Stokes ‘was in my ears’

hwest Indies batsman reveals his mindset in defiant innings hroot returns to face a big decision about England attack

Jermaine Blackwood, the West Indies batsman, has revealed how England captain Ben Stokes tried to goad him into a mistake during his match-winning innings for the tourists in the first Test. “From the first ball, Ben Stokes was in my ears,” said Blackwood, who went on to score 95.

Jermaine Blackwood has revealed how Ben Stokes tried to goad him into a mistake during his matchwinning innings for West Indies in the first Test. Blackwood scored 95 to lead his side to victory by four wickets at the Ageas Bowl after they slumped to 27 for three chasing 200, to go 1-0 up in the series.

Blackwood was recalled for this tour after playing just one Test

since 2017, when he appeared as a concussion substitute in October last year. He earned a call-up as the leading run-scorer in domestic cricket, where he had added more discipline to his batting. He is a talented ball-striker but had a reputation for recklessness, which brought inconsistency at Test level. He was too easily lured into traps and reverted to type in the first innings in Southampton when he slashed Dom Bess to mid-off.

He walked out in the second innings with his team in deep trouble after Jofra Archer and Mark Wood had struck early and opener John Campbell had gone off injured.

Blackwood was given a real working over with the short ball by Archer and there were words exchanged as England tried to rile him. But he put his head down and worked hard with Roston Chase to steady the innings in a partnership that set up victory. His concentration only lapsed five runs short of his hundred when he tried to hammer a Stokes half-volley for four and was caught at mid-off.

“I went out there and from the first ball Ben Stokes was in my ears,” he said. “I was not paying too much attention to that. I wanted to score the runs and get my team over the line. Once I am there I was going to put them under pressure because they know they can’t bowl a loose ball at me. They are the ones under pressure, not me. I just wanted to stay there as long as possible.”

Blackwood owes his call-up for this tour to Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo choosing to stay at home and, at the age of 28, after 29 Tests, this could be his last chance. He showed he is better at controlling his emotions in Southampton and has a chance to build on his performance, with West Indies sensing a first series win in England for 32 years when the second Test at Old Trafford starts tomorrow.

Joe Root rejoined the England camp yesterday after the birth of his second child but they delayed naming their squad until today. Joe Denly appears certain to be dropped to make way for Root’s return, but the bigger decision will be over the bowling attack and whether Stuart Broad is recalled.

Reuniting James Anderson and Broad is one possibility, but that would be at the expense of picking Archer and Wood together. Old Trafford is the quickest pitch in the country and can reverse, which would make Wood dangerous with the older ball. Root faces a big call.

Phil Simmons, the West Indies coach, said his fast bowlers were ready to go again, suggesting an unchanged team. “You guard against complacency by just trying to do the same things you did before the first Test,” he said. “Right now, that Test match is history.”