England vs West Indies 2020, 2nd Test, Day 2 – Twitter Reactions

England have asserted themselves into a position of real strength on the 2nd day of the second Test against the West Indies in Manchester. Riding on multiple-record breaking 260-run stand between the centurions’ Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes, England declared their innings at a commanding 9-469 in the last hour of the post-tea session.

The West Indian opening pair of Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell negotiated the opening six-over burst by Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes but they were not so lucky against Sam Curran, who struck on his fourth delivery when he pinned John Campbell courtesy a nip-backer in front of the wickets. Joe Root and England went for the review and were rewarded with the scalp of the Windies opener.

Curran would have got another, had he decided to review what turned out to be the second last ball of the day when he pinned Alzarri Joseph [14*] with an inswinging yorker. England’s reluctance to take it upstairs ensured West Indies finished the at 1-32 after 14 overs.

Earlier, Dom Sibley started the day exactly from where he had left on the first day, blunting the West Indian attack, who bowled brilliantly but without luck, with his patience and grit.

The right-hander started the day at 86 [from 253 balls] and played with the same determination and at one stage, it looked like Ben Stokes would get his hundred before the opener. The moment finally came on the 312th ball of Sibley’s knock when he claimed a triple to register the 5th slowest hundred by an England batsman in the last 30 years.

Ben Stokes ensured that he did not repeat the same mistake that he did in Southampton where he squandered his starts. The left-handed all-rounder got to the three-figure score with a reverse-sweep off Roston Chase after the Lunch break.

With England desperate for a move-on, Stokes shifted his gears in the first hour of the second session with regular boundaries. His nonchalant flick- which went for a six- off Alzarri Joseph- was perhaps the shot of the Test so far.

Kemar Roach’s fortunes did not show any signs of a revival as he endured yet another ‘Umpires Call’ after having reviewed for LBW. Sibley swept Roston Chase for his 5th boundary of the innings to bring the 200-run-stand.

Also Read: Watch: Ben Stokes Plays An Outrageous Shot Over Long-On For A Maximum

Hundreds from England’s Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley flattens the West Indies

The double-century stand came off 498 balls but it did not take much time for the duo to cross the 250-run mark as Stokes continued to up the ante. The duo went on to break Michael Clarke and Steven Smith’s record of the highest fourth-wicket stand [214 in 2013] at Old Trafford but fell seven runs short of toppling Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan’s record 267-run-stand in 2001 for any wicket at the venue.

Roston Chase gave the West Indies a much-needed reprieve when he dismissed Dom Sibley, who in an attempt to up the scoring rate holed out in the deep.

West Indies could have got Stokes too had Shai Hope taken the catch in the gully region. Ollie Pope, however, made the cardinal mistake of playing back to a delivery that wasn’t exactly short and was trapped plumb in front of Roston Chase.

The scoring rate once again dipped post the fall of two successive wickets in the last half hour of the post-lunch session. England showed clear intent in the post-Tea session. Jos Buttler stroked three boundaries off Roston Chase over while Ben Stokes regularly danced down the track.

You wait 11 months for one, and just like buses, two come at once!

Kemar Roach gets Woakes first ball, he's on a hat-trick! h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->c<!---->P<!---->y<!---->h<!---->r<!---->E<!---->g<!---->m<!---->K<!---->3 | #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->b<!---->g<!---->2<!---->B<!---->P<!---->0<!---->J<!---->I<!---->L<!---->X

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Kemar Roach toiled away for 521 balls since he claimed Virat Kohli in September 2019, for an elusive wicket but when it finally came, it came in buckets. The right-hander, all of a sudden, found himself on a hat-trick ball, dismissing Ben Stokes, who was caught-behind in an attempt to reverse-hit, and Chris Woakes, who was undone by a beauty that saw him nick it straight to the slip-cordon.

Jos Buttler [40], Sam Curran [17] and Dom Bess, who scored an unbeaten 31, provided healthy contributions before England finally decided- at the score of 9-469- that they have had enough and declared to have a crack at the West Indies openers for a good 15 overs. Roston Chase claimed a much-deserved five-wicket-haul, finishing with figures of 6-172 in 44 overs.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the 2nd day of the England vs West Indies Test:

First wicket falls ☝️

Sam Curran traps Campbell in front and Windies are 16/1.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->x<!---->K<!---->y<!---->W<!---->h<!---->l<!---->1<!---->U<!---->R<!---->7

— ICC (@ICC) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

There is a spring in @<!---->S<!---->t<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->t<!---->B<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->d<!---->8’s walk and I have a feeling that he is out on the field with plenty to show. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

If I were Jos, I would simply hit sixes #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Awesome @<!---->D<!---->o<!---->m<!---->S<!---->i<!---->b<!---->l<!---->e<!---->y! ?

Scorecard/Videos: h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->F<!---->j<!---->A<!---->f<!---->7<!---->3<!---->d<!---->7<!---->s<!---->i#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->2<!---->U<!---->k<!---->e<!---->C<!---->T<!---->g<!---->0<!---->2

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

?? partnership stitched up between @<!---->D<!---->o<!---->m<!---->S<!---->i<!---->b<!---->l<!---->e<!---->y & @<!---->b<!---->e<!---->n<!---->s<!---->t<!---->o<!---->k<!---->e<!---->s<!---->3<!---->8 to bail out England from a tricky position. They both applied themselves very well & have batted patiently to shift the balance in this Test.
It has been a great battle between bat & ball in the 1st session. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->l<!---->R<!---->Q<!---->s<!---->e<!---->K<!---->o<!---->E<!---->R<!---->Z

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

England’s best player … England’s best fielder … England’s most impactful bowler … England’s best batsman at the moment delivers once again … @<!---->b<!---->e<!---->n<!---->s<!---->t<!---->o<!---->k<!---->e<!---->s<!---->3<!---->8 is a freak … nothing he cannot do … #<!---->T<!---->e<!---->s<!---->t<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Gloriously slow batting by England this morning. Sibley's 312-ball hundred reminds me of the PG Wodehouse line about another careful scorer: "Trevor Bailey awoke from an apparent coma to strike a boundary."

— Patrick Kidd (@patrick_kidd) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ben Stokes joins an elite club!
4000 runs + 10 centuries + 150 wickets (Tests)
Garry Sobers 8032+26+235 (93)
Ian Botham 5200+14+383 (102)
Jacques Kallis 13289+45+292 (166)
Ben Stokes 4248+10+153 (65*)#<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->s<!---->W<!---->I

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Stokes overtakes Sibley in the 118th over, having given him a 31.2-over headstart…

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Kemar Roach has a Test wicket after 521 balls!
WW…………(after 521 balls)…… WW
After claiming the wickets of KL Rahul & Virat Kohli off successive balls at Kingston on 1 Sept 2019, his bowling figures have been
86.5-24-204-0
Now again he has two in two!#<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->s<!---->W<!---->I

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

This is glorious from Ben Stokes.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->G<!---->v<!---->B<!---->s<!---->p<!---->s<!---->w<!---->B<!---->c<!---->p

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

A gesture to his father after completing 10th Hundred from 65 tests, 103* runs from 255 balls including 10 fours and 1 six. Well played, Ben Stokes. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->8<!---->r<!---->y<!---->L<!---->B<!---->k<!---->5<!---->g<!---->h<!---->w

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

10+ Test hundreds and 150 Test wickets:

Jacques Kallis – 45 & 292
Garfield Sobers 26 & 235
Ian Bothm – 14 & 383
Ravi Shastri – 11 & 151
Ben Stokes – 10 & 153

Only the 5th Player to achieve this double.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->B<!---->e<!---->n<!---->S<!---->t<!---->o<!---->k<!---->e<!---->s p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->k<!---->h<!---->P<!---->k<!---->x<!---->f<!---->M<!---->r<!---->I<!---->7

— CricColumn (@CricColumn) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

English batsmen who average 45+ opening the batting since 1980 (min. 2 innings):

Michael Vaughan
Jack Leach
Dom Sibley

? Via @<!---->o<!---->h<!---->l<!---->o<!---->o<!---->k<!---->i<!---->t<!---->s<!---->w<!---->i<!---->l<!---->l<!---->_ #<!---->W<!---->e<!---->A<!---->r<!---->e<!---->S<!---->o<!---->m<!---->e<!---->r<!---->s<!---->e<!---->t p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->c<!---->f<!---->w<!---->W<!---->b<!---->2<!---->p<!---->Y<!---->T<!---->9

— Somerset Cricket ? (@SomersetCCC) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Sibley & Stokes have batted for 94.4 overs – just one over short of England's longest partnership this century.

