England vs West Indies: Day One at Edgbaston
England’s Late Collapse After West Indies Fightback
The opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston saw a gripping contest between England and the West Indies. England, having dominated much of the early proceedings, found themselves on the back foot by stumps. West Indies, after an initial struggle, rallied to post 282, thanks to significant contributions from Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder. England’s response faltered as they ended the day at 38-3, trailing by 244 runs.
West Indies Resilience
Winning the toss, West Indies opted to bat but soon found themselves teetering at 115-5. Kraigg Brathwaite’s composed innings of 61 provided a semblance of stability at the top of the order. However, the real recovery came from Holder and Joshua Da Silva, who forged a crucial 109-run partnership. Holder’s gritty 59 and Da Silva’s patient 49 helped West Indies reach a respectable total after a precarious start.
England’s bowlers, led by Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes, were initially dominant. Atkinson’s four-wicket haul and Woakes’ three wickets curtailed any hopes of a more substantial total for the visitors. However, the lower order’s resilience ensured that West Indies had something to bowl at.

England’s Batting Struggles
England’s innings got off to a shaky start as they quickly lost key wickets. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who had been instrumental in England’s previous successes, were dismissed cheaply. Crawley edged a delivery from Jayden Seales to Holder, while Duckett was undone by a sharp Alzarri Joseph delivery that deflected onto his stumps. Mark Wood, sent in as a nightwatchman, was also caught in the slips off Seales, leaving England in a precarious position.
The dismissal of Crawley was particularly disappointing, given his strong performances in recent times, including a solid winter campaign and a stellar showing in last summer’s Ashes. Duckett, too, failed to capitalise after surviving an early scare when Joseph dropped a straightforward caught-and-bowled opportunity.
West Indies’ Bowling Prowess
West Indies’ bowlers capitalised on England’s late-day vulnerability, with Seales and Joseph delivering decisive blows. Seales, in particular, was impressive, clocking speeds that troubled the English batsmen. His 2-19 was a key factor in putting England under pressure. Joseph’s single wicket, coupled with tight bowling, ensured England couldn’t gain any momentum heading into day two.

The Edgbaston pitch, which had seemed benign during the afternoon session, offered just enough for the bowlers as the evening shadows lengthened. England’s attempt to counterattack backfired, leading to a captivating passage of play that saw them lose three wickets in quick succession.
Looking Ahead: Day Two’s Prospects
As day two looms, England’s hopes rest heavily on the shoulders of Ollie Pope and Joe Root. With a 2-0 lead in the series, England had spoken of ruthlessness and a desire to secure a clean sweep. However, they now find themselves needing to regroup and build a substantial reply to West Indies’ total. The onus will be on the middle order to stabilise the innings and forge a path forward.
Chris Woakes, speaking to Test Match Special, highlighted the importance of leadership and experience on the field. “Naturally when you’re the oldest bowler on the field, you kind of try and take more of a lead role,” he said. Woakes’ comments reflect the critical role that experience will play in navigating England through the upcoming challenges.
Meanwhile, the West Indies will be buoyed by their late success and will look to seize control early on day two. Their disciplined bowling and tactical field placements paid dividends, and they will aim to maintain pressure on England’s batsmen.
In conclusion, day one at Edgbaston has set the stage for a fascinating Test match. Both teams have had their moments, and the match remains finely balanced. England will need a concerted effort from their remaining batsmen, while the West Indies will seek to continue their momentum and put the hosts under further pressure.