West Indies vs England match report: James Anderson out on his own but Jason Holder century makes England toil together

As the sun slipped away on a long, gripping Test day when nothing much happened and everything did, England were held to a draw by West Indies in the first Test. The tourists still needed three wickets when the end came, denied by a dogged, long rearguard action, led ultimately by the No 8 Jason Holder who composed a nerveless maiden Test hundred in the most nerve wracking circumstances. England bowled 130 overs in total while West Indies finished on 350 for 7.

For long enough the home side also denied Jimmy Anderson an English cricket record which had stood for almost 23 years. But, finally, Anderson took his 384th wicket in Tests to overtake the total which Sir Ian Botham achieved in 1992. Sir Ian had held the record since 1985 when he went past Bob Willis.

It was Anderson’s 22374th ball in Tests, one that moved away from a studiously determined Denesh Ramdin, the captain of West Indies, who had resisted doggedly, fighting for a draw to keep the series level with two matches to play.

Ramdin edged it low to the left of first slip where Anderson’s friend and captain, Alastair Cook, moved smartly to take it with both hands. It was a completely authentic way to take the title.

The wicket re-energised Anderson and England for one last tilt at glory. Ramdin and Holder had stood defiant to share a partnership of 105 for the seventh wicket after West Indies lost three wickets in the first session and another early in the second.

Before this series began it was made clear to England that they were expected to win it. What amounted to a warning was issued by the incoming chairman of the ECB, Colin Graves, who said an inquiry would be launched if they failed to defeat a weak and fragile West Indies.

open image in gallery

For much of the day it seemed a panel ought to be appointed just in case. Sport, thankfully, has a lovely way of declining to adhere to any pre-ordained scripts.

West Indies were 98 for 2 at the start of the day, needing another 340 for victory which was probably academic. The pitch, blameless to the end, assisted their cause as much as it hampered England’s whose bowling attack lacked a cutting edge.

Throughout, England set attacking fields, daring their opponents to make a mistake. At the start, they knew that win, lose or draw, a long day lay ahead. They were reliant on some slow turn, reverse swing and inducing batsman error by being rigorous.

The trio of wickets in the first session suited their purpose perfectly. They had to wait until the 13th over of the day for the first – and it was conjured courtesy of batsman error and dogged bowling. Devon Smith, who had been largely dormant until then, adding only seven runs, suddenly decided to launch an aerial pull against James Tredwell.He was not quite there for the shot and Gary Ballance at mid-wicket plucked it out above his head. England knew that every chance had to be taken but three overs later when Marlon Samuels advanced down to Tredwell and missed, Jos Buttler failed to gather the ball to stump him.

open image in gallery

In fairness, every wicketkeeper in the world would have struggled to hold on to a ball that bounced through bat and pad. But that is what it takes to win matches where wickets were at a premium.

England, however, got lucky. Samuels drove at Anderson in the next over only to edge to gully where Tredwell took a low catch. It brought Anderson level with Sir Ian. Anderson barely acknowledged the moment. There was still work to do.

The key wicket now was that of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has carried West Indies’ batting almost single-handedly for a decade and is one of the planet’s most formidable blockers of all time. To remove him, it was felt, would take something truly special.

Perhaps Chanderpaul, at the age of 40 in his 162nd Test is losing his powers. It was Joe Root, England’s support off-spinner, who finally accounted for him.

Root does not do anything fancy, except roll the ball and use the crease. But he deceived Chanderpaul with one that went on with the arm and struck him low on the pad. The lbw verdict was straightforward and Chanderpaul asked for it to be reviewed out of necessity rather than conviction. The replay showed what he must already have known: the ball was hitting the stumps halfway up.

Lunch was taken with West Indies at 162 for 5. They had abandoned all hope of an improbable victory, a draw was receding. The climax was remarkably similar to the corresponding fixture in Antigua six years earlier when West Indies entered the last day having lost three wickets and managed to hang on for the draw with nine down.

England bowled 31 overs in the first session, a sign of their hunger. The normal amount is almost always below 30. They did not have to wait long in the afternoon for another wicket, and once more it was brought by a lapse in concentration.

Jermaine Blackwood, centurion hero of the first innings, was progressing compactly. He looked the part, he was playing it. Without need or warning he suddenly launched a charge at Chris Jordan, heaving across the line. He succeeded only in under edging to Buttler. England needed four. Still, their opponents refused to wilt.

Ramdin and Holder, his counterpart in the one-day side, united in a magnificent effort which saw them through the rest of the session. The second new ball might have done the trick for England but it was to prove to no avail. Neither Anderson nor Stuart Broad troubled the pair, although one ball flew wide of slips.

Ramdin and Holder ground on to tea, hardly putting a foot wrong, still willing to punish the occasional bad ball. Graves, who issued the warning of an inquiry, is also the man who wants Test cricket reduced to four days. This match is but one reason that sort of thing is heresy.