Ben Duckett starred with a blistering 84 from just 46 balls as England wrapped up a T20 series sweep of the West Indies with a 37-run victory on Tuesday.

England opener Duckett blasted 10 fours and two sixes as he set a frenetic pace in the hosts' score of 248-3 from 20 overs in Southampton.

Rovman Powell's unbeaten 79 was a defiant response from the West Indies, but they still fell short, finishing on 211-8 as England white-ball captain Harry Brook made it six successive victories to start his reign.

"It was a great pitch to bat on. The ball didn't do a great deal and me and Jamie Smith looked to put pressure straight from the start. The way he took down the seamers made my life easier," Duckett said after being voted player of the match.

"I try and keep it pretty simple as people know. You try to play a bit more expansive shots in T20 cricket but I try to stick to my strength throughout."

Having crushed the West Indies 3-0 in the one-day international series, this was another impressive display of England's batting power.

Smith, who partnered Duckett at the top of the England batting order, smashed 60 in 26 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes.

The pair put on 120 for the first wicket in 8.5 overs before Brook hit 35 not out and Jacob Bethell produced an electric 36 not out from only 16 balls.

Bethell hit three huge sixes in succession off Gudakesh Motie as the hosts equalled their record T20 score in England.

Pace bowler Luke Wood, who finished with 3-31 from his four overs, and spinner Liam Dawson dismissed West Indies openers Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles for nine each to leave the tourists in trouble.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope went down fighting with 45 before being bounced out by Brydon Carse.

Powell crushed nine fours and four sixes in his 45-ball masterclass, but England had already done more than enough to seal the win.

Brief scores

England 248-3, 20 overs (B Duckett 84, J Smith 60)

West Indies 211-8, 20 overs (R Powell 79 no, S Hope 45; L Wood 3-31, A Rashid 2-30)

Result: England won by 37 runs

Series: England won three-match series 3-0

Jacob Bethell said time spent with Virat Kohli compensated for a limited playing stint in the Indian Premier League after he bolstered his hopes of a test recall with an impressive one-day international innings against the West Indies.

Bethell's expertly-paced 82 off 53 balls on his Edgbaston home ground was the top score in England's 400-8 that laid the foundations for a crushing 238-run win as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in a three-match ODI series on Thursday.

There were few signs of ring rust in what was Bethell's first international appearance in three months after a hamstring injury ruled the 21-year-old out of the Champions Trophy before his IPL commitments meant he missed last week's test win over Zimbabwe.

Bethell featured just twice for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but on both occasions he opened the batting with India star Kohli, who recently retired from test duty.

"I can't think of a specific thing he said to me that I was like 'that's what I'm going to remember', but it was just an accumulation over the couple of months of chatting to him," Bethell said.

"I think he quite enjoys the overseas boys because we're pretty chilled around him, but he's definitely got whatever they say nowadays: 'aura'. It was pretty electrifying to walk out with him. He's got a certain intensity, he flips that switch on as soon as he crosses that line.

"It was cool to experience someone of his calibre and how he goes about doing things.

"(The IPL) was a great experience and I've definitely taken a lot for my game. I feel like I'm a better player now than I was a couple of months ago."

Bethell's IPL stint meant England avoided having to choose between him and vice-captain Ollie Pope at No 3 in the test against Zimbabwe.

But they could now face a tricky decision ahead of an upcoming five-test series at home to India, with the issues further complicated by Pope's 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.

Bethell's focus for the moment is on Sunday's second ODI in Cardiff, where England could complete a first 50-over series win since just before the 2023 World Cup.

"Whatever happens, it will be, and when the time comes, it'll be fine," Bethell added.

"I'm still trying to cement my place in this one-day side and the T20 side. If I get a chance in that test side, I'll be looking to do the same. I'm just taking it game by game."

West Indies, led by explosive half-centuries from openers Shai Hope and Evin Lewis, chased down a target of 219 to beat England with an over to spare to win by five wickets in their T20 international on Saturday.

The game was a dead rubber, with England having already won the opening three matches of the five-game series but the crowd at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground were treated to some high-scoring entertainment as West Indies enjoyed their second-highest successful run chase in T20Is.

England openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks put on 54 runs for the first wicket before Alzarri Joseph got Jacks caught behind off the final ball of the fifth over.

But Salt continued to take full advantage of a good batting track as he took England to 102 before he was removed by Roston Chase in the 10th over for 55, having hit four sixes and five fours.

Skipper Jos Buttler hit 38 off 23 but it was an unbeaten 62 from Jacob Bethell and a useful 24 from 13 balls from Sam Curran that took England to a strong score.

West Indies' top order has struggled in this series but this time Hope and Lewis attacked England from the outset, swiftly reducing the run-rate.

Hope brought up his 50 off 23 balls -- slamming a short ball from Rehan Ahmed through midwicket to reach his half-century.

Lewis, who had played a supporting role, went on the offensive hitting Liam Livingstone for three sixes in the eighth over and he too reached his half-century (26 balls) when he pulled Curran through square leg for four.

Rehan Ahmed finally got the breakthrough when Lewis mistimed a cover-drive to Dan Mousley, the West Indies opener departing for 68 including seven sixes with England in a commanding position at 136 for one

With the next ball, Hope departed, run out by Livingstone, and England picked up a third wicket in as many balls when Nicholas Pooran was bowled by Ahmed after finding the inside edge.

'EXCELLENT WICKET'

Suddenly, West Indies were 136 for three with a new pair at the crease, and England sensed the chance to turn the game around.

But skipper Rovman Powell showed no nerves as he hit 38 from 23 balls with three sixes before he was trapped lbw by John Turner.

Sharfane Rutherford saw the home side to a morale-boosting victory with his unbeaten 29 ending the contest by smashing Mousley for two sixes.

"Guys were more committed today," said Powell. "It has been a series where you win the toss, win the game, but the guys played well -- 3-2 is better than 4-1, still a lot to play for," he said looking ahead to Sunday's final game.

Despite the loss, Butler said he had few complaints about the performance.

