England draft in Mahmood for Test debut in Barbados

MATCH CENTRE | WTC STANDINGS

West Indies vs England, second TestKensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies16-20 March, 10:00 AM local time

Four centuries were scored in a match that was dominated by the bat at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, but the bowlers will be hoping for more assistance from the pitch at the Kensington Oval.

And England’s attack will feature a new face, with Saqib Mahmood set to make his Test debut in place of the injured Mark Wood in the only confirmed change to the tourists’ playing XI.

The 25-year-old right-arm pacer has 14 ODI and seven T20I wickets to his name in his fledgling white-ball international career, but will be making his Test bow in Barbados on the back of a county record that has seen him pick up 70 red-ball wickets at an ever-improving career average of 27.92.

"He's very mature for a guy who hasn't played a huge amount of international cricket, he has an understanding of how he wants to operate," England captain Joe Root said.

"He's been very impressive, he's got a slightly different trajectory and will give us a point of difference. He has done that when he's played in other formats.

“Clearly he has good control, especially if the ball moves with reverse swing. It's a great option to have up our sleeve."

West Indies will be hoping to overshadow Mahmood’s debut with the performance of their own bowling attack.

And the four-pronged pace unit of Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales are all expected to play again after an unchanged 13-player squad was named.

"We played a first-class game in Barbados and the ball was doing a bit," captain Kraigg Brathwaite explained. "So the bowlers may get a bit more in Barbados early.

"The last Test was flatter than we hoped for but the pacers will get a little more in Barbados."

What happened in the first Test

West Indies safely batted out the final day as the first Test against England ended in a draw at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

A middle-order revival led by Jonny Bairstow’s brilliant 140 had seen England recover from 48/4 in the first innings to post 311, the team's first score over 300 since the English summer.

But West Indies responded with a total of 375 to emerge from the first innings with a lead, thanks in large part to Nkrumah Bonner’s patient century.

Further tons from Zak Crawley and Joe Root put England on the front foot after four days of the Test, and a flurry of runs on the final morning set up an intriguing last day.

But West Indies dug in well, with Brathwaite and John Campbell taking the sting out of the England attack at the top of the order, and a lengthy unbeaten partnership between Bonner and Holder seeing West Indies safely survive.

What’s the World Test Championship context?

West Indies were docked two World Test Championship points due to a slow over-rate in Antigua, and as such slipped below Bangladesh into eighth in the WTC standings.

England are the only side below West Indies as things stand, but there are plenty more matches to go before the end of the WTC cycle in 2023 and lots of opportunities for a turnaround in fortunes.

Away fans expected in large numbers

Travelling England fans made themselves heard in Antigua during the first Test, and the number of visiting supporters is expected to increase further in Barbados.

For West Indies captain Brathwaite, it is the atmosphere generated by having two strong groups of supporters that makes this series such a special one.

“It means a lot, obviously the Barmy Army comes down and gives you a nice atmosphere and we look forward to the challenge,” he said.

“This series itself is always different to every other series we have. It always has a lot of energy and at times that can inspire guys."

West Indies squad for the second Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

**Confirmed England XI for the second Test:**Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood.

England Men's WTC Test Tour of the Caribbean

First Test: Match Drawn
Second Test: ****March 16-20 in Barbados
Third Test: ****March 24-28 in Grenada