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West Indies vs England match report: James Anderson leads fightback

After England subside to 257 all out, their talismanic bowler strikes early and often

Stephen Brenkley
Saturday 02 May 2015 21:02 BST
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Jimmy Anderson celebrates trapping Marlon Samuels lbw to pick up his third wicket
Jimmy Anderson celebrates trapping Marlon Samuels lbw to pick up his third wicket

There was an anxious wait for Jimmy Anderson as he sought one of the most revered records in English cricket. In the week before his 100th Test, with family, friends and general attendance in Antigua, his thoughts – and to some extent, those of England – were dominated by his quest to overhaul Sir Ian Botham’s total of Test wickets.

It seemed the moment would never come. At last, to immense jubilation, it did, and it is as if a weight has been lifted from Anderson. No longer in pursuit of the record because he now has it, he is a free spirit of a bowler once more. It is as if he were 21 again and at the start of it all.

Anderson again stamped his mark on this series yesterday. The release created by the record haul in the first match of the series was followed by a stunning intervention on the fifth morning of the second when three wickets (plus two catches and a run- out) turned the match irrevocably England’s way.

On the second day of the Third Test, after the tourists had scored at least 100 runs fewer than they would have preferred, Anderson dislodged the West Indies top order with a marvellously controlled and irrepressible opening spell. In six compelling overs he changed the complexion of the match.

Anderson struck with his second ball (presumably he needed a loosener with his first) when Kraigg Brathwaite pushed forward at a full away-swinger and was caught low at third slip by Chris Jordan.

Shortly afterwards, Darren Bravo was dropped by Alastair Cook, a regulation catch at first slip, a little to his left, a little below chest height, both hands to it. If this was a sign that the day might belong to Anderson and Stuart Broad, this was probably confirmed in the next over when Cook held a low catch at first slip off the debutant Shai Hope’s edge.

It needed replays to determine that the catch had carried, but they confirmed that Cook had swooped forward and managed to place his fingers under the ball.

The next wicket was perhaps the finest. Anderson bowled a few accurate, probing outswingers at Marlon Samuels which the batsman either left or watched as they beat his outside edge. To the last ball of the over Samuels decided to shoulder arms again, happy not to have to play at it.

But this time it was the inswinger, and it came in late and sharply to strike Samuels on the pad. The lbw verdict was straightforward, and although Samuels asked for it to be reviewed he must have feared what was coming. If it was embarrassing for the batsman it was the fast bowling of a genius.

West Indies made it to lunch without further alarm but were teetering again soon afterwards when Moeen Ali produced a ball which turned away from Bravo and was smartly held again by Jordan at slip.

There followed a brief period where Moeen lost his way and England were in slight danger of allowing their opponents relief. Perhaps trying to spin the ball too hard, Moeen pitched short and was harshly punished by Jermaine Blackwood. It needed a change, and it was a change that worked.

Chanderpaul was in his most obdurate form of the series. He looked unhurried and ready for the long haul. But Joe Root, stepping in from the Joel Garner End, found one to spin a little away from him.

The edge flew past Jos Buttler and in the area of slip, where Jordan dived late to his right and plucked the ball from the air. Jordan is England’s best slip fielder for a generation, who makes the miraculous seem commonplace, and it will have to be a consideration at least in any future selection meetings.

Shortly after West Indies had staggered past 100, Denesh Ramdin drove at Broad and was caught behind. Such a dramatic change in tone had appeared unlikely when England squandered the remainder of their first innings at the start of the day in the face of some searching bowling by Jerome Taylor. Starting at 240 for 7, having lost Cook to the last ball of the previous day, England were soon in the mire.

If they were looking at something around the 320 mark this was quickly recalculated. Jordan was the first to go, flicking at a ball down the leg side. He asked for it to be reviewed, and while the evidence was not wholly conclusive there was certainly not enough evidence under the jurisdiction of this particular court for it to be overturned.

It is difficult to believe that Broad once scored a highly accomplished 167 in a Test match. That was an innings which seemed to chart a career as an all-rounder. He has become a shadow of that, and although he flailed a couple of boundaries the end was inevitable.

It came when Taylor came round the wicket. Reluctant to come forward, Broad was bowled neck and crop. Although Anderson moved his feet with more intent to the next ball, the upshot was the same. Anderson, however, had other ploughs to furrow.

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