In a gripping display of resilience and determination, England’s senior pairing of Joe Root and Ben Stokes revived their team’s innings after two early breakthroughs by the West Indies bowlers on the second morning of the third Test at Edgbaston.
The morning session saw Root and Stokes come together to stitch together a crucial unbroken 103-run partnership for the sixth wicket, steering England to a more respectable position after the hosts had stumbled to 54 for 5 within the first half-hour of play.
Root, standing tall amidst the early collapse, remained unbeaten on 58 at lunch, while Stokes provided able support with 48 runs to his name. The duo’s partnership came at a brisk pace, off just 128 balls, providing much-needed stability to England’s innings.
The day started on a shaky note for England, with Ollie Pope falling early after adding just four runs to his overnight score of 6. A delivery from Shamar Joseph kept low and sneaked under Pope’s bat to crash into his stumps, leaving the hosts reeling at 38 for 4.
Soon after, the young Harry Brook was dismissed cheaply, caught behind by Joshua Da Silva off a Jayden Seales delivery that moved away off the pitch. Seales, with his impeccable line and length, claimed his third wicket of the innings and put the West Indies in a commanding position.
Root, however, had a stroke of luck early in his innings when he survived a close lbw appeal, with the West Indies players opting not to review the decision. The replays suggested that Root would have been given out, but the missed opportunity provided the England captain with a chance to rebuild the innings.
Root, ever the reliable batsman, surpassed Brian Lara’s Test run tally to climb to seventh on the all-time run-scorers’ list, displaying his class with elegant strokeplay against the West Indies bowlers. Stokes, on the other hand, mixed caution with aggression, playing shots all around the ground to keep the scoreboard ticking.
As lunch approached, Stokes unleashed a powerful slog sweep into the stands off Gudakesh Motie, showcasing his intent to take the attack to the opposition. Despite falling just short of his half-century at the break, Stokes, alongside Root, had given the English fans a glimmer of hope in what had been a challenging Test match so far.
The partnership between Root and Stokes not only resurrected England’s innings but also underscored the importance of experience and skill in tough situations. With the duo at the crease, England’s hopes of mounting a strong comeback in the Test match were reignited, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in the sessions to come.
