TV umpire, Leslie Reifer, had a momentary lapse and pressed the wrong button. The big screen read OUT, which was enough to fool England’s players, who began celebrating in confused fashion, and fans.
Barely a second later, the decision was rectified, and Bonner was allowed to stay.
Wood you rather?
Mark Wood puts everything into bowling his rockets – and hit 151kph in his first spell here. But he wasn’t going to waste any energy when one of the squally showers blew through. While some players sprinted off, before re-emerging for a huddle, Wood kept his station at fine leg.
“It was far too far to run,” he said. "The southern lads were straight off but the northern lads? A bit of rain didn't hurt anyone. I had to do a virtual huddle.”
Fresh import
Surrey have announced the signing of Sunil Narine for the entire Vitality Blast. The Trinidadian is Surrey’s second overseas signing from the Caribbean this summer, after Kemar Roach joined for five Championship matches.
Narine played for Oval Invincibles in the inaugural Hundred last year, and says he caught the (Kia) Oval bug so hard that he wanted to try the Blast, “one of the few competitions around the world I've not experienced in my career.”
"The stint I enjoyed with Oval Invincibles in 2021 gave me a taste of how unique playing in front of a packed Kia Oval crowd really is,” he said. “My aim is to entertain as much as possible this year and hopefully ensure the Club challenges for the trophy."
Narine could be used as a pinch-hitter in a decent-looking batting lineup, as well as joining Dan Moriarty and Will Jacks as spinners. Gareth Batty is now head coach having finally retired.
Hashim Amla is not expected to play any T20s this year, so Surrey still have a slot to fill in that competition, but are working out international availability.
The Duck Hunters charge on
In 2021, England made a quite staggering 54 ducks in 15 Tests, equalling the record they set in 1998. In the two Tests in Australia in January, they racked up three apiece, putting them slightly behind the rare in what is another 15-Test year.
Well, Craig Overton’s duck here, from a nice bit of a bowling by Jayden Seales and a good catch from Bonner at short leg, has the tally at seven. Keep an eye on it.
Blowing in the wind
The ground staff are popular with the fans in Antigua. They have proved excellent readers of the rain, sprinting on with covers in tow. And, shortly before 5pm on day two, one of their number – clad in red – was charging on for a different reason. The wind and rain had combined to blow some muck onto the pitch, which he disposed of with a leaf blower.
Upside down
Vast numbers of fans watching England on tour again provides reminders of their great showmen. No one loves stopping for a chat on the boundary more than Jonny Bairstow, and Wood is a voracious signer of autographs. All eyes are almost always on Ben Stokes, though, and he gave fans a handstand to marvel at as play was due to begin after another rain delay.
