Dom Sibley became the first batsman to score a three-figure score [off 312 balls] in the post-corona world on the second morning of day 02 of the Old Trafford Test against the West Indies
It was a typical Sibley knock- full of grit, determination, resolute defense, and patience. The right-hander’s knock was a classic throwback to the good old’ days of Test cricket where the batsman’s premier shot used to be the leave outside the off-stump.
In fact, since Dom Sibley’s debut, no batsman in Test cricket has left more balls than the English opener. Sibley was at it in this innings too as he patiently blunted the West Indian pace attack on the first day.
Put in to bat on a wet day in Manchester, the English opening pair of Dom Sibley and Rory Burns almost negotiated the opening two hours before Roston Chase gave West Indies the double-break, claiming both Burns and Zak Crawley off successive deliveries.
Joe Root and Sibley then proceeded to stitch a 50-run-stand for the third wicket. But Root, just like another English batsman, was dismissed against the run of play when he edged a wide delivery straight to Jason Holder in the slip-cordon.
The fall of wickets did not deter Dom Sibley one bit as he continued to blunt the Windies attack with his patience. The right-hander himself survived a testing phase against the off-spin of Roston Chase and also had a lucky reprieve when he was dropped at FSL.
Also Read- Joe Root Reckons That Writing Off Stuart Broad and James Anderson Will Be ‘Stupid’
Dom Sibley’s hundred was an epitome of grit, patience and character
The right-hander finally got to his half-century after having survived 218 minutes at the crease. West Indies got another chance to dismiss Sibley when the right-hander edged a fullish length delivery straight to Jason Holder at 2nd slip, only to see the Windies captain shell it.
Sibley finished the day at 86 off 253 balls and he took another 59 more deliveries to compile a well-deserved 2nd Test hundred. Sibley’s hundred is the fifth slowest by an English batsman since 1990, proceeded by Michael Atherton [315, 317 and 326 balls vs West Indies [2000], Pakistan [2000] and Australia [1991] and Nasser Hussain [343 balls vs South Africa, 1999].
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Dom Sibley’s 312-ball hundred-
At last England have two openers who can open and score, at a pace nobody should mind.
Well played Sibley. ? #ENGvWI
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 17, 2020
What a ? by the young man,shown real grit and temperament! #sibley
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) July 17, 2020
Proper Test 100 …. Well played @DomSibley ?
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 17, 2020
Superb effort by Dom Sibley. Classic Test match opener with a gritty century. Just 4 fours. 312 balls. Patience personified.#ENGvWI #Cricket
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) July 17, 2020
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#EngvWI #EngvsWI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 17, 2020
Very gritty ton from Sibley. Yes, both Stokes and Sibley have gone through their share of close shaves, but when the bowling is disciplined and it is doing a bit, you need some luck. #ENGvWI
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) July 17, 2020
YESSSSS @DomSibley! ????
??????? A first Test century in England for the Vicar of Sibley… #ENGvWI #RaiseTheBat #SibleyTheBest pic.twitter.com/SyclLUoRKW
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) July 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/Vitu_E/status/1284092945235423232
If this was kids' cricket there would be a lone loud cheer from Sibley's dad when he gets to his 100 while everyone else mutters in groups about retirements and giving everyone a go
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 17, 2020
Reckon Dom Sibley could still be batting by the time Jofra Archer comes out of self-isolation. #EngvWI
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 16, 2020
Sibley now on 98 and faced 304 balls and gone past @GeoffreyBoycott slowest Test hundred (303b). https://t.co/rMvcghZyp3
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) July 17, 2020
Very much enjoying the complaints about Sibley. I, too, much preferred the days when England were forever 30/4. #ENGvWI
— James Sharpe (@TheSharpeEnd) July 17, 2020
You could have brushed your teeth 219 times during the time that Dom Sibley has been at the crease. #bbccricket
— joelfromthelane (@Joelfromthelane) July 17, 2020
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. #ENGvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 17, 2020
Pujara watching Sibley bat. pic.twitter.com/5zdhcpq7OK
— Praveen C (@whatupbiyaatch) July 17, 2020
Stokes or Sibley .. who gets there first ????
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) July 17, 2020
300 balls faced by Dominic Sibley. A full ODI innings. Huge effort.#ENGvWI #Cricket
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) July 17, 2020
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) July 17, 2020
When you watch Sibley batting slow and no one taunting him in Press conference. #EngvWI pic.twitter.com/JLhRcmTDkr
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 16, 2020
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. #ENGvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) July 17, 2020
Well played Dom Sibley. A century of such tedium it was almost Boycottian in its splendour
— Nick Cohen (@NickCohen4) July 17, 2020
A second Test hundred for Sibley from 312 balls. Patience, concentration and skill. #batted 261-3
— Dean Wilson (@CricketMirror) July 17, 2020
https://twitter.com/denniscricket_/status/1284092716402405376?s=21