Summary

  • WI 202-4: Holder 43*, Bonner 34*

  • Windies slip from 83-0 to 127-4 before unbeaten stand of 75 between Bonner & Holder

  • Windies openers had cruised to 83 against wayward England seamers

  • England 311: Bairstow 140; Seales 4-79

  • First Test, day two, Antigua

  1. GOODBYEpublished at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Okay, that's just about a wrap for us here this evening with this Test match well poised.

    "A mixed showing from England's bowlers...with comparisons always going to be made without Broad and Anderson," is the verdict of my esteemed colleague Matthew Henry and you can read his day two report here...

    The scorecard is here.

    And the Test Match Special podcast looking back on day two will be available later here.

    See you tomorrow for day three. As Mark Wood observed, early wickets for England will key in swinging things in their favour.

  2. Postpublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Mark Wood, on what England need to do tomorrow, added: "We'll find a way to take wickets on this wicket, early wickets will be key. The new ball should be helpful to get the ball moving somehow."

  3. Postpublished at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    The recurrent theme for both teams in the innings is complain to the umpires to get the ball changed, but the ball went gun-barrel straight in the main. The pitch is pretty dead and will probably stay dead for the next few days.

  4. 'An indifferent day'published at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Mark Wood, speaking to BT Sport, said: "Today was indifferent. We started poorly then dragged it back,they dug in well at the end. Our attitude in field was good we fielded with good purpose and intensity. The way we came back and showed good character was important.

    "We need a couple of wickets to get into this line up, we know Jason Holder is a fantastic cricketer. They nullified that crucial reverse swing period well when we were keen to take a couple wickets.

    "We were not as consistent as we needed to be at first. Our lengths were poor, we didn't quite get it right. I tried a little bit too hard, I put too much pressure on myself.

    "When myself and Ben Stokes were bowling in partnership we were clear in our plans and stuck to our guns well, we just couldn't get the breakthrough."

  5. Postpublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Mark Wood has just spoken to BT Sport and we'll have his views shortly. He's as candid as usual.

  6. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Sam Billings
    England wicketkeeper on BT Sport

    The pitch has been on the slow side so it has been attritional cricket but there will be a session when the game will move on at faster pace.

  7. Postpublished at 21:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Carlos Brathwaite
    West Indies all-rounder on BT Sport

    The game is edging closer to parity. It is one for the Test purists. An even contest between two sides.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    #bbccricket

    Chris Jones: Probably the first time we’ve seen an English spinner bowl with consistent control since Swan retire

  9. Close of playpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    "Is that it?" Jonny Bairstows ask the umpires. "Yes" is the reply in the affirmative as the players scamper off the field.

    West Indies finish the day 202-4 and trail England by 109 runs.

    We'll have some reaction from both camps to the day's play so stick around.

  10. WI 202-4published at 66.5 overs

    Rome wasn't built in a day, Paul. I do feel this particular piece of management speak will be used to laud over the England team whenever they struggle.

    Jack Leach, collar up, is ready to finish off his over after five dots but the groundstaff have already started to bring on the covers.

    A bit of confusion follows before the covers are indeed brought on with a shower imminent.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    #bbccricket

    Paul Phillips: So the England “red ball reset” as we reach the end of day two and we can see that the top order can’t put runs on the board and the bowlers can’t take wickets so what has actually changed?

  12. WI 202-4published at 21:38 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Andrew Strauss, in a light blue shirt and chinos, is scratching his head in the stands as Chris Woakes runs in with Ben Foakes stood up to the stumps.

    A maiden from Woakes. "Well in Woakesy," declares Foakes.

  13. WI 200-4published at 64.2 overs

    Ben Foakes thwacks his wicketkeeping gloves together in appreciation of Jack Leach's first ball to Nkrumah Bonner.

    Next ball and Bonner squirts the ball in the point region. "No run!" Leach bellows, but the ball beats the fielder and Bonner picks up a couple.

    A total of 55 deliveries without giving a run away before that.

  14. Postpublished at 21:31 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Antigua

    Jack Leach is bowling flatter than I remember. I would have liked to see him tease these two a bit by giving the ball some air.

  15. WI 199-4published at 64.0 overs

    A change of ends for Jack Leach as he comes on from the Andy Roberts End.

  16. Postpublished at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    Chris Woakes has these disparate figures home and away. He still has the same rhythm bowling, but can't seem to get that consistency outside of England. It's all a bit of mystery.

  17. WI 197-4published at 63.1 overs

    A gentleman dressed all in black is proudly waving a large flag of Antigua and Barbuda in the stands.

    Joe Root cruelly denies Jack Leach a chance to bowl a 10th maiden in a row and withdraws him from the bowling attack in favour of Chris Woakes from the Curtly Ambrose End.

    Inevitably, Nkrumah Bonner picks up a single off Woakes' first ball.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 March 2022

    #bbccricket

    Ceraunic: Wow Alex Thomas (21:09) we’d all like too see that but let’s agree to settle for him being dropped for a real spinner like Matt Parkinson (so far managed even worse.)

  19. WI 192-4published at 62.4 overs

    First delivery of Craig Overton's over offers way too much width to Jason Holder who sends the ball scurrying through point for four.

    A couple of balls later and Holder plays with soft hands to pick up another boundary through third man via an outside edge.

    The late evening sun is back, bathing the ground in gold.

  20. WI 188-4published at 62 overs

    More admirable control from Jack Leach as he sends down his NINTH maiden in a row.

    Nine maidens? More Cornwall than Somerset that.

    But this is excellent pressure from the Taunton turner.