England vs West Indies: James Anderson takes two as hosts close on big win

First Rothesay Test (day two of five), Lord’s:

West Indies 121 (Atkinson 7-45) & 79-6 (Anderson 2-11)

England 371 (Crawley 76, Smith 70, Root 68; Seales 4-77)

West Indies trail by 171 runs

James Anderson took two wickets in his final innings as an international bowler to help put England on course for a huge win over West Indies in the first Test at Lord’s.

Anderson, opening the attack for the last time in his record-breaking England career, began the hosts’ hunt for an innings victory by bowling West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite and returned to have Alick Athanaze caught behind.

With captain Ben Stokes also taking two wickets and Gus Atkinson two of his own, including Jason Holder off the final ball of the day, West Indies were left 79-6, still 171 short of making England bat again.

The tourists had actually done well to bowl England out for 371, but are paying the price for being hustled out for 121 on the opening day.

Jamie Smith, England’s wicketkeeper on Test debut, showed why he has such a reputation as a batting talent with an assured 70.

Joe Root made a typically elegant 68 and Harry Brook 50, though none of the home top order could capitalise on some good batting conditions with a really big score.

Still, England will win this match on a Friday which promises to be an emotional farewell to the legendary Anderson.

After an opening day of ceremony for Anderson and excitement surrounding the seven-wicket haul of Gus Atkinson, Thursday was relatively low key, with England not having to be at their best to take an iron grip on the contest.

Lord’s was splashed with red for the Ruth Strauss Foundation and the fireworks that shot into the sky before play were the only pyrotechnics on display until Smith opened his shoulders late in England’s innings.

England began on 189-3, leading by 68. West Indies had a poor first hour, but improved after Brook was dismissed to work through the home batting.

England actually lost their last seven wickets for 127 runs, the highlight of which was Mikyle Louis running out Shoaib Bashir with a direct hit from 40 yards, then setting off on a sprinting celebration that culminated with a hug with his brother Jeremiah, who is also in the West Indies squad.

West Indies began their second innings straight after tea and, at 37-4, there was a genuine prospect of the first two-day Test on this ground since 1888.

Athanaze, Holder and Joshua da Silva did just enough to drag the match into a third day, but surely nothing will prevent England going 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Smith has taken over behind the stumps from his county team-mate Ben Foakes, who is Surrey’s first-choice keeper and arguably the best gloveman in the world.

England have seen Smith’s potential to bat in different gears, particularly attacking when left with the tail and, on the day before his 24th birthday, he hinted at vindicating their decision.

Brook played nicely before flapping at an Alzarri Joseph bouncer, not the first time he has been undone by short bowling, and Stokes registered his fifth successive single-figure score in Tests with a poor shot at a very good delivery from left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.

Smith found an even tempo with Root, who was also bowled by the impressive Motie, then after Chris Woakes and Atkinson fell in quick succession to the second new ball, he cut loose.

Favouring the mid-wicket region and keen to use his feet, Smith hit each of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales over the leg side for six, the latter an enormous blow on to the roof of the Tavern Stand. From having 30 off his first 47 balls, he took 40 off his next 42.

In all, England added 28 runs for the final two wickets, though only Smith scored any runs off the bat until he was well held at deep square leg by Kirk McKenzie to give Seales his fourth wicket.

Emerging at number 11, Anderson was given a standing ovation as he made his way to the middle, then even led the players off despite not facing a ball. His unbeaten nought was his 114th not-out in Test cricket, 53 more than anyone else has managed and another of his records that is unlikely to ever be broken.

Soon after he was into a typically brilliant opening spell from the Pavilion End, nipping the ball down the slope and through Brathwaite’s defence. Anderson’s first spell of five overs contained four maidens.

Woakes was down on pace and gave way to Stokes, who needed only three deliveries to pin McKenzie leg-before for his 200th Test wicket, a milestone that seemed unlikely during his long struggle with a left-knee injury.

It made the skipper only the third man in Test cricket, after all-time greats Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis, to complete the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets, and he celebrated by having Louis caught behind.

Atkinson continued his fine game by having Kavem Hodge chop on. Athanaze was defying England in the gloom until he became yet another victim that Anderson has suckered into an edge.

Holder faced 59 deliveries for his 20 only to fend Atkinson to short leg from the last ball of the day, leaving Da Silva on eight and Anderson poised to say goodbye.

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan: “It’s been a ruthless display by England. There was all the build-up, all the emotion of Anderson but both debutants have delivered.

“Gus Atkinson yesterday, and Jamie Smith today did his job at the first time of asking. He has been picked to exploit those last few wickets for England and he did that perfectly.

“But West Indies are all over the place. It is so sad to see a batting line-up that’s got nothing. They are up against a very good bowling attack including the greatest of all time but it upsets me. The pitch has done a little bit but it’s not a pitch you should lose 16 wickets on in the space of two days.”