WI handled the old ball better

With a ban on using saliva to shine the ball in the wake of Covid-19, pacemen in both teams found it difficult to generate reverse swing. However, the West Indies bowlers emerged on top in all departments in the first Test against England.

Shannon Gabriel has taken nine wickets in this Test—the last West Indies bowler to take nine wickets in a Test in England was Courtney Walsh at Lord's in 2000.

West Indies' quicks struck every 50 balls while England's took about 59 balls. West Indies' fast bowlers bowled 41 maiden overs out of their 150.5 overs while England's could manage only 28 maidens in 137.2 overs.

The second new ball has been valuable in this Test: it took 5 for 83 in the 2nd innings & 5 for 73 in the 3rd (average 15.6 across the two innings). James Anderson got just 0.75° swing.

It was his least in England since July 2017. The last time England as a whole attack found less seam movement in a home innings was July 2017.