17.4 overs, two washed-out sessions, and a stop-start post-lunch session. Yep! That’s how the first day of the much-awaited 1st Test between hosts England and the West Indies- first international game after a 117-day hiatus- panned out.
Amidst all the euphoria around cricket’s ground-breaking return and all the talks around the safety inside the ‘bio-bubble’, rain gods ensured that we got off to yet another damp start to the English season.
When the rain did relent, England’s 81st skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first. Both sides took the knee before the start of play as a mark of solidarity towards the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.
On a spiced up pitch, the West Indian new-ball pair of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel made good use of the conditions against Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley.
It was a ploy that nearly got Rory Burns in the very first over after he lurched forward, offering no shot to an incoming delivery. West Indies used one of their three reviews but Burns was eventually saved by ‘Umpires Call’.
Joe Denly, England No.3, provided a sense of calm, stitching a 35-run-stand with Rory Burns before bad light finally put an end to the days’ proceedings.
Also Read: WATCH: Dominic Sibley Gets Cleaned Up Courtesy A Straighter One From Shannon Gabriel
Here’s a look at how the world reacted to the first days’ proceedings between England and West Indies:
Cricket is back ๐Positive scenes coming out from UK. So good to finally see some cricket being played. Wishing both teams the best. Canโt wait to be out there myself ๐ค #EngVsWI
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 8, 2020
Bio Bubble Cricket .. Great effort by all to play .. but the bad light issue really does affect TEST cricket .. One day – T20 would be playing .. #Fact Anyway back to the bubble .. #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 8, 2020
How good is it to have Test cricket back! #ENGvWI
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) July 8, 2020
Profile pic vs actual pic#Cricket #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/i7ok7b8kRB
— CricBlog (@cric_blog) July 8, 2020
So nice to see that cricket is back!
Good luck to both the teams!
Canโt wait to get back on the field again#ENGvWI— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) July 8, 2020
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) July 8, 2020
International Cricket is back after 117 Days! Always a pleasant feeling to watch Test Cricket. Looking Forward to an exciting few weeks ahead @englandcricket @windiescricket @Jaseholder98 @benstokes38 #ENGvWI
— Lakshmi Narayanan (@lakshuakku) July 8, 2020
England and West Indies players take a knee ahead of the first #EngvWI Test in support of #BlackLivesMatter
Watch live on Sky Sports Cricket now or follow here: https://t.co/ZUqX1InU7t pic.twitter.com/avR3aFUiTj
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 8, 2020
As the game we all love is back alive, here's #Thala in full shtyle with namma area boys! ๐ #CricketIsBack #ENGvWI#YelloveFromHome by Super Fan Saravanan Ganesh. pic.twitter.com/AXAgYtN750
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) July 8, 2020
That's a good way to start Test cricket. Proper Inswinger #ENGvsWI #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/pWqpZa7emU
— Arun Kumar AK (Engineer) (@KumarArunDude) July 8, 2020
Historic & Emotional day comes to an end. #ENGvWI ๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ด pic.twitter.com/ONYleBGtyR
— Aqeel ๐ (@AqeelViews) July 8, 2020
Day 1 of intl cricket resumption…
A total of 106 balls played!#EngvWI pic.twitter.com/74LDNy9WGs— Shreyas Srinivasan (@ShreyasS_) July 8, 2020
This gives me goosebumps, even though it is just the toss!
Sanitize those hands, Ben Stokes! ๐#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/7tkJn40xzh
— Nikhil ๐ (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 8, 2020
#ENGvWI Just before the start of play, our #MenInMaroon took a knee to show their solidarity against Racism with the Black Lives Matter movement. ๐๐ฝ๐๐พ๐๐ฟ#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/HQ63Q6T3yM
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 8, 2020
Outstanding this from Michael Holding on @SkyCricket / @FoxCricket & well worth a listen. Well spoken my friend and great to have international cricket back too ! #ENGvsWI https://t.co/XmoPiDOxX4
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) July 8, 2020
"If you don't educate people, they'll keep growing up in that sort of society and you'll not get meaningful change."
Michael Holding and @ejrainfordbrent say that institutionalised racism must be eradicated for the good of humanity. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/TIpdAcdZJI
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 8, 2020