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SCORECARD
If that frustration, an issue administrators appear powerless or unwilling to address, was all-too familiar, much else about the occasion felt very different.
The match is being played in a “bio-secure environment” with daily health checks for everyone in the ground. There are home umpires – the first time in England since 2002 – and because of that each team have three referrals instead of the usual two per innings.
STUMPSNo more play is possible, so the first day back for international cricket lasts just 17.4 overs.Let’s hop… https://t.co/5jm93rhO3l
— ICC (@ICC) 1594228474000
Players are not allowed to use saliva to polish the ball and umpires will not take jumpers and caps from bowlers.
After a rain-delayed start, players from both teams “took a knee” having observed a minute’s silence to mark the victims of the novel coronavirus and former West Indies batsman Everton Weekes, who died last week.
England won the toss and opted to bat but soon lost Dom Sibley for nought after he left a Shannon Gabriel delivery which cut back to clip his off stump.
It looked a poor decision at any time but all the more so as in the previous over he had seen partner Rory Burns lucky to escape an lbw review after doing exactly the same thing.
An emotional first day back for the sport we love 🏏Scorecard/Videos: https://t.co/YDDAzj8WCc#ENGvWI https://t.co/6b4Jj6UDOr
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) 1594228741000
After further rain delays, England eventually settled to their task. Burns was not out 20 and Joe Denly on 14 when bad light brought them off in the 18th over – never to return.
Kemar Roach was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, giving up two runs from his six overs.
England’s top order batting remains something of a work in progress but the strength in depth of their bowling options was illustrated by the decision to leave seamer Stuart Broad out of a home Test match for the first time since 2012. Pace duo Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will spearhead their attack.
West Indies bowled steadily, without too many fireworks, but had little to work with on a damp day.
“It’s been a bit tough, coming off and on,” Gabriel said. “We just have to keep switched on when we come back on. It’s been a tough day but we’ve been doing well so far.”
On the ball that claimed the only wicket of the day, he added: “It was a good delivery after coming back from almost a year off in Test cricket. It feels good to be back.”
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