"I thought it was an excellent wicket. We got off to a great start with Jacks and Salty. Thought we needed at least 220. They played exceptionally well, put us under pressure. I thought we played well, put up a good score and they played well to chase it down," he said.

England paceman Reece Topley has been ruled out of the rest of the team's white-ball tour of the West Indies, the latest in a long line of setbacks.

The left-arm seamer fell to the ground in Saturday's T20 series opener against the West Indies during a brief shower at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

He bowled one more delivery after a rain delay before leaving the pitch with a jarred right knee, smashing a chair in frustration, which meant he was fined 15 per cent of his match fee.

"Reece Topley has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against West Indies through injury, and is to fly home from St Lucia," England said on X.

After battling back from multiple career-threatening stress fractures of his back, Topley's 2023 World Cup ended early because of a fractured finger.

He missed the 2022 T20 World Cup, which England won, after rolling his ankle when treading on a boundary sponge days before the tournament started.

England beat the West Indies by three wickets in Saint Lucia on Thursday to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

England beat West Indies by three wickets in their T20 international in Saint Lucia on Thursday to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead in their five-match series.

West Indies recovered from 37-5 to make 145-8 largely thanks to a solid 54 from skipper Rovman Powell but while England had some scares they won with four balls to spare.

Sam Curran top-scored with 41 for England, who can now enjoy the final two games of the series on the Caribbean Island without any pressure.

After a rain-delayed start, none of the top five batsmen for the home side managed double figures with Saqib Mahmood picking up 3-17.

Shai Hope was run out of the fourth ball and fellow opener Evan Lewis went in the next over, slashing Mahmood to Jofra Archer at third man.

Nicholas Pooran was then bowled by Barbados-born Archer in the following over and Roston Chase edged Mahmood to Jamie Overton at slip as England dominated the powerplay.

Mahmood rounded off his excellent spell removing Shimron Hetmyer who holed out to Dan Mousely at deep mid-wicket.

But skipper Powell, supported well by Romario Shepherd led the Caribbean side's recovery, the pair putting on a 73-run partnership before Overton trapped Shepherd lbw for 30.

Overton dismissed Gudakesh Motie for a duck and got rid off Powell, who had struck four sixes in his41 ball knock, but Alzarri Joseph produce a useful 21 off 19 balls to help his team to a respectable score.

Although England found themselves 37-3 with left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein picking up the wickets of Phil Salt and skipper Jos Buttler, opener Will Jacks' 32 kept them on course and the middle order contributions of Curran and Liam Livingstone (39) saw the tourists towards the finish line.

Livingstone rode his luck somewhat, dropped three times but Buttler was delighted with his team's series win, singling out Mahmood and Curran for their roles.

"A real collective effort to win the series, we set the tone with the ball in every game. We are in a strong place, great competition for places, and it is nice to see the growth," he said.

"We are delighted to win the series; in modern cricket it is easy not to put emphasis on bilateral series, but it gives us lots of confidence to take forward. Got a hungry dressing-room," he said.

Powell felt his top-order had the main culpability for the loss.

"It is disappointing we keep losing wickets in the powerplay. Didn't come off tonight. We've got to be our natural selves but the element of being smart is missing," he said.

---

WEST INDIES: Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Terrance Hinds

ENGLAND: Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (capt), Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Rehan Ahmed, Saqib Mahmood

Jos Buttler's rampaging 83 powered England to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second match of their T20 International series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.

 

Jos falls for a spectacular 83 off 45 balls.

It's official. He's back.

🌴 #WIvENG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/kO8tNu2AQr

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 10, 2024

 

Responding to the home side's total of 158 for eight, the visiting captain took the match by the scruff of the neck in belting eight fours and six sixes off only 45 balls to turn a potentially challenging target into a romp.

The tourists reached 161 for three off just 14.4 overs to take a 2-0 lead heading into the final three matches of the duel in St. Lucia starting next Thursday.

Coming to the crease off just the second ball of the innings after Phil Salt, the century-making match-winner of Saturday's first match, had fallen first ball to spinner Akeal Hosein, Buttler wasted little time in setting about a West Indies bowling attack missing suspended pacer Alzarri Joseph, injured fast-bowling allrounder Andre Russell and fielding debutant seamer Terrance Hinds who endured a baptism of fire against a rampant Buttler.

A second T20 International hundred looked his for the taking but after being badly dropped by Sherfane Rutherford at extra-cover off Romario Shepherd in the 13th over, the England skipper fell next ball as another attempted heave over the top found his West Indies counterpart, Rovman Powell at long-off.

 

115 METRE SIX 🤯

Buttler hits one out of the ground and he is cooking! pic.twitter.com/Dho5NpVKIZ

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 10, 2024

 

Buttler inevitably dominated a second-wicket stand of 129 with Will Jacks, who contributed 38 off 29 balls with five fours and one six.

"It was scratchy for the first couple of balls but when I got going I really enjoyed it. It was great to be back out there," said Buttler on receiving the “Man of the Match” award

Jacks was the first of two wickets for Shepherd, taken at second attempt at long-off by Matthew Forde, who had earlier played his part together with the rest of the West Indies lower-order to give the innings useful late impetus after they were put in to bat on a surface freshened by steady rain throughout the early morning.

Powell topscored with 43 off 41 balls (two fours, two sixes) but his demise in the 16th over left the innings in trouble at 102 for six. Shepherd’s 22 off 12 balls breathed some late life into the home side’s effort with the support of the tail.

Liam Livingstone was the best of the bowlers with two for 16 and was there at the end to seal victory with an unbeaten 23 off 11 balls.

However nothing could take the shine off Buttler's assault which leaves the tourists well-poised to avenge a 2-1 loss to the West Indies in the preceding one-day international series.

Phil Salt smashed a scintillating century and Barbados-born Jacob Bethell blasted an unbeaten 58 as England romped to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in their opening Twenty20 clash at Kensington Oval on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 183 to win, England opener Salt guided the tourists home with 19 balls to spare after a dazzling unbeaten 103 in Bridgetown.

Salt's third T20 international century came off just 54 balls, including nine fours and six sixes as England cantered to victory, finishing on 183-2 in the 17th over.

