England vs West Indies: Stuart Broad identifies Kraigg Brathwaite as key wicket to secure final day victory

England are 219 runs ahead at Emirates Old Trafford, but time is against the hosts as they bid to level the three-match series

Stuart Broad has targeted the wicket of West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite as the one to get as England seek a final day victory in the second Test.

England are 219 runs ahead at Emirates Old Trafford going into day five needing nothing but a win to square the three-match series ahead of the third and final Test on Friday. While quick runs are on the agenda – Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler opened the second innings to extend England’s first innings lead of 182 – most pressing will be having enough time to take 10 West Indian wickets.

Broad, who took three for 66 from his 23 overs, has rightly pinpointed Brathwaite, the tourists’ most durable batsman, for special attention. The right-handed opener top-scored with 75 compiled from 165 deliveries in West Indies’ first innings of 287. A second half-century of the series after his 65 in the first innings of the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, which West Indies won by four wickets.

“Brathwaite will be a huge player for them,” said Broad after day four. “But if we can get him with the new ball then we will have a game on our hands.”

The new ball will be key, which Broad proved with the second one during a 14-ball spell which saw him remove Shamarh Brooks, Jermaine Blackwood and Shane Dowrich. With 98 overs to be bowled tomorrow – and with two lost for the change of innings – captain Joe Root will want to have enough time with a second new ball that becomes available after 80 overs. As such, the onus is on as many runs as quickly as possible. Broad believes 50 more will do it.

Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing Shane Dowrich (Getty Images for ECB)

He said: “We made the new ball talk and that really makes us really want two new balls. Not sure how we do that but if we could get 85 overs that would be dream world. I think we would want a minimum of 270 and that will end up being a brilliant game.

“We should be able to defend 270 on this pitch, although we know they have some very dangerous players, we saw the chase at the Ageas Bowl. They chased very calmly and with a lot of skill.

“There is certainly no way we can underestimate them. We want to make it 1-1 as quickly as we can and with the time that’s gone out the game with the weather we might have to take a risk.”

Were it not for Broad and his three-wicket blitz that saw the last six fall for just 45 runs, we might be staring at a bore draw. His motivation beyond contributing to Test wins and continuing his wicket haul – it’s 488 now – was made evident last week when, in an interview with Sky, he vowed to show the world (and the selectors) what they were missing by omitting him for the first Test.

It took him a little bit of time to find that same fire on the field. But when it arrived it came with a reminder that there is plenty left in the 34-year old.

“I’ve not felt I wanted to prove a point. It felt very different from Barbados 2019,” the fast bowler added. “That felt like I wanted to prove a point. I don’t think there’s any point to prove but when you get an opportunity in an England shirt you want to make it count. I took a couple of spells to find my feet, I was probably a bit careful.

“I think it’s going to be a great Test match day, I think it’s really exciting. I think we will dangle a carrot there. All results will be possible but I think we will have to bowl pretty badly to lose it.”