Live Match 1st Test: England v West Indies at Southampton, Jul 8-12, 2020 ,ICC World Test Championship,Live Score

6.25pm: Cricket, lovely cricket. At Southampton where we saw it. It’s been wonderful to be back, after long weeks and months shut inside. Thanks, as always, for contributing over the last five days – you’ve got a short break, then we need you to back it up again in Manchester. Got that? Until then, I’ll leave you with Matt’s report, and the promise of much more to come. From myself and Varun, as well as Miller, Shashank, Deiva, our scorer, Venkat, stay safe and join us again soon. Cheerio!

6.07pm: What a Test, what a sport… and that’s set up the series beautifully. Right, here we go with the presentations, starting with England captain Ben Stokes: “I think it’s great we’ve been able to get back on and play international cricket, was a bit strange, we’re used to playing in front of a lot more people. From the point of getting cricket back on the screens for people it’s been amazing. [Quality of play] Both sides have had a long time to build up, we came into camp 3-4 weeks ago and West Indies have been in Manchester. Don’t think there was nerves flying around, it was a hard-fought game and great when games go to day five. Thought skills and level of cricket was fantastic. [Target of 200 enough?] You’ve got to believe, if you start to think you don’t have enough you’re already losing. Ideally would like to get more in the first innings, was first innings v fourth innings match, we got ourselves in good positions with the bat but weren’t ruthless enough to go on. [Change toss call?] I don’t think so, stand by decision to bat first, we’ve got to be good enough to put runs on board We know we’ve got to get 400, 500 on the board, which makes the fame in your favour. We just didn’t quit manage to grasp the game like we might ave done, but it’s a great learning curve for or batting line-up. [Broad call?] If I was to regret that, I don’t think it sends the right message to other guys, very fortunate to leave a guy out of Stuart’s quality, and the interview he gave was fantastic, to show that desire and emotion, it’s fantastic to see. He’s by nowhere near done. [Mad 15 mins] Pressure shows in different ways, there was some hectic running and chances we didn’t quit take, that’s sport. Pressure on both sides in situations like that. We’ll be able to look back on this game with positive but also a learning curve. We’ve had a long build-up period, but you can never quit e get to those levels on the field, be interesting to see how everyone pulls up. But we’ve got a lot of people we can select for next Test. I’ve loved it, last night was first stressful one, but it’s Joe’s team, he’s the captain, look forward to welcoming him back.”

West Indies captain Jason Holder: Right up there with one of the best victories we’ve had a a group. Yesterday was hard, long toil and the bowlers keep coming back, gave everything, it was a hard-fought day of Test cricket. [Long lay-off?] I don’t think any team knew how it would play, been sat at home doing nothing, just got the opportunity to play but mentally at the back of your mind you’re never quite sure. It’s willpower, we know what was at at stake, we had 98 overs to bowl and we were leggy come 7pm. Myself and Alzarri bowled until half six and the other two come back. If we’d got the wickets yesterday, it would have made the job a lot easier, but we came back today. Every time I asked them to, they ran in. [Blackwood?] Outstanding innings, I was disappointed when he got out but that’s the way he plays. He’s sat on the sidelines waiting, last time was a concussion sub in Kingston. He always gives effort, and today was his big moment.”

Shannon Gabriel is Man of the Match: [Not in original squad] “Coming here I knew I would play if I proved my fitness, knew the work I had put in, it would take care of itself. I’m still stiff, but couple of days to recover to the next match, so got to do the things to get ready. [Four quicks play all three Tests?] Depends on the next couple of games go, the recovery between and during innings, but the guys are fit and want to play all the games. Coming here, the guys were confident after we played them in the Caribbean, knowing we could get the job done, if we prepare well everything will take care of itself.”

Marvin Hinds: “What a return for cricket. Well done to the Windies. They’ve done us proud.”
Brendan: “It’s a whacky looking scorecard with the opening batter 8* chasing 200 to win!”
Vishal Kankanal: “Blackwood, who was ridiculed in the 1st inns has stood up in the 2nd one and raked in the most valuable knock – zero to hero, grabbed his opportunity perfectly.Cricket is such a leveler and it teaches us life. Don’t anyone ever dare to say, why are you wasting time watching it..”
Sarah: “What a game!! I honestly got goosebumps watching those last few runs… I think Jason holder can be a contender for man of the match though… excellent bowling and superb captaincy. Full team performance . Very proud of them “
corniel seddon: “What a display from the West Indian team!!! Really pleased for them as a slighty biased neutral from South Africa. A well deserved win!!!!”

5:54pm Rally on the West Indies! Fist bumps and forearm bumps and quiet stadiums – but a famous win, nonetheless. It’s been a long, long break for international cricket but what a glorious return it has been. So many sub-plots to this as well, but lest we forget – this is a WTC match. And these are West Indies’ first points on the board – 40 of them. For England, another series begins with a loss – that’s now five series in a row. Including the one they lost to West Indies away last year. It’s always been more evenly matched between these two teams than is given credit for. England had to work hard to stay in this game, and in many moments seemed to have done just enough. But they let some chances go today. And West Indies held on. So much to remember about this game – Holder’s 6-for, Stokes keeping England in with both bat and ball. Scrappy, important runs for Brathwaite who was been hunting for a fifty since July 2018. Important innings for youngsters Sibley and Crawley. Gabriel turning it on in the last session yesterday and finishing with five today. And, of course, Jofra bringing the fire to keep all the criticism in check. Cricket is back with force. Savour it.

David : “@63.4 I reckon anyone who has been hit twice would be aware of any opportunity to get off strike.” — ha!

Anubhav : “Great mikey says “he is balanced, one on the toe one on the head”…”

5-1-15-2 – Ben Stokes to continue the spell that has kept England alive

Point goes out now, they’re trying to keep Campbell in strike

Animesh Chatter: “Convinced my dad (who is also a big windies fan but extremely nervous about watching them bat given their recent history) to come and watch the game now with just 11 needed and Blackwood got out first ball! He has gone back now.”

Around to Campbell, two slips and a gully

Mark Wood is back for a burst now. Two slips in place. Point is on the fence.

Caruso: “Tied test! Anyone with me?”
Sancasm: “Century brainfade??? Why Blackwood why? 11 runs were far more important than those 5 runs… no more twists please.”

John Campbell has come back out. Ben Stokes goes around the wicket. Two slips and a gully.

Conrad Dodd: ” People compare Stokes with Botham plenty. In that case I could really use a 5-1 spell from 1981 right about…… now”

safdar: “@William Feech I think you are a Eddie Guerrero fan mate ”