Salt set the tone for a dominant England performance in the fourth over, bludgeoning West Indies bowler Shamar Joseph around the ground for 24 runs to take England to 52-0.

The 21-year-old Bethell, who was born and grew up in Barbados before moving to England when he was 12, provided a dazzling half-century, delighting a contingent of friends and family in the stands with a 36-ball knock that included five fours and two sixes.

All three of Salt's international T20 centuries have come in games played at Caribbean venues against West Indies. He scored back-to-back tons in last December's series.

"I enjoy batting here – I've grown up on these surfaces," Salt said. "It's probably the place I'm happiest."

Earlier, West Indies had finished their innings on 182-9 thanks to a late burst of scoring from the lower order, with Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie accounting for 98 runs of the home side's final total.

Russell smashed four sixes on his way to 30 off 17 balls while Shepherd slashed an unbeaten 35 off 22 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.

Shepherd received sterling support from Motie, the tailender cutting loose to score 33 off 14 balls before being caught by Dan Mousley off Saqib Mahmood.

Mahmood was the pick of England's bowlers, taking four wickets for 34 runs off his four overs. Adil Rashid took three for 32 off four overs.

Game two in the five-match series takes place on Sunday in Bridgetown.

Captain Liam Livingstone cracked a maiden one-day international hundred to lead England to a five-wicket victory against the West Indies on Saturday.

Livingstone's blistering innings outshone a century earlier in the day scored by opposition skipper Shai Hope.

Chasing 329 to win, the England captain made his hundred off 77 balls with four fours and six sixes.

He ended the innings undefeated on 124, having added another boundary and three more sixes to his total as England claimed victory with 15 balls to spare.

From 160 for four, Livingstone and Sam Curran put on a match-winning partnership of 140 for the fifth wicket.

Curran made a run-a-ball 52 while opener Phil Salt (59) and Jacob Bethell (55) also celebrated half-centuries.

"At the end of the summer I felt I was getting back to my best, maturing a little and knowing my game," said Livingstone who is captaining the team in place of the injured Jos Buttler.

"I'm enjoying my cricket and if I'm enjoying my cricket, I usually play well."

He added: "We were sloppy in the field but our bowlers did well and took wickets throughout.  We have got a lot of young guys learning the ropes in international cricket, this will do them a world of good."

West Indies fast bowler Matthew Forde took 3-48 but key off-spinner Gudakesh Motie went wicketless in nine overs, conceding 71 runs, the most expensive return of his ODI career.

Hope made 117 -- his 17th ODI century -- as the West Indies recovered from losing both openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis, a century-maker in the first match, inside four overs with just 12 on the board.

Both wickets fell to fast bowler John Turner, his first victims in the format on his second appearance.

Hope's innings included eight fours and four sixes.

'CENTURY IRRELEVANT' 

Keacy Carty hit 71 while Sherfane Rutherford gave added impetus with a brisk 54 off 36 balls.

Hope described his century as "irrelevant, if it doesn't contribute to wins".

He added: "We need to be more disciplined, in the first game we showed that when he hit our straps, things happen.

"We thought we had clear plans, but we did not execute our plans well. We gave them a lot of easy options to score and when you play international cricket, the guys will capitalise and that's what happened."

England used nine bowlers in the West Indies innings with only wicket-keeper Salt and Jordan Cox not being thrown the ball.

West Indies won the first match by eight wickets at the same venue on Thursday. The three-game series will be decided in Barbados on Wednesday.

The two sides will also contest a five-game Twenty20 International series.

Jos Buttler will return as white-ball captain for England's tour of the West Indies starting later this month after a long injury lay-off, selectors announced on Wednesday.

The 14-man squad for three one-day internationals and five Twenty20 matches in Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia features three uncapped players.

Jos Buttler is back fit ✅
Jafer Chohan's gets first call-up ✅

Read more about our upcoming trip to the Carribean 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 2, 2024

Buttler missed England's recent T20 and ODI series against Australia as he recovered from a calf injury.

England drew the T20 series 1-1 and lost the ODI series 3-2 to the 50-over world champions.

Buttler, part of England's 2019 World Cup-winning team, is one of the most destructive batters in the game in white-ball formats.

But he has not played since the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies in June, where England failed to retain their trophy.

Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan earns his first England call-up, while John Turner and Dan Mousley are the other uncapped players.

Chohan, 22, said selection "feels like an absolute dream".

"My skill set is a very unique one and a bit different from what England has had before," he said.

"I feel very confident in my game and I like to express myself as a person with how I bowl and I think that works to my strength."

The squad will be supplemented with two players from the test squad in Pakistan, with England starting a three-match series in Multan next week.

A decision on who will jet to the Caribbean will be made after selection for the third test in Rawalpindi, which begins on October 24.

Harry Brook, who is in the test squad, stood in as England skipper for the Australia ODI series, topping the scoring charts with 312 runs in five innings at an average of 78.

England's white-ball tour starts with the first ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The T20 series begins in Barbados on November 9 and ends in St Lucia on November 17.

England squad: Jos Buttler (capt), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner

England completed a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies with a 10-wicket win inside three days in the third test at Edgbaston on Sunday.

SuperSport looks at five key talking points from the series:

LIFE AFTER ANDERSON

Deciding to call time on the career of James Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in test history with 704 wickets, was never going to be an easy process for England.

And with the 41-year-old unwilling to go voluntarily, the England management had to persuade him to bow out following the series opener at Lord's, not long after longtime new-ball partner Stuart Broad had retired at the end of last year's Ashes.

But Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson impressed with 22 wickets in his debut series, while express quick Mark Wood was eventually rewarded for challenging spells at speeds in excess of 90 mph (145 kmh) with a superb five-wicket haul that took England to the brink of victory at Edgbaston.

SMITH STARS WITH BAT AND GLOVES

England also decided neither 100-cap test veteran Jonny Bairstow nor Ben Foakes still fitted the bill as their wicketkeeper.

They opted for Jamie Smith instead, even though the 24-year-old often finds himself playing as a specialist batsman at county champions Surrey, where Foakes is the first-choice gloveman.

