2nd Test: Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes dig deep to offer England stable begin in opposition to West Indies on Day 1 | Cricket News

MANCHESTER: Dom Sibley and Ben Stokes floor out affected person half-centuries as England battled to 207 for 3 on the shut on day one of many second Test in opposition to the West Indies at Old Trafford on Thursday.
England have been wobbling on 81 for 3 earlier than Sibley and Stokes shared an unbeaten 126-run stand to offer the hosts the higher hand on a day when solely 82 overs have been bowled after rain delayed the beginning.
Opener Sibley remained unbeaten on 86 whereas Stokes additionally took his time to get settled on a humid pitch earlier than reaching 59 not out at stumps.
“Dom concentrates very well. He’s willing to bat for long periods of time and that’s what we needed at the top,” England coach Chris Silverwood advised Sky Sports.
“Those partnerships have put us in a great position. We’ve got to back it up tomorrow.”

West Indies had gained the toss and chosen to bowl to reap the benefits of seam-friendly circumstances however it was off-spinner Roston Chase who dismissed opener Rory Burns and Zak Crawley.
Chase trapped Burns lbw for 15 on the stroke of lunch earlier than Crawley flicked the primary ball of the second session straight to Windies captain Jason Holder at leg-slip.
England skipper Joe Root, who missed the primary Test to attend the beginning of his baby, stitched collectively a 52-run partnership with Sibley to stabilise the innings earlier than edging an Alzarri Joseph outswinger to Holder at slip to depart for 23.

Sibley was handed two lifelines, dropped at short-leg to disclaim Chase a 3rd wicket and once more on 68 when a thick outdoors edge off Shannon Gabriel flew to second slip the place Holder dropped the catch.
England are with out Jofra Archer after the quick bowler breached the staff’s bio-secure protocols whereas Mark Wood and James Anderson have been rested. Pace bowlers Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes have been named within the facet.
West Indies, who gained the primary Test in Southampton by 4 wickets to take a 1-Zero lead within the three-match collection, named an unchanged staff.
The collection is being performed in a bio-secure bubble with out spectators in attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic.