Game: England v West Indies, Test Match
Date: August 25-29, 2017
Venue: Emerald Headingley
Stage of the series: Second Test of a three-match series
Teams:
England: AN Cook, MD Stoneman, T Westley, JE Root c, DJ Malan, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow w, MM Ali, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson
West Indies: KC Brathwaite, KOA Powell, KA Hope, SD Hope, RL Chase, J Blackwood, SO Dowrich w, JO Holder c, KAJ Roach, D Bishoo, ST Gabriel
Toss: England, who elected to bat first
Summary:
A significant record in Headingley’s history was recorded as the West Indies produced a shock victory to tie a superbly entertaining series which England went on to win 2-1.
This was a glorious August Bank Holiday weekend, and the fixture certainly matched the weather, not least a thrilling final day when an 8,000 strong crowd saw the visitors, 5-0 overnight, chase down a target of 322 thanks to Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope.
Ben Stokes scored a first-innings 100, but England were bowled out for 258, going on to concede a lead of 169 as the WIndies posted 427 thanks to 134 from opener Brathwaite, who would almost immediately sign a short-term overseas deal with Yorkshire to finish the county season, and 147 from Hope – Jimmy Anderson also claimed the only five-wicket haul in the match. But six half-centuries, including from Joe Root and now Yorkshire team-mate Dawid Malan, helped England to 490-8 declared late on day four.
Yorkshire’s marketing team would then issue fans with a sick note for Tuesday’s fifth day, diagnosing them with ‘Cricket Fever’ and urging them to hand the note to their bosses at work. The prescription – a fifth day ticket.
And those who attended, taking the overall combined Test crowd to over 55,000, were treated to a stunning day of cricket, even if England – hurt by dropped catches – were the losers by five wickets with less than five overs to spare.