Stuart Broad & Jonathan Trott batted 95.4 overs for the 8th wicket against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->k<!---->Z<!---->m<!---->r<!---->J<!---->o<!---->z<!---->C<!---->n<!---->e

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ben Stokes completes double of 8000+ runs and 300+ wickets in first-class cricket in his 141st match. Only one Englishman has reached there in fewer matches – WG Grace (97 matches). #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Joe Root celebrating after Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes finally both reach their centuries ?? #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->b<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->Y<!---->0<!---->k<!---->z<!---->d<!---->d<!---->E<!---->C<!---->N<!---->6

— James (@Surreycricfan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

The Sibley-Stokes partnership finally comes to an end after 568 balls.
In last 30 years, the only England pair which lasted longer was for 574 balls – between Jonathan Trott & Stuart Broad vs PAK in 2010.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Dom Sibley at the moment has 90* at a strike rate of 31.

Sir Geoff Boycott got DROPPED from the England test team after scoring a double ton with a strike rate of 44.

??

— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Proper Test 100 …. Well played @<!---->D<!---->o<!---->m<!---->S<!---->i<!---->b<!---->l<!---->e<!---->y ?

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Dom Sibley's first Test century took 269 deliveries, and was England's seventh slowest this century.

Only two England batsman since 2000 have taken 300 balls to reach a century: Nasser Hussain once, and Michael Atherton twice. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Two players in a Test innings taking 250+ balls to reach a hundred:-

Don Bradman & Bill Brown v ENG in 1938
Dinesh Chandimal & Dhan de Silva v AUS in 2016
Mitchell Santner & BJ Watling v ENG in 2019
Dom Sibley & Ben Stokes today#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Very much enjoying the complaints about Sibley. I, too, much preferred the days when England were forever 30/4. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— James Sharpe (@TheSharpeEnd) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Superb effort by Dom Sibley. Classic Test match opener with a gritty century. Just 4 fours. 312 balls. Patience personified.#<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Proper Test 100 …. Well played @<!---->D<!---->o<!---->m<!---->S<!---->i<!---->b<!---->l<!---->e<!---->y ?

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Well played England , pressure is on to the WestIndies now. Let’s see how they bat and how @<!---->S<!---->t<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->t<!---->B<!---->r<!---->o<!---->a<!---->d<!---->8 comes firing all Cylinders.. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->z<!---->8<!---->B<!---->V<!---->L<!---->G<!---->Y<!---->O<!---->Z<!---->C

— Faisal Iqbal???فیصل اقبال (@FaisalIqbalCric) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Dom Sibley is now the 15th England batsman to register two or more centuries as an opener inside their first 8 Test matches.
The last one was: Nick Compton at Wellington in Mar2013 (2 100s in 6 Tests).
Sutcliffe had 4 100s, while Hutton, Luckhurst & Strauss had 3#<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I #<!---->E<!---->n<!---->g<!---->v<!---->s<!---->W<!---->I

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

West Indies spinners taking 5-fers in England in the last 50 years

6/57 R Harper Manchester 1984
5/34 C Gayle Edgbaston 2004
5/172 Rostan Chase this Test #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->Q<!---->7<!---->j<!---->6<!---->E<!---->J<!---->S<!---->E<!---->K<!---->V

— Sports Freak (@OfficialSfreak) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Ben Stokes is the only pace bowler in Test history to bowl in 100 different innings, but never open the bowling. #<!---->E<!---->N<!---->G<!---->v<!---->W<!---->I

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0