The West Indies will resume their first innings on the fourth morning of the first Test match in Antigua on 373/9, in response to England’s 311.
With Nos. 10 and 11 at the crease, England will hope to limit the deficit by taking the remaining wicket early. However, given that Veerasammy Permaul, is already on 26, they should be taking nothing for granted.
In fact, the West Indies may consider they are already in a strong position, having batted through all of Day 3 for the loss of just five wickets. The star of the show was undoubtedly Nkrumah Bonner, who made his highest Test score of 123, before being somewhat controversially given out just before the close of play.
Bonner showed the application that so many English batters had failed to demonstrate, grinding it out at the crease for more than nine hours.
It was a sobering day for the England bowlers on a slow pitch, where only 171 runs scored all day. Their cause was not helped by Mark Wood picking up an elbow injury that saw him spend most of the day off the field.
That meant, in turn, that Ben Stokes was forced to bowl more than planned. The sight of him hobbling off the pitch as well will raise fears that he may have suffered more long-term damage.
To save this Test match, they will have to bat a lot better than they did in the first innings, especially their top order. The pitch is slow enough to offer little to the fast bowlers, whilst there have been few signs of it taking spin so far.
However, whether they have the mental fortitude to tough it out remains to be seen. Bonner has shown the attitude they need to adopt. Are any of them up to it?
Fantasy tips
- The West Indies to make significant inroads into the England second innings before the close of play. Pick their bowlers, especially Permaul.
- The English batters will get themselves out playing unnecessary attacking shots. Bank on Root instead.