West Indies Opt to Field First in Second Test Against England

The second Test match between England and West Indies commenced at Trent Bridge on Thursday, with West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite opting to field after winning the toss. The visitors were forced to make a late change to their playing XI, with spinner Gudakesh Motie ruled out due to illness and replaced by Kevin Sinclair.

England's openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, faced the first over from Alzarri Joseph. Crawley was dismissed for a duck in the third over, caught at third slip by Alick Athanaze after edging a delivery that shaped away. Ollie Pope joined Duckett at the crease and the pair put on a 23-run partnership before Duckett was caught behind off Jayden Seales for 19.

Pope continued to score freely, hitting four boundaries in his innings of 24 before he was dismissed by Joseph. Harry Brook and Joe Root then steadied the England innings, adding 45 runs for the fourth wicket. Brook was eventually dismissed for 25, caught at gully off Seales, while Root was out for 26, caught at short leg off Sinclair.

Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith put on a brief partnership before Stokes was dismissed for 18, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Smith and Chris Woakes then added 30 runs for the seventh wicket before Smith was dismissed for 20, caught at slip off Seales.

Woakes and Gus Atkinson put on a further 25 runs before Woakes was dismissed for 24, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Atkinson and Mark Wood then added 15 runs for the ninth wicket before Atkinson was dismissed for 12, caught at slip off Seales.

Wood and Shoaib Bashir added a further 10 runs before Wood was dismissed for 15, caught at mid-wicket off Sinclair. Bashir remained unbeaten on 10 as England were bowled out for 219 in 64.3 overs.

Seales was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, taking 4-55, while Sinclair claimed 3-33. Joseph and Shamar Joseph also took two wickets each.

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