Doubts about how Smith would fare in the field were soon overcome by highly competent displays of wicketkeeping.

But it was his ability to up the tempo lower down the order that caught the eye, with a dashing 70 on debut at Lord's and an even more impressive 95 at Edgbaston suggesting England had unearthed a genuine wicketkeeper-batsman.

STOKES BACK AS A FULLY-FLEDGED ALLROUNDER

The sight of Ben Stokes running in hard as a fourth seamer was a real highlight for England.

England captain Stokes had long resisted an operation on a persistent knee problem but a decision to undergo surgery last year has revived his career as a test-class allrounder.

And lively bowling stints marked by late reverse-swing did nothing to impair Stokes' batting – which included an England record 24-ball fifty that sealed victory at Edgbaston.

ENGLAND REFINE 'BAZBALL' APPROACH

After England's 4-1 series loss in India this year, coach Brendon McCullum – after whom the team's aggressive 'Bazball' approach was named – spoke about the need to "refine" their style.

That adjustment was evident against the West Indies, with England prepared to patiently fight back when in trouble as happened when they were 54 for five in their first innings at Edgbaston before recovering to 376 all out.

Star batsman Joe Root led that revival with 87 and his confidence in reverting to his natural style was reflected in the former England captain's superb series return of 291 runs at an average of 72.75.

WEST INDIES' FORM A WORRY

A lopsided series was unsurprising given a West Indies squad largely inexperienced in English conditions had just a lone warm-up match against a modest County Select XI.

That the West Indies were then routed in 10 days of a scheduled 15 ought to concern the global game as a whole.

Meanwhile, the sight of West Indies batsman Kirk McKenzie enduring a woeful series while the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer were competing in English cricket's Hundred tournament was an indication of the wealth gap among test teams.

Powerhouse nations such as India, England and Australia could do more to aid the likes of the West Indies and Pakistan without doing major damage to their own finances.

And with major countries in charge of the sport's leading domestic franchise competitions, devising tour schedules that would allow for better preparation is also within the game's grasp.

For example, teams visiting England could first play a test in similar conditions in Ireland – a mutually beneficial move.

Solutions are at hand, but the key question is: does cricket have the will to implement them?

England coach Brendon McCullum believes an overhauled test side have developed a "harder feel" after launching their home season with a comprehensive 3-0 series rout of the West Indies.

A 4-1 loss in India was the catalyst for England, in McCullum's choice of words, to both "refine" their aggressive approach and revamp their red-ball side.

England record wicket-taker James Anderson was persuaded into international retirement, while both 100-cap veteran Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes were leapfrogged into the wicketkeeper's position by test newcomer Jamie Smith.

Fast bowler Gus Atkinson was also given a debut during the West Indies series, with Shoaib Bashir replacing Jack Leach as England's first-choice spinner.

The youthful trio of Smith, Atkinson and Bashir all made a mark as England beat the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs at Lord's and then by 241 runs at Trent Bridge, before wrapping up the series with a 10-wicket win at Edgbaston on Sunday.

"No changes are ever easy, are they?," said England red-ball boss McCullum. "But we knew we needed to make a couple of improvements as a side and we brought in some new faces."

The former New Zealand captain added: "You don't ask for instant gratification when it comes to them but the way the series played out you'd say the guys have certainly shown they're good enough at this level.

"What we've seen from Gus Atkinson, from Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith, is that international cricket is where they belong and they've performed accordingly.

"Sometimes when you lose you have a period of reflection and what we've seen is a team which has bounced back with a bit of a harder feel to it. I think we're a stronger team now than we may have been in the past."

 'INCREDIBLE ANDERSON' 

Anderson bowed out after the series opener at Lord's with 704 test wickets, the most by any fast bowler in the 147-year history of the format, with only spinners Shane Warne (708 wickets) and Muttiah Muralitharan (800) ahead of him in the all-time standings.

England, however, have retained Anderson's services as a fast-bowling mentor, with a grateful McCullum saying: "What Jimmy's given in the past couple of matches is quite incredible. He's fitted seamlessly into our group of coaches.

"It's never easy but he seems really content right now, it's great to have him and I feel very lucky that he's part of our group."

England would dearly love to be able to take a battery of genuine fast bowlers with them to Australia when they seek to regain the Ashes in 2025/26.

"With the bowlers now we've got some pretty good ammo (ammunition) that we are going to need on flat wickets when times arise," said McCullum.

"Gus has touched 90mph (145kmh), been able to jag the ball off a good length and also been able to operate a bumper plan for a period of time.

"The way Chris Woakes bowled was outstanding. Then you add the speed of Mark Wood, which is quite frightening really.

"Shoaib Bashir and Stokesy (England captain Ben Stokes) are in there too... We're not the finished article but this series is a step forward."

Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround the future of England white-ball coach Matthew Mott, with the Australian's position under threat as director of cricket Rob Key conducts a review following the limited-overs team's lacklustre defence of both their 50-over and T20 World Cup titles.

"I don't know how it's going to work out to be honest, I haven't really followed it because you're worried about doing your own job," said McCullum.

"Motty is a good bloke and a very good coach. Whatever happens he'll be fine."

West Indies suffered a whitewash in their test series against England, which ended in a heavy defeat in the third match at Edgbaston on Sunday, but coach Andre Coley said there were significant positives to take from the tour.

The West Indies squad have only a few days off before they reassemble in Trinidad to prepare for the start of a two-test series against South Africa next week.

"With a young emerging side, there would have been a lot said about this being a walkover," Coley said of the series against England.

"Obviously, we should have competed better, but we did show a lot of fight during the series.

"From a batting standpoint, I was very pleased with our scoring rate, tempo, especially in the second test,” the coach said

As for the bowlers, Coley said English conditions had caught a young attack a lot about adjusting their lengths and handling crowd pressure.

“Those were significant positives that we can take from this series, as we approach to South Africa series,” he added.

"The key is to stay tough mentally, believe in yourself, know where we got to improve, myself included, and do our best to do it."

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite talks about the path forward ahead of the South Africa Test series.#ENGvWI #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/z8ppKFgPwn

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 28, 2024

The first test against South Africa starts in Port of Spain on August 7, with a second test in Guyana from August 15-19.

