James Anderson and Stuart Broad reduced the West Indies to 84 for four at lunch on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge yesterday, as the tourists suffered another collapse.
However, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, officially the world’s best batsman, was still there on 19 not out, after defying England’s attack for more than 10 hours during the West Indies’ five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Lord’s.
Marlon Samuels was 14 not out.
Photo: Reuters
At lunch, Anderson had taken two wickets for 22 runs in nine overs, having claimed 33 wickets in his five previous Tests at Trent Bridge.
Meanwhile Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 72 at Lord’s, had figures of two for 34 in 10 overs on his Nottinghamshire home ground.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy, with his side 1-0 down in this three-match series against the world’s No. 1 ranked side, won the toss.
Given a ground bathed in sunshine and blue skies above, conditions appeared ideal for batting.
However, the West Indies’ top order had failed repeatedly during a run of just two wins in 31 Tests.
Opener Adrian Barath, who battled hard for his runs at Lord’s, was out for nought when he edged a rising delivery from Broad and third slip Anderson held a brilliant, left-handed, head-high catch.
New batsman Kirk Edwards then fell for seven when Anderson’s superb off-cutter beat his defensive shot.
Much has been made of the absence of top-order batsmen Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan after their respective disputes with the West Indies Cricket Board, but they, too, might have struggled to keep out such a delivery.
Darren Bravo later drove at Anderson without moving his feet and was caught by second slip Graeme Swann.
Chanderpaul, in at 86 for three and 36 for three at Lord’s, entered at 42 for three with another huge repair job on his hands and was lucky to stay at the crease when he edged Anderson between second and third slips when on four.
Meanwhile, opener Kieran Powell, who got off the mark by cover-driving Broad for four, whipped Anderson and Tim Bresnan through mid-wicket.
Broad, changing ends, had left-hander Powell, driving loosely, caught by Anderson for a 33 featuring seven boundaries, leaving the West Indies in dire straits at 63 for four.
Samuels was given out LBW for one off Bresnan, but successfully reviewed umpire Asad Rauf’s decision.
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