Sibley, Stokes dig in to take heat off Archer
DOM Sibley occupied the crease for the entire opening day of England’s second Test against the West Indies, joining Ben Stokes in a partnership that successfully drew some of the heat from a jaw-dropping lapse in judgement by Jofra Archer.
News of Archer’s unauthorised trip to Brighton earlier in the week dominated the usually quiet hours before the start of the match, breaching not only the mutual trust of all involved in the bio-secure bubble but also the strict protocols that have made this Test series possible in the midst of a pandemic.
He will now spend the next five days at Emirates Old Trafford isolating in his room rather than performing in the middle, where England established a hard-fought position of strength at 207 for three thanks to an unbroken stand of 126.
Sibley set the bar as he made 86 not out from 253 balls, showing endless deliberation over six hours. His methods may have been dull at times, going at essentially a run per over, but they were priceless for his team’s standing in the game.
After being sent in to bat 1-0 down, under cloudy skies and with the floodlights on from the start, his ability to plug away in stately defence was hugely valuable to the cause. Stokes reached stumps on 59 no t out and will fancy his chances of cashing in on day two.
Both Rory Burns and Zak Crawley will be envious of their occupation, having fallen to successive deliveries from spinner Roston Chase either side of lunch. Captain Joe Root, meanwhile, marked his return following the birth of his second child by nicking a booming drive to second slip for 23.
It is hard to imagine Sibley indulging such a stroke on most days and on this occasion it was unthinkable.
Having already made the call to rest James Anderson and Mark Wood for Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, Archer’s transgression ensured a complete overhaul of the frontline seam attack.
All-rounder Sam Curran edged the uncapped Ollie Robinson for the final shirt but the revamped bowling unit would have to wait for its chance, with Jason Holder winning the toss and sending the hosts in.
Morning rain meant it would be a truncated hourlong session and it looked likely to end in stalemate after Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel wasted the swing offered by the new ball.
The score was 29 for nought when Holder looked to Chase and it took the allrounder just two balls to hit the jackpot.
Burns played for spin that never came and was bang to rights, lbw for 15 despite a forlorn referral. That meant Crawley would face the first ball of the afternoon and he promptly got out to it, following the hint of spin and tapping a catch Holder at leg-slip.
Root was busier but less secure and it was his edge through gully that brought up the 50 stand. His eagerness cost him when he looked to pummel Alzarri Joseph through cover only for a thick edge to hit the palms of Holder at second slip.