Coley said the focus going forward was "the process".

“You're not going to get great performances every day," he added. "But one thing you can actually have some control over is going through your processes every single day and giving yourself the best chance of performance."

West Indies have won two of the last 11 tests and are home for the first time in more than year since losing a two-test series to India.

Jason Holder produced a fine all-round display as the West Indies took three late wickets, including both England openers with successive deliveries, in a stirring fightback on Friday's opening day of the third test at Edgbaston.

Holder's 59 helped turn the West Indies' 115-5 into a total of 282 all out as they looked to restore some pride, having already lost this three-match series at 2-0 down.

And the towering all-rounder then held two fine slip catches as England slumped to 38-3 at stumps, a deficit of 244 runs.

STUMPS: Closing Day 1️⃣ with a solid fight!💪🏽#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon | #Apex pic.twitter.com/cLnsCV48Lv

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 26, 2024

Zak Crawley fell for eight when he edged a loose drive off fast bowler Jayden Seales, with Holder holding a sharp chance to his left at second slip.

England were now 29-1 off four overs exactly and next ball Crawley's opening partner, Ben Duckett, played on to Alzarri Joseph.

England had sent in Mark Wood as a nightwatchman after Crawley's exit but he fell for a duck when edging Seales low to Holder.

3️⃣ WICKETS DOWN!🔥 #ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/Wros6hNyS3

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 26, 2024

Seales had figures of 2-19 in four overs at the close, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root -- who both made hundreds in England's 241-run win in the second test at Trent Bridge -- set to resume on Saturday.

"When you look at the pace of that wicket you'd think the batters would get in and go deep," said Holder.

"Unfortunately none of our batters were able to do that but we got a fair few starts."

'GIVE EVERYTHING'

But West Indies' total looked far healthier as they hit back with the ball in an action-packed eight overs spanning some 40 minutes.

"It was a bonus to get three wickets," said the 32-year-old Holder, appearing in his 67th test.

"At that stage the runs are irrelevant, we could just attack. With 40 minutes to bowl you can run in and give everything you can."

England paceman Chris Woakes, like many at Edgbaston, thought it was going to be England's day after he took 3-69 on his Warwickshire home ground.

"When we bowled them out, I was really happy," said Woakes.

"Obviously, to lose three tonight is not ideal, not the perfect end to the day, I suppose."

Earlier, West Indies were well-placed 76-0 after captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss beneath blue skies on a good batting pitch.

But they then suffered yet another of the collapses that had been their undoing in the first two tests as five wickets fell either side of lunch.

Former captain Holder, however, found a solid ally in Joshua Da Silva (49) as the duo kept England at bay with a sixth-wicket partnership of 109.

Showing form with bat in the 1st innings.🏏#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon | #Apex pic.twitter.com/MYhzh1lQhF

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 26, 2024

But the remainder of the innings fell away tamely, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson taking 4-67 in 20 overs.

After a watchful beginning, Brathwaite drove Woakes for two fours in the fifth over.

Mikyle Louis provided sound support as the 31-year-old Brathwaite, in his 92nd test, completed a 70-ball fifty, including six fours.

But England hit back when Louis (26) fended at an Atkinson delivery that moved away to give wicketkeeper Jamie Smith a simple catch.

New batsman Kirk McKenzie struck three fours before, only half forward, he was clean bowled by a 146 kph full-length delivery from express quick Mark Wood.

And to the last ball of the session, Alick Athanaze carelessly bottom-edged an attempted pull off Atkinson onto his stumps, leaving the West Indies 97-3 at lunch and Brathwaite unbeaten on 56.

West Indies would have wanted their skipper to go onto a hundred.

But instead he fell for 61 when, trying to pull Wood, he gloved the ball down the legside to Smith.

Wood, unlucky to take just two wickets in the whole of the second test, had 2-52 on Friday.

And 115-4 became 115-5 when Kavem Hodge, who made a maiden test century at Trent Bridge, gifted his wicket when deliberately leaving a Woakes ball that hit the top of off stump.

But with the West Indies in danger of being bowled out on the opening day, Holder counter-attacked.

He slashed opposing all-rounder Stokes for four and struck 20-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took a match-winning 5-41 at Trent Bridge, for several boundaries including a superb straight six over long-on.

Holder went on to a 92-ball fifty, also including six fours.

Da Silva, however, fell one shy of the landmark when caught behind off a good-length Woakes ball to leave the West Indies 224-6.

And Holder's innings ended when Atkinson flattened his off stump.

---

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wkt), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

England captain Ben Stokes believes Mark Wood can become the first bowler to be clocked in excess of 100mph (161kmh) during a test match following his Durham teammate's thrilling display at Trent Bridge.

Wood hit a top speed of 97.1mph as England won the second test against the West Indies by 241 runs to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in a three-match series ahead of this week's finale at Edgbaston.

The 34-year-old only took two wickets in the match but the effect of his sheer pace contributed to successes at the other end, notably for offspinner Shoaib Bashir, who sealed England's first series win since 2002 with a second-innings haul of 5-41.

And Wood made his presence felt more directly by forcing West Indies to change their side for a third test starting Friday when he fractured the forearm of Kevin Sinclair with a rapid bouncer.

Australia's Mitchell Starc holds the current record for the fastest recorded delivery in a test, at 99.6mph against New Zealand in 2015.

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar possesses the all-format international record after the 'Rawalpindi Express' sent down a 100.2mph thunderbolt against England in 2003, although many outstanding fast bowlers of earlier generations did not always have their deliveries timed accurately.

'PHENOMENAL'

Stokes said Wood still had something left "in the tank" when it came to breaking the 100mph barrier but, speaking during a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Thursday. added: "I don't know if he's actually too bothered about it.

"He seems to be getting closer and closer to that (100mph mark), but I'm happy with what he's doing now to be honest.

"Being able to sustain that pace is quite phenomenal.

"His average speed every time he plays a test match is always above 90mph –- it's all fine and well trying to bowl one spell above 90 but every spell he bowls for England he's clocking over 90mph," added Stokes as he reflected on the sheer physical effort of his county colleague.

And Stokes was more than happy with how Wood, whose 35-match test career has been blighted by injuries, was bowling right now.

"You have to hold your hands up and celebrate what we have there," Stokes said. "He (Wood) has got the heart of a lion. He runs in spell after spell, ball after ball.

"When be bowls the whole game changes. When his name is read out the whole crowd is up, then when the speeds are on the big screen everyone gets going.

"Woody is always looking up at the screen as well to see what he’s clocking. He knows he's in the team to not only bowl skilfully, but also fast."

Shoaib Bashir may already be a test-match winning bowler but the 20-year-old offspinner insists he's still learning "the tricks of the trade".

The towering Bashir ripped through the West Indies in the second test at Trent Bridge, taking 5-41 on Sunday's fourth day as the tourists lost all 10 of their second-innings wickets in 23 overs, with England winning by 241 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

First home Test fifer ☑️

Our youngest bowler to take five in a home men's Test ☑️

The first spinner since Muralitharan to take five wickets in a men's Test at Trent Bridge since 2006 ☑️

🧵 All five wickets 👇 pic.twitter.com/M7O6CkIGAZ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 21, 2024

Bashir had only made six first-class appearances when he was catapulted into the test side during a tour of India earlier this year and he responded with two five-wicket hauls on pitches renowned for aiding spinners.

But his progress appeared to have stalled at the start of the English county season, with Bashir kept out of the Somerset side by a more experienced England spinner in Jack Leach.

Bashir went on loan to county rivals Worcestershire in a bid to get more game time but England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum kept faith all the same.

"A lot has happened in the last few years," said Bashir. "I can't get ahead of Leachy at Somerset, understandably, he's obviously played a lot more cricket than I have.

"Jack was over the moon for me (getting selected for England). We had a chat and he just told me to enjoy it. He's a class spinner and I've learned a lot off him. There's always so much to learn. I'm only 20, I'm still learning the tricks of the trade.

"There's a lot to work on, in cricket you never complete the game. Going on loan was a decision I had to make to play cricket at a high level, that's part of the journey."

'GROUNDED'

He added: "I didn't have too many expectations going into this game, I'm still trying to comprehend what's happened."

Bashir has now taken a highly promising 24 wickets at an average of 29.83 in five tests compared to a modest return of 16 at 70.68 in 10 domestic first-class matches.

But the current England selectors are not overly concerned by statistics, with team management identifying Bashir's height and ability to get drift, in addition to bowling an attacking line, as qualities that made him suited to international cricket.

"Bowling spin in England is pretty tough, but I'm grateful I'm a 6ft 4in (1.93 metres) spinner because it's a nice attribute to have," he said.

"The extra bounce helps. We saw it here (at Trent Bridge), if you land the ball in the right areas, a few will bounce and a few will skid on. I've got experienced guys in the team that help me make judgments on the pitch, what lines to bowl and what paces to bowl.

"I'm just grateful to be in the position I am. I'm always going to stay grounded, stay humble, and I'm just trying to enjoy every moment I have in an England shirt."

Ben Stokes said Shoaib Bashir had "showed the world" he belonged in international cricket after the 20-year-old offspinner bowled England to a series-clinching victory over the West Indies in the second test at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

Bashir took 5-41 as the West Indies collapsed to 143 all out on the fourth evening, with England triumphing by 241 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match campaign.

It was Bashir's third five-wicket haul in just five tests but first in England after he twice achieved the feat on spin-friendly Indian pitches earlier this year.

His latest exploits were all the more impressive given Bashir did not bowl a single ball and was out for a duck during England's innings and 114-run thrashing of the West Indies in the first test at Lord's.

Bashir removed Kirk McKenzie, Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze – all top-order batsmen – in quick succession before bowling Jason Holder and last man Shamar Joseph as West Indies, set 385 to win, slumped to 143 all out.

'PRETTY COOL'

"I think what Bash has done today is to show the world what he can do," said England captain Stokes.

"That wicket hardly offered anything for a spinner throughout the whole test match and look at what he was able to do today.

"The way in which he can change his pace, produce over-spin and under-spin...I think he showed his full bag of tricks. He's got so much talent and the ceiling is so, so high. He's got an unbelievable desire and a will to get better and learn."

Stokes added: "It's really good for a young guy to come out and put in a performance that wins England a test match, it's pretty cool for him."

For all his success in India, rising star Bashir was unable to break into the Somerset side at the start of the season after the side opted for a more experienced England spinner in Jack Leach.

That led Bashir to go on loan to Worcestershire last month, but England kept faith with him all the same.

"The decisions we make are all based around not only how far we think their talent can take them, but whether we think they're good enough for international cricket straight away," explained Stokes.

"I don't want to sound like it's an 'I told you so' kind of thing but it sort of is."

Defeat left West Indies with just pride to play for in next week's third test at Edgbaston.

They actually managed a much-improved showing with the bat in Nottingham while making 457 in reply to England's first-innings 416 prior to Sunday's spectacular slump, which saw all 10 of their second-innings wickets lost in 23 overs.

"The big positive was our first innings, scoring 400 runs was great," said West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite.

"The two defeats are gone but we still have five test matches remaining for this year. So we keep learning and by the end of the year we'll be better off, once we have that correct mindset."

England thrashed the West Indies by 241 runs in the second test at Trent Bridge on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match series.

The West Indies, set 385 to win, collapsed to 143 all out as they lost all 10 wickets in 23 overs on the fourth day, with 20-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir taking test-best figures of 5-41.

Earlier, the Yorkshire duo of Joe Root (122) and Harry Brook (109) both made hundreds in England's second innings 425.

West Indies had actually led by 41 runs following the first innings after making 457 in reply to England's 416.

It was an encouraging display by the tourists, who had been twice bowled out cheaply during an innings and 114-run defeat in the first test at Lord's.

But after England paceman Chris Woakes made the initial breakthrough on Sunday, they proved powerless to resist Bashir.

England batsman Ollie Pope was named player of the match after scoring 172 runs in total, including 121 in the first innings.

