Mahmood To Debut As England, Windies Reset For Second Test

Bridgetown, Barbados, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – sixteenth Mar, 2022 ) :West Indies and England sq. off within the second Test of a three-match sequence on Wednesday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, with expectations of a repeat of the batsman-friendly circumstances which resulted in a drawn first Test in Antigua.

In stark distinction to the pitches for his or her earlier sequence within the Caribbean in 2019 when the hosts’ quick bowlers dominated in Barbados and Antigua earlier than Mark Wood led the cost for the vacationers in claiming a comfort win in St Lucia, pacers look set for one more robust exercise over the subsequent 5 days.

With Wood sidelined by an elbow damage suffered throughout his first-Test exertions and Ollie Robinson nonetheless not recovered totally from again spasms skilled within the warm-up match, Saqib Mahmood will get a Test debut for England on the venue the place he took a hammering within the T20 worldwide sequence performed between the groups seven weeks earlier.

That is the one change anticipated in a visiting facet which sensed an opportunity of victory on the ultimate afternoon of the primary Test when the West Indies stumbled to 67 for 4 going through an unlikely victory goal of 286, earlier than Nkrumah Bonner and former captain Jason Holder defied their opponents for 3 hours to make sure a stalemate.

“He’s very mature for a guy who hasn’t played a huge amount of international cricket,” England captain Joe Root mentioned of Mahmood on Tuesday. “He’s been very impressive. He’s got a slightly different trajectory and will give us a point of difference.” Root additionally addressed the assertion by West Indies’ T20 specialist Carlos Brathwaite that the touring captain was disrespectful in selecting to name off the victory effort solely within the closing scheduled over when there have been fewer balls out there than wickets wanted.

“I think it was slightly unfair to say that,” he contended. “I don’t think there was anything wrong with our approach at all. Given the opportunity to do it again we’d go about it the same way.” Root identified that he had carried out the identical factor towards Australia at Lord’s in 2019 and in addition needed spinner Jack Leach to select up one or two extra wickets.

– Mayers set for recall – West Indies are more likely to exchange middle-order batsman Shamarh Brooks with fellow Barbadian Kyle Mayers who presents the extra dimension of occasional medium-pace to go together with his hard-hitting left-handed batting.

Notwithstanding the pitch’s placid look, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is eagerly anticipating the competition, even when the house match seems like an away contest given the standard spectacle of English followers closely outnumbering the native supporters at Kensington Oval.

“It’s pretty normal against England, especially with the ‘Barmy Army’ in town,” Brathwaite acknowledged. “I don’t mind it because it creates a lot of energy. Beating England in that situation makes it even more satisfying.” Despite early success within the Antigua Test and a 64-run first innings lead, West Indies have been unable to press house the benefit, so the captain is anticipating a better effort from his bowlers.

“It’s about being a little more disciplined, especially in mid-innings and keeping it tight to get a few more wickets,” Brathwaite famous.

But he didn’t wish to draw any comparisons with the 2019 series-opener on the identical venue when senior pacer Kemar Roach led the rout of England for 77 within the first innings on the way in which to a 381-run demolition of the guests.

“We can draw on it yes, as far as that winning feeling, but this is a different situation: different pitch, different circumstances,” he mentioned.

Roach goes into the match with a tally of 235 Test wickets, seventh on the all-time checklist of main West Indies wicket-takers and stage with Garfield Sobers, whose identify adorns the gamers’ pavilion at Kensington Oval and who is mostly thought of the best all-rounder within the historical past of the sport.

Probable groups:West Indies – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wicketkeeper), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales.

England – Joe Root (captain), Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood.