England seek redemption after Bridgetown debacle

Overview

Windies vs England
2nd Test
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Thursday, 31 January, 10:00 Local (14:00 GMT)

Things could not have gone worse for England in the opening encounter. Honours appeared even at the end of day one, with the Windies 264/8 after some second new-ball excellence from James Anderson. Nevertheless, what unfurled over the course of the second day was something few in the crowd will forget, as England were bowled out for just 77. Kemar Roach starred with some hostile pace bowling, collecting figures of 5/17.

While the Windies crumbled to 61/5 in their second-innings, a double-century from Jason Holder at No. 8 in the batting order, backed by a ton from wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, saw England faced with a monumental target of 628. Although Rory Burns amassed a career-best Test score of 84 in the chase, Roston Chase’s wily off-spin cut through England’s batting line-up to end their innings on 246.

The action now moves to the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, with England ringing the changes. In naming their 12-man squad for the Test, both Adil Rashid and Keaton Jennings have been discarded, with Joe Denly set to make his Test debut at the age of 32.

"It gives Joe an opportunity," said England skipper Joe Root on the eve of the Antigua Test. "It's disappointing for Keaton [Jennings], he's done some excellent things and he will continue to work on developing his game and be a big part of this squad."

It appears likely that Stuart Broad will return to the side, with his reliability a great miss in Bridgetown. It may be that a battle for the final spot in the XI boils down to a toss up between Sam Curran and the left-arm spin of Jack Leach.

For the Windies, it would appear that any changes are unlikely to their existing line-up, although uncapped fast bowler Oshane Thomas has been added to the squad. Such was the all-round excellence of the Windies side across the four days of the first Test that any tinkering would seem unwise.

Key players

Jason Holder (Windies): Ranked No. 1 in the MRF Tyres ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings, Holder began 2019 in similar vein to his performances across 2018. With the ball he was a potent force in England's first innings, removing both Keaton Jennings and Joe Root, before he enjoyed running the visiting bowlers ragged during his side's second innings. Holder’s influence upon this Windies side is more than clear to see.

Joe Root (England): At the heart of England’s batting failure in the first Test was a lack of runs from their captain, who returned scores of 4 and 22. Root remains England’s finest batsman and if any recovery from the nightmare of Barbados is to begin in Antigua, it’s likely to come from the blade of the Yorkshireman.

Conditions

The clouds will be hovering over the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with possible showers in store, although temperatures will range in the mid-20s. Pace will be on the agenda once again, with a Test on the same ground in 2018 seeing the Windies seamers run riot against Bangladesh, bowling the visitors out for 43 and 144.

Squads:

**Windies:**Jason Holder (captain), 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

**England:**Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes