England will begin their men’s Test season with a three-match series against the West Indies at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday, July 10. The season’s start was delayed by a month due to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup taking place throughout June. Despite the delay, the excitement is palpable as a mostly sunny London sets the stage for two teams currently navigating transitional phases in the longest format of the game.
James Anderson’s farewell Test
The first Test will be notably significant as it marks the farewell of James Anderson, a living legend of the game. With 188 Tests under his belt, Anderson’s achievement as a fast bowler is unprecedented and may never be surpassed. As he