England vs West Indies, 1st Test: Toss Report

The wait is finally over. The much-awaited day has finally come as international cricket is all set to resume once again after action around the world came to a halt in March in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. England and West Indies are all set to lock horns against each other in the first of the three-match Test series at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton to kickstart international cricket.

If the pandemic does not end anytime soon, this series is likely to become the template for other countries to follow in order to play international cricket. The series will take place behind closed doors and in bio-secure stadiums. Players and officials will live at the on-site hotels at each ground and be screened daily for symptoms and regularly tested for COVID-19 based throughout the match.

The ICC has also confirmed teams will be able to substitute any player who shows signs of COVID-19 during a Test match. Saliva ban, non-neutral umpires, extra DRS reviews are some of the other changes that will be seen in the series as cricket attempts to get back on track.

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The experience will definitely be different for the players as well as fans in these testing times but there is no denying that a good contest between the bat and ball is all that the cricket world is hoping for.

It’s not as bad as it looks ??

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Both the teams will definitely be short on match experience although they enter the game on the back of a intra-squad warm-up game. West Indies had stunned England in the home series last year and will be looking to replicate that performance again while the hosts will be eyeing the revenge.

Toss report:

The toss has been delayed due to rain and wet outfield. There’s going to be an early lunch taken at 12.30 local (5pm IST). It’ll be followed by an inspection at 1.10pm (Local time).

England have won the toss and have opted to bat first at the Ageas bowl, Southampton.

Here is what the captains said:

Ben Stokes:

“Going to have a bat. Trying to get the best out of it. Overhead conditions didn’t change our perception. The pitch looks dry on top. Won’t have too much pace in it. Recently spin’s come into it. Tough decision with Broad and Woakes. But we feel that we can have an extra dimension with the pace of Wood and Archer. To be fair, he (Broad) wished me very well on my big day. Very proud but my main focus is to get the win. Three lions on the chest, walking out to play for your country, no bigger motivation.”

Jason Holder:

“Not too disheartened with bowling first. Will look to make use of these conditions. We’ve got four quicks. Got Chase as a spin bowling option. Discipline’s the name of the game. Been little strange. Haven’t been able to move out of the hotel. It is what it is. Preparation’s been good. Some days we had rain. It’s a cause we’re both pushing – to have the Black Lives Matter emblem on the collar. ”

Playing XIs:

England:

Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Joe Denly, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes(c), Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Dominic Bess, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, James Anderson
England

West Indies:

John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel