James Anderson's Farewell Match: England vs West Indies 1st Test Day 1 Highlights

Welcome back.

... DAY 2, FINAL SESSION...

Cut the crab. We are being informed that EARLY TEA HAS BEEN TAKEN ON DAY 2. As per the earlier rules, early Lunch or early close of play used to be there but my colleague tells me that in the recently announced rule changes, one rule was such that if there are less than 30 minutes to the break, then the break will be taken early and the next innings will start only after that. So given that the innings ended around 7.50 pm IST, the third session should start by around 8.10 pm IST. Do refresh yourselves while I refresh my knowledge about the latest rules in the sport.

Right then. 10 difficult minutes to see off. Forget the deficit of 250 for the moment. Can Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis be together when the third session begins? We are all set for the second essay of the West Indian innings. Around 38 overs left in the day. If England strike once or twice in this mini phase, there may not be a tomorrow.

England would be relatively pleased with how they played in this innings. It was not exactly Bazball, but not defensive cricket either. They punished the bad balls but were happy to sit back when the bowling was good. As a result, they had 5 batters making 50 or more and 7 partnerships in excess of 25. Something which they lacked while playing against India in India. It never looked like a pitch where you are settled and hence, those many starts. Everyone who crossed 50, looked assured but perhaps, for old times' sake, let's say Joe Root looked the best out there.

The bowling innings started off very well for West Indies, with Ben Duckett nicking one behind to Jayden Seales, but after that, they had to keep fighting off partnerships. England kept finding those conistently and kept the visitors on the back foot. However, this afternoon, after the Drinks break in the first session, the tourists found their groove, led by Gudakesh Motie, as he cleaned up Stokes and Root. Seales then took over, to run through the side with a quadruple of wickets while Holder helped himself to a couple.

Well, one of the worst possible times for any side. West Indies would be celebrating that wicket, but they don't have too much time. In less than 10 minutes, they will have to come out and bat for a couple of overs before Tea. The bowlers have got the job done, picking up the remaining 4 wickets in 22 overs, for 78 runs. They have kept the lead to exactly 250 and had they not been loose in that first hour this morning, the lead could have been curtailed further.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jamie Smith holes out this time around. It is a short ball, around off. Jamie Smith stands tall and pulls it to deep square leg here. Kirk Mckenzie rushes to his right in the deep, and takes a sharp low catch sliding to that side. England are all out for 371.

Length, around off, blocked out.

FOUR! Nicely played. It is a length ball, outside off. Jamie Smith shuffles and slogs it to deep square leg for a fine boundary here. ENGLAND LEAD BY 250.

Length ball, around off. Smith punches it to deep point but for no run.

The Lord's stands up as one. Out come the phones and photos are being clicked. With the lead reading 246, this could possibly the LAST TIME that James Anderson is walking out to bat.

OUT! RUN OUT! Bullzeye from Mikyle Louis. He has been ever present in the field and with his outstanding effort now, we see Shoaib Bashir making his way back to the pavilion. It is a full-length ball, around off. Jamie Smith swings hard and ends up slicing it towards covers. Louis comes charging in from the deep but the ball lands safely. Although, to remain on strike Jamie Smith calls in for the second run, Shoaib Bashir though is a bit late into his charge. Mikyle Louis sets himself up nicely and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. Interesting is the celebration to follow. Mikyle Louis runs all the way to the boundary, actually to meet his brother Jeremiah Louis, who is also in the squad, to brag about his throw. Nice to see.

New ball please! The previous one is not coming back. Out comes the fourth umpire with a box of replacement balls.

SIX! KABOOM! This one sits up nicely for Smith and he makes the most of it. Back of a length, around off. Jamie Smith swivels a bit and smokes it towards deep mid-wicket. In fact, he gets it out of the park here.

Quicker, into the pads. Bashir clips it to deep square leg. He ventures out looking for a single but is sent back here.

Tossed up, outside off. The ball grips and turns away a touch. Bashir looks to block it away only to get beaten.

A dot ball this time. Motie bowls it quicker, attacking the pads here. Bashir goes back and defends it into the leg side.

Good length, around off. Smith stands tall and whacks it towards sweeper covers for one.

Smith uses his feet this time and flicks this full ball into mid-wicket but only to find the fielder there.