Broad hits hot streak at last
SCOREBOARD
making use of a dropped catch by Alastair Cook when he had 32 on day one to plunder a seventh Test century.
The batsman had stirred the pot after the fi rst day’s play when giving the volatile Ben Stokes a few tips on sledging.
However, two balls after Samuels reached his milestone Anderson got his man, inducing an airy drive which fl ew to second slip and the waiting hands of Ian Bell.
Samuels deserved both his century and the send- off but his dismissal, which reduced the hosts to 223- 6, prompted a mini- collapse with four wickets falling for 24 runs inside 10 overs. Broad deserved the credit for putting them on the back foot with a pacey spell from the River End.
Since his 6- 25 against India in Manchester last year – a match in which he was struck in the face by a bouncer from fast bowler Varun Aaron – Broad has failed to produce one of his hot streaks.
In addition to fi ve consecutive one or two- wicket hauls, he took just four wickets in six World Cup matches. He had also looked less than express pace in Antigua and again on the fi rst day here when his speeds were in the low 80s.
Broad has always been a rhythm bowler whose wickets tend to come in streaks but wherever his extra 10mph came from, his captain Cook will have been glad because West Indies were beginning to frustrate England.
Denesh Ramdin, who shared a stand of 94 for the sixth wicket with Samuels, was the fi rst of Broad’s victims, feathering an edge behind for 31. But Jason Holder, centurion from Antigua, was probably his most important, having signalled his intent with two booming sixes off Anderson and Broad before he, too, was beaten for pace and caught behind.
The wicket of Kemar Roach came a little easier, with an inside- edge looping up to Joe Root in the gully. Despite Broad’s burst there was more frustration as the West Indies launched a last- wicket stand between Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel.
England will kick themselves, given they had their hosts at 74- 4 and 247- 9 only to let them wriggle free.
As much as Cook will welcome Broad’s comeback, England’s back- up seamers were a touch disappointing – Stokes leaking too many runs and Chris Jordan offering no further breakthroughs.
Moeen Ali fi nally joined the fray following his World Cup side strain and removed Bishoo to close their innings. He looks set to be a key component in the West Indies second innings if the rain stays away.
CHRIS WOAKES will be out for a further four to six weeks after undergoing keyhole surgery on his left knee for a meniscal tear. The injury occurred during rehab for a foot injury.