Cricket
Follow live updates from England vs West Indies
England take on the West Indies in the first Test of the summer at Lord’s, with all the pre-match conversations focused on James Anderson’s final farwell.
Anderson will make his 188th and final Test appearance for England at the Home of Cricket, and started the match with 700 wickets, just eight less than Shane Warne and comfortably second on the list of all-time wicket-takers in the format.
The West Indies secured a historic win against Australia, while England won just one Test match against India, as they fell to a 4-1 defeat in the difficult subcontinent conditions.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum elected to go with youth rather than experience for the match, handing debuts to Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith, while bidding farewell to Anderson.
England’s management already have one eye on the upcoming Ashes in 18 months, and want to give their young fast-bowling crop as much opportunity as possible to impress ahead of that series.
Follow all the latest live coverage of today’s match in the live blog below:
England vs West Indies
James Anderson to Alick Athanaze. In-swinging length ball, down leg side on the back foot glancing, Play and Miss (Leg Side) for no runs, fielded by Smith.
England vs West Indies
James Anderson to Alick Athanaze. In-swinging length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Stokes.
England vs West Indies
James Anderson to Alick Athanaze. Length ball, to leg on the front foot defending, missed for no runs, fielded by Smith.
England vs West Indies
James Anderson to Alick Athanaze. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot defending, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Atkinson.
England vs West Indies
James Anderson to Alick Athanaze. Out-swinging length ball, down leg side on the front foot flick, to mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Atkinson.
West Indies 44-2
Atkinson has taken two wickets, and Anderson will come on to bowl again before the lunch break.
It has been a good start from England so far, and encouraging to see Ben Stokes bring himself on so early in the match to carve out his place as an all-rounder after being limited by knee injury for the last couple of years.
Sonia Twigg10 July 2024 12:30
England vs West Indies
Ben Stokes to Mikyle Louis. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, missed for no runs, fielded by Smith.
England vs West Indies
Ben Stokes to Mikyle Louis. In-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed for no runs, fielded by Smith.
England vs West Indies
Ben Stokes to Mikyle Louis. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Bashir.
England vs West Indies
Ben Stokes to Mikyle Louis. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, missed for no runs, fielded by Smith.