England led the second Test match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge on Thursday at 416 all out after Ollie Pope rode his luck to a century.
Both sides had reason to feel frustrated, with West Indies dropping four catches – Pope was reprieved twice – and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva missing a stumping, while several England batters gave their wickets away.
After fellow opener Zak Crawley was out for a duck, Ben Duckett blasted 71 to start the innings, and England raced to 50 in just 4.2 overs, the fastest total achieved by a side in a Test match. Everything was very much in keeping with the aggressive brand of Test cricket played by England under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, which is known as “Bazball.”
But Stokes—who on Thursday scored a measured 69 off 108 balls—is one of the few England cricketers who is more adept at playing in a match setting, despite his support for such an audacious strategy. However, with the assault apparently at his disposal and West Indies without paceman Shamar Joseph (who went down in the final over before Tea), Stokes holed out off Kavem Hodge to give the part-time spinner his first Test wicket.
West Indies delayed taking the new ball until England was 397 for eight off 86 overs.
Off the very next delivery, Chris Woakes glanced Alzarri Joseph for a four that took England past 400.