The third and final test starts at Edgbaston on Friday.

Brief scores

England 1st Innings 416 (O Pope 121, B Duckett 71, B Stokes 69; A Joseph 3-98)

West Indies 1st Innings 457 (K Hodge 120, J Da Silva 82 no, A Athanaze 82; C Woakes 4-84)

England 2nd Innings 425 (J Root 122, H Brook 109, B Duckett 76, O Pope 51; J Seales 4-97)

West Indies 2nd Innings 143 (S Bashir 5-41)

Result: England won by 241 runs

Series: England lead three-match series 2-0

---

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt) Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

Harry Brook's unbeaten fifty guided England into a strong position at stumps on the third day of the second test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

England were 248-3 in their second innings at Saturday's close, already a lead of 207 runs.

Brook was 71 not out and star batsman Joe Root unbeaten on 37, with the Yorkshire duo having shared an unbroken stand of 108 in 23.4 overs.

England had been in control against a wayward West Indies attack as Ben Duckett made 76, his second dashing fifty of the match, and Ollie Pope added 51 to his first-innings 121.

But a change of ball led to a change of luck for the West Indies, with paceman Alzarri Joseph removing both batsmen as England's 127 for one was soon transformed into 140 for three.

Root and Brook, however, restored England's grip on the match as they scored briskly against a tiring West Indies pace attack, with a third-day pitch still providing an excellent surface for batting.

England opened their second innings 41 runs behind after being frustrated by an aggressive last-wicket stand of 71 between Joshua Da Silva (82 not out) and Shamar Joseph (33) that took the West Indies to 457.

It was the first time the West Indies had made 450 in a test innings for nearly a decade.

Zak Crawley, dismissed for a duck in England's first innings, was then unluckily run out for three after Jayden Seales deflected a Duckett drive onto the stumps at the bowler's end.

But Pope underlined England's determination to wrestle back the momentum with three fours off successive Seales deliveries.

Left-hander Duckett was also in fine touch, sweeping offspinner Kevin Sinclair for three fours in a row on his way to a 55-ball 50.

But the first delivery following the change of ball ended a second-wicket partnership of 119 when Pope edged an Alzarri Joseph delivery low to Sinclair in the gully. The bowler's excellent inswinging yorker then had Duckett lbw.

But Brook counter-attacked by advancing down the pitch to drive towering allrounder Jason Holder for four.

Brook then completed the third fifty of the innings by stylishly check-driving Alzarri Joseph to the long-off rope for a fifth four in 62 balls faced.

Even so, the West Indies could take heart from a batting performance all the more creditable given they had been dismissed for just 121 and 136 during an innings and 114-run defeat by England at Lord's.

That left them 1-0 down in this three-match series.

DA SILVA RAMPAGE

West Indies resumed on 351 for five, 65 runs behind, after Kavem Hodge (120) and Alick Athanaze (82) shared a stand of 175 that revived them from 84 for three.

England, in their first home test since 2012 without retired duo James Anderson or Stuart Broad – who between them took 1 308 test wickets – had struggled on Friday.

But an overcast Saturday morning promised to aid England's pacemen, armed with the new ball, as Jason Holder (23 not out) and Da Silva (32 not out) looked to narrow the deficit.

Chris Woakes removed Holder and then dismissed Alzarri Joseph and Seales with successive deliveries before Shamar Joseph survived the hat-trick ball, with the Warwickshire seamer taking 4-84 in his 50th test.

Da Silva, however, completed an 87-ball 50 in spectacular style when he launched fast bowler Mark Wood high over extra cover for six.

And the wicketkeeper then took West Indies past 400 with an extravagant uppercut six off Wood.

Boundaries came at both ends, Shamar Joseph pulling fast bowler Gus Atkinson – fresh from 12 wickets on debut at Lord's – for six to level the scores.

Two balls later Atkinson again dropped short as Shamar Joseph hoisted him for another six that knocked tiles off the roof of the Larwood and Voce Tavern.

England captain Ben Stokes turned to Root to break the stand but Da Silva clubbed the part-time spinner for three fours and a six off successive balls.

Wood eventually had Shamar Joseph chipping to mid-on, his only wicket of an innings where he topped 97 mph (156 kmh) and beat the outside edge.

---

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt) Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

Kavem Hodge scored his maiden test hundred as West Indies made life tough for England in Nottingham on Friday during their first day in the field since James Anderson's international retirement.

West Indies were 351-5 in reply to England's first-innings 416 at stumps on the second day of the second test at Trent Bridge, a deficit of 65 runs.

STUMPS: What a day of Test cricket!🏏

🔹️A massive 1️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ run partnership✅️
🔹️Maiden Test Century ✅️#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon | #Apex pic.twitter.com/j1GGPSg4zD

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 19, 2024

Hodge, dropped on 16, made 120 in his seventh test innings.

"It feels amazing. It is always good to contribute to the team, especially coming off the first test when we didn't do so well as a batting unit," Hodge told Sky Sports.

The 31-year-old's shared a partnership of 175 with fellow Windward Islands batsman Alick Athanaze, who fell on 82 in sight of his first test century.

The fourth-wicket duo showed application many feared the West Indies lacked.

"Batting with Alick is always good because he is so aggressive," said Hodge. "The attention goes away from me and I can bat under the radar."

TEST TON MAGIC!💯🔥

Trent Bridge is on its feet for Hodge's maiden Test Century!✨#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon | #Apex pic.twitter.com/Ul46egA3bI

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 19, 2024

'WAITING GAME'

Hodge, whose previous highest test score was 71 in the West Indies' thrilling eight-run win over Australia in Brisbane in January, added:

"My strength in batting is my powers of concentration. I love batting for a long time...I enjoy playing the waiting game."

Athanaze and Hodge came together shortly before lunch with West Indies in trouble at 84-3 despite a good pitch, sunny skies and a lightning quick outfield, that all favoured batsmen.

For much of the past 21 years, England would have called upon paceman Anderson.

But the 41-year-old bowed out of test cricket with 704 wickets -- the most by any fast bowler -- with England's thrashing of the West Indies in the series opener at Lord's.

