BRIDGETOWN: West Indies were off to an encouraging start at 89 for one at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against England at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday.
Debutant John Campbell impressed with a stroke-filled innings of 44 off 53 balls with eight fours, before becoming the only wicket to fall in the session after home captain Jason Holder won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch which has so far offered very little encouragement for the faster bowlers.
Campbell’s senior opening partner, Kraigg Brathwaite, will resume after the interval on 31 in partnership with Shai Hope (14 not out).England dropped a selectorial bombshell before the start of play in omitting senior seamer Stuart Broad, a veteran of 134 Tests with 433 wickets to his name, in preference for a second specialist spinner in Adil Rashid, given the expectation of greater assistance for the slow bowlers than had been initially expected in the lead-in to the match.
Sam Curran shared the new ball with James Anderson but while Anderson was the usual model of accuracy and economy, neither could effect the breakthrough with Campbell starting brightly in taking two boundaries to third man in the first over he faced from Curran.
However, his aggressive intent eventually got the better of him when Moeen Ali came into the attack. Clearly intent on beating the off-spinner off his line, Campbell swept two boundaries immediately but fell palpably leg-before in Ali’s second over when the left-hander missed another attempted sweep to end an opening partnership of 53.
Brief scores: West Indies 89-1 (John Campbell 44, Kraigg Brathwaite 31 not out, Moeen Ali 1-32).
Danish professional golfer Thomas Bjorn. — AFP/FileLONDON: Team Europe captain Luke Donald has named Denmark’s...
Northern Irish professional golfer Rory McIlroy. — AFP/FileDUBLIN: The agent for Rory McIlroy dismissed rumors of a...
The Pakistan Football Federation's logo can be seen in this image. — PFF websiteLAHORE: Pakistan Football...
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during a meeting in this picture on November 12, 2023. —...
Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of the High Priestess, lights the torch during the flame lighting ceremony...
American professional golfer Scottie Scheffler looks on after playing a shot. — AFP/FileMIAMI: Scottie Scheffler won...