England comfortably won the first Test match against West Indies at Lord's, winning by an innings and 114 runs in little over two days with James Anderson leaving the side in high spirits.
But captain Ben Stokes is hoping for a response from his team's “proud opponents” in the second of the three-match series at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Sky Sports.
West Indies have had chances to bounce back before, most recently in Australia in January, losing by 10 wickets in Adelaide before winning by eight runs in Brisbane.
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Highlights from day three of the first Test at Lord's as England crushed West Indies and James Anderson bid farewell with his 704th Test wicket
Stokes (whose men are aiming for a first Test series win since a 3-0 win in Pakistan in December 2022) said: “You are always wary of your opponents. We know the West Indies are a very proud team and we have had a good competition with them.
“We don't take for granted what the rest of the series will be like. International sport is a great leveller.”
'West Indies need to play more Test cricket'
After scoring 121 and 136 at Lord's, West Indies captain Craig Brathwaite was asked what the team needed to improve on, and he said: “Swing the bat better.”
“We have young players with a good attitude. It would be easy to give up and give up after the first Test, but we have to keep digging deep,” Brathwaite told reporters on Wednesday.
Kraigg Brathwaite will be delighted that James Anderson has retired from Test cricket.
The opener also expressed his desire for the team to play Test cricket more often in future to bridge the gap with wealthier nations like England, Australia and India.
The Nottingham Test is England's seventh of 17 tournaments this year, while it is West Indies' third of nine.
Brathwaite said: “We are hungry for more Test cricket. The more you play, the quicker you learn and the more you understand. If you play two Tests here and two Tests there, it takes longer to learn.
West Indies captain Craig Brathwaite: 'We need to play more Test cricket and all I can do is keep pushing and keep demanding. It will help the players.'
“We need to play more Test cricket and all I can do is keep pushing and keep demanding. It will help the players. Even after 90 games, they are still learning.
“I just wish the powers that be, who control the white-ball and T20 tournament schedule, would allow five or six more Test matches to be played every year.”
Match preparation or training – which is more important?
West Indies had just one warm-up match before the first Test match – a three-day fixture at Beckenham against the County starting XI.
Seamer Shammar Joseph missed the warm-up due to travel delays caused by Hurricane Beryl and battled leg cramps at Lord's after playing his first red-ball game since Australia's win over West Indies in Brisbane six months ago.
On the lack of preparation for the tourists, Stokes said: “We had to deal with that in India. Was there enough time to play?”
“That's from the old way of doing things. There are so many comments these days from people who played back when that was the norm.
Shamar Joseph has been named in an unchanged West Indies XI for the second Test at Trent Bridge.
“Cricket is different these days. There are so many matches played across the world and it's hard to find good build-up windows in franchise cricket.
“We feel like we fit together when we train together, as opposed to spending too much time in warm-up games. Sometimes you feel like you need a day in the dirt to get your body used to it again.”
Stuart Broadend unveiled at Trent Bridge
With Anderson's retirement – the 41-year-old had been a bowling mentor throughout the summer – Mark Wood returned to the England squad, joining Stokes, Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes in a pace attack.
Atkinson, who took 12 wickets on debut last week's Player of the Match, will be playing with the new ball alongside Walkes, who will be making his 50th Test appearance.
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Captain Ben Stokes is excited about the prospect of Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson bowling in the same England team.
This home Test will be the first since 2012 without either Anderson or Stuart Broad, who retired last summer.
However, Anderson will cover the match as part of England's backroom staff, while Broad will cover the match as a pundit for Sky.
The Stuart Broad End will also be unveiled at Trent Bridge, with the Pavilion End being renamed after the former England and Nottinghamshire paceman who took 604 Test wickets.
Watch live coverage of Day 1 of the 2nd Test match between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Sky Sports Cricket Thursdays at 10am (first pitch at 11am)
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