England want to refresh their side ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia.

This is England's first home test since 2012 without either Anderson or his longtime new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who retired after last year's Ashes.

Between them, the pair took 1 308 test wickets.

Instead, Chris Woakes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson, fresh from a 12-wicket haul on Test debut at Lord's shared the new ball on Friday.

BASHIR'S DOUBLE

But it was Shoaib Bashir who did the early damage with both Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie out to rash shots as the 20-year-old off-spinner took his first test wickets on home soil.

In between, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell for 48 when he fended a rising Atkinson delivery straight to Ollie Pope at short leg.

But just as England had benefitted from several dropped catches Thursday, with Pope missed twice during his 121, so too was Hodge reprieved when he edged express quick Mark Wood -- recalled in place of Anderson -- to first slip, only for Joe Root to floor a regulation two-handed chance.

Athanaze, meanwhile, was hit on the helmet by a Wood bouncer on 48.

The duo were eventually separated when Stokes, who didn't come on until the 50th over, had Athanaze slapping a wide ball to Harry Brook at gully to end a 99-ball innings that included 10 fours and a six.

Hodge pulled Stokes for four to go to 97 before driving the all-rounder straight down the ground for a 17th boundary in 143 balls faced to complete his century.

The diminutive batsman joyfully leaped into the arms of towering non-striker Jason Holder.

Hodge eventually fell lbw to Woakes.

A day to remember for Kavem Hodge.❤️

A maiden Test Century at Trent Bridge.💯 #ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/pfwQUFHHEI

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 19, 2024

But at 305-5 the West Indies had already made far more than the 257 runs combined they managed in two innings at Lord's.

 

Woakes finished the day with 1-59 from 18 overs but Wood, who repeatedly topped speeds of 150 km/h and beat the outside edge, had no reward in a return of 0-51 in 14.1 overs before leaving the field with cramp.

Your chances of facing a 97.1mph Mark Wood bouncer straight at your head are low, but never zero... pic.twitter.com/sQN7TtB4rv

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2024

---

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt) Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.

Ollie Pope rode his luck to a hundred as England ended the first day of the second test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge on Thursday in a commanding position at 416 all out.

Both sides had reason to feel frustrated, with the West Indies dropping four catches – Pope was reprieved twice – and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva missing a stumping, while several England batsmen gave their wickets away.

Ben Duckett launched the innings with a rapid 71, after fellow opener Zak Crawley fell for a duck, with England racing to 50 in a mere 4.2 overs – the quickest a side have reached that total in a test match.

"Unfortunately we lost a wicket in the first over but the pressure Ben Duckett put back on the West Indies bowlers was class," Pope told Sky Sports after stumps. "It took the pressure off me.

"It's such a quick scoring ground. The outfield is lightning. It's a lovely place to bat," he added.

Duckett's innings was very much in the spirit of 'Bazball', the nickname for England's aggressive style of test cricket under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Yet for all his advocacy of such a bold approach, few England cricketers are better at playing a match situation than Stokes, who on Thursday made a measured 69 off 108 balls.

Batted, skip 🫡 pic.twitter.com/zm7adHoHBI

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2024

But with West Indies missing paceman Shamar Joseph who broke down in the last over before tea and the attack seemingly at his mercy, Stokes holed out off Kavem Hodge to give the part-time spinner a first test wicket.

Jamie Smith, fresh from a dashing 70 on debut during England's crushing innings and 114-run win in the first test at Lord's last week, also donated his wicket to Hodge.

Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair was only called into the team on Thursday morning after Gudakesh Motie dropped out with illness but the 24-year-old returned sound figures of 2-73 in 22 overs, producing an impressive celebratory backflip when Harry Brook toe-ended to short leg.

Comes in as the replacement✅
Grabs his 1st Test wicket in England✅#ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/qk1IDQTQxA

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 18, 2024

"I think we did brilliant," Sinclair told the BBC. "Having said that, we put down a few -- we put Pope down a couple of times and he got a hundred so that hurt us a bit."

West Indies delayed taking the new ball until England were 397-8 off 86 overs.

Off the very next delivery Chris Woakes glanced Alzarri Joseph for a four that took England past 400.

West Indies did bowl England out when Alzarri Joseph (3-98 in 15.3 overs) had last man Shoaib Bashir caught in the slips to end play for the day.

Earlier, Pope was dropped on 46 and 54, with Alick Athanaze at backward point and the usually reliable Jason Holder at second slip dropping catches.

Pope pressed on to a hundred, the 26-year-old completing his sixth century in 45 tests when he hammered Jayden Seales for a 15th four in 143 balls faced.

💯💯💯💯💯💯

Brb just watching this on loop 🔁 pic.twitter.com/r0zf567b6t

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2024

But the England vice-captain's luck ran out when he was brilliantly caught by Hodge, high above his head at first slip, off Alzarri Joseph to end a 167-ball innings, including 15 fours and a six, and a stand of 80 with Stokes.

QUICK-FIRE ENGLAND

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and opted to bowl despite sunny conditions seemingly ideal for batting.

Yet his decision was understandable given the West Indies were dismissed for just 121 and 136 at Lord's.

It took West Indies just three balls to strike on Thursday, with Crawley edging an excellent delivery from Alzarri Joseph low to third slip, where a diving Athanaze held a fine catch.

But England soon regained the initiative as Duckett struck four successive fours in the second over of the match from Seales.

The left-hander produced a sparkling 59-ball innings on his Nottinghamshire home ground, with 56 runs of his runs coming in boundaries courtesy of 14 fours.

Duckett was out shortly before lunch, edging a good-length ball from Shamar Joseph to second slip, where towering allrounder Holder held a fine low catch.

Duckett's exit ended a second-wicket partnership of 105 in 19 overs with Pope.

England are seeking a win that would clinch the three-match series with one test to spare.

This was their first match since James Anderson retired from international duty with 704 test wickets – the most by any fast bowler – following the Lord's test.

It was also England's first home test since 2012 without either Anderson or longtime new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who bowed out after last year's Ashes.

---

ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt) Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.

WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.