Photos: Northamptonshire v Lancashire LVCC - Day One - Afternoon Session

Anderson on fire as wickets tumble in West Indies

James Anderson claimed 6-42 as he helped England to bowl West Indies out for 189 in Bridgetown with 18 wickets falling on the second day of the third test.

England were then reduced 39/5 as conditions continued to deteriorate, but with a lead of 107 runs England are still in with a reasonable chance of winning this Test. Jermaine Blackwood struck a superb 85 as he played an aggressive innings to counter the limited runs available, but his efforts were in vain as England claimed a first-innings lead of 68 runs, a margin which will certainly count for much more in such a low-scoring affair.

Anderson’s 17th fifth-wicket haul in Test cricket increased his margin over Ian Botham, as the fast bowler took his tally to 396 wickets in the longest format of the game. England started the day on what was deemed by many critics to be a sub-par total of 240/7, but given the prodigious turn and swing on the first day of the test match, what seemed to be an inadequate total proved to be exactly the opposite.

The tourists went on to lost their last four wickets for 17 runs including captain Alastair Cook who made his first century in two years before falling late in the day yesterday evening. Jerome Taylor (3-36) had gone the entire first day without a wicket, but he accounted for all three of England’s wickets to fall in the morning session as they were all out for 257.

Chris Jordan (3) strangled an edge down the leg side through to Denesh Ramdin at 247/8 before Stuart Broad (10) and James Anderson (0) were both bowled by the West-Indian fast bowler, leaving overnight batsman Jos Buttler stranded on 3 not out.

Although England had suffered a minor collapse, West Indies proved just how difficult batting was; a task made that much harder when the man steaming in had recently become England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Anderson claimed his first two wickets without affording the hosts a single run, removing 

Kriagg Braithwaite with the second ball of the innings when he edged to Jordan at second slip. The Lancashire fast bowler struck again when debutant Shai Hope (5) edged to Cook at first slip, although there was degree of deliberation about whether or not the ball had carried.

This wicket gave Anderson figures of two wickets for no runs and he eventually conceded his first run of the innings after 20 deliveries, as he continued to swing the ball both ways on a pitch which offered assistance to the fast bowlers, particularly with the new ball.

England’s record-breaker then claimed his third wicket with a delivery which nipped back off the seam and struck Marlon Samuels on the pads in front of middle stump. Not only did Samuels leave the ball, but he then had the audacity to review the decision, with replays confirming just how audacious his decision was as West Indies slumped to 21/3.

Spin played a big part on the first day and when Joe Root and Moeen Ali were bowling in tandem after just 12 overs it was clear that England were playing on a pitch unlikely to last the full five days.

Ali (1-56) struck an early breakthrough to remove Darren Bravo (9) who edged to Jordan. The Sussex all-rounder then took a superb one-handed catch at first slip to dismiss the dangerous Shivnarine Chanderpaul (25) as Root also collected a wicket with his part-time off-spin.

Ramdin (13) gave Stuart Broad his first and only wicket after the Nottinghamshire bowler had seen an earlier chance put down by Jordan, as Buttler held on to a routine catch with the score at 107/6.

Blackwood, aware that time was limited with West Indies’ lower-order likely to suffer the same fate as those who came before, decided to play an aggressive innings and was rewarded for his bravery when he reached his fourth Test fifty in just 61 deliveries.

Ben Stokes (1-17) accounted for Jason Holder (5) as Buttler was once again called into action behind the stumps before Veerasammy Permaul and Blackwood added 38 runs for the eighth-wicket.

Blackwood was the main enforcer but tail-ender Permaul contributed 18 before he became Anderson’s fourth victim as substitute fielder Adam Lyth was called into action at short-leg after Gary Ballance took a nasty blow, forcing him to leave the field in order to receive treatment.

Anderson made it five when he bowled Taylor (15) and he then wrapped-up the innings when Blackwood was caught well in the deep by Ali to give England a first-innings lead of 68 runs and Anderson his sixth wicket.

Jonathan Trott avoided a fourth duck in six innings but, when he was out lbw for just nine to Taylor, his future as an England opener - and player for that matter -was put in further jeopardy. A return of 72 runs in six innings on tour of the Caribbean, with 59 of these runs coming in one innings, will surely see Yorkshire batsman Lyth given a chance at the top of the order at the next available opportunity.

Trott's England career could be over after his poor form in this series.

 

Despite taking a blow while fielding, Ballance came out to bat in his usual spot at number three, but he had only been at the crease a short while before first-innings centurion Cook (4) edged to Braithwaite at second slip off Gabriel as England fell to 13/2 in the sixth over.

England’s first-innings lead became a necessity when Ian Bell was out lbw, as he reviewed the decision despite being hit in front of middle stump, although, in fairness, at least he offered a shot. Nevertheless Bell was out for ducks in both innings and Taylor’s second wicket of the innings resigned England to 18/3, the sixteenth wicket to fall on the second day in Bridgetown.

Joe Root (1) edged Holder to Bravo at first slip and Ali played-on late in the day to Permaul to a delivery which kept low, as England slumped to 39/5 on a pitch which is simply not conducive to good or entertaining Test cricket. Ballance (12*) and Stokes were not out at the end of the second day as England look to build on their slender lead and recover from yet another top-order collapse.

Cook century leads England in Bridgetown

Alastair Cook scored his first England hundred in 35 innings as he led the tourists on a tough first day against the West Indies in Bridgetown.

The England skipper fell in the final over of the day for 105, but his innings was a standout performance after the Lions were reduced to 240/7 by close of play. Spin played a key role for the hosts, a sure sign that England and indeed Cook's runs are more valuable than first thought.

It was a tough start for England and Jonathan Trott in particular, as he was dismissed for his third duck in five innings. He was the first of three wickets to fall for 38 runs when the Warwickshire batsman was removed by Shannon Gabriel (2-36) and Gary Ballance failed to deliver after a promising start to the series in Antigua and Grenada when he was dismissed for 18.

The normally dependable Ian Bell became the second wicket to fall with the score at 38 and the second batsman to fall without getting off the mark when he was caught and bowled by Jason Holder (2-34). Cook then established a steady partnership with Joe Root (33) as they added 53 runs for the fourth-wicket stand, but left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (1-86) ended their resistance when Root was caught behind by captain Denseh Ramdin.

Ali made a confident half-century for England

 

All-rounder Moeen Ali (58) made amends for his duck in the last Test with a superb half-century as he and Cook added a further 98 runs with a positive partnership for the visitors. Ali brought up his half-century with a towering six over mid-wicket before he was involved in a calamitous run out with the England skipper, coming off second best as he returned to the pavilion at 198/5.

Cook reached his 41st half-century in 139 deliveries before Ali was removed and Ben Stokes (22) added 44 with Cook, who was in pursuit of a Test century which had eluded him since May 2013 when he last reached three-figures against Australia.

Stokes fell before Cook reached his hundred, edging a delivery from Gabriel to Shai Hope at third slip at 233/6, before the England captain struck his twelfth boundary to reach his 26th Test hundred in 259 balls.

A third duck in five innings was not what Trott or England wanted.

 

The Essex opener played his way through the nervous nineties and was stuck on 99 for a short while, eventually clipping the ball through mid-wicket for four; much to the delight of the travelling fans and the relief of the England captain and management, who have persevered with Cook despite his long wait for a Test hundred.

But in the final over of the day, Cook was the next victim of the favourable conditions on offer for the spinners, as his back-foot cut was bottom-edged through to Ramdin, rewarding Marlon Samuels (1-61) for his 26-over stint without a wicket.

Preview: Northamptonshire v Lancashire LVCC

Ashwell Prince and Steven Croft shared a 332-run partnership the last time the two sides met at Old Trafford.

Lancashire are aiming to secure their third successive Championship victory of the season against Northamptonshire, a side who they have an excellent record against in recent years.

The Red Rose have won all four of the last meetings between the two teams and their most recent triumph saw Lancashire storm to an innings and 200-run victory at Old Trafford after Ashwell Prince and Steven Croft's record-breaking partnership. 

The last round of matches saw an important win for Northants, who achieved their first Championship victory in 21 matches after a winless run in their relegation season last year. Northants achieved their first win of the season in an evenly-fought match against Leicestershire, while Lancashire clinched a tense victory against Kent with just 14 balls remaining thanks to Paul Horton's measured innings in his side's run-chase. 

Lancashire's second win in as many matches has launched them to the top of the second division with a 13-point gap over their nearest rivals, Essex, who are one point ahead of Northants in third place after their 92-run victory over county cricket's whipping boys.

Middlebrook has left Northamptonshire.

For such a small side and one which is often hindered by injuries to key players, Northants remain a contender for promotion this season. There have been several changes in personnel since last season including the departure of veteran James Middlebrook who has moved to Yorkshire. This has left the club without a frontline spin option, although they boast an impressive seam attack, including David Willey, who was named in an experimental ODI side to face Ireland.

The last time these two sides found themselves in the second division they were both promoted in 2013, although in that season Northants were beaten on both occasions by Lancashire, who finished top of the table with a 36-point gap over Northants in second place. 

Key men:

After finally receiving international recognition David Willey will be out to make an impression, especially after his all-round efforts helped Northants to victory in their last match. Willey scored 124 runs against Leicestershire across the two innings, including a second-innings contribution of 88, which proved to be the difference between success and failure. His first-class average of 28.88 does not do his potential as a true all-rounder justice and the 25-year-old will be looking to improve on his four-day return from last season after suffering from a back injury which kept him out of action for long periods.

Kyle Jarvis is now the leading wicket-taker in the second division and is becoming a formidable signing for Lancashire after a tough first year at the club. On many occasions last season, he was made to look ordinary and his raw pace did not always mean that he was a difficult bowler to face. However, the Zimbabwean has worked incredibly hard at his bowling and the results are there for all to see. Jarvis has taken 14 wickets in the first two matches of the season and after managing a return of just two wickets in the same number of games last year it is fair to say that he is one of the most improved cricketers on the county circuit. 

Team news:

Northants have named an unchanged team from their trip to Leicestershire with former Lancashire all-rounder, Steven Crook, expected to play as 12th man. 

Northamptonshire 12-man squad: Alex Wakely (c), Mohammad Azharullah, Joshua Cobb, Steven Crook, Rob Keogh, Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Rob Newton, Stephen Peters, Andew Rossington, Olly Stone, David Willey.

The visitors are still without club captain Tom Smith who is out with a back injury and Peter Siddle enters his penultimate fixture for Lancashire before joining his Australian teammates. Jordan Clark is set to make his second first-class appearance after making his debut against Kent last week and wicketkeeper Alex Davies is likely to be a key player after scoring back-to-back career-best scores in the first two games of the season. 

Lancashire 12-man squad: Steven Croft (c), Tom Bailey, Nathan Buck, Jordan Clark, Alex Davies, Paul Horton, Kyle Jarvis, Simon Kerrigan, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Luis Reece, Peter Siddle. 

Weather and conditions:

Early-morning showers will hopefully disappear before the start of play on the first day with the rain expected to stay away for the rest of the day. Showers are likely to return in the evening session on Day Two, although the weather becomes a little more unpredictable as the match progresses. For a full forecast click here.

Date: 3 - 6th May

Ground: Wantage Road

Time: 11.00 am

Umpires: Paul Baldwin and Martin Saggers

Odds (via SkyBet): Northamptonshire 11/8, Lancashire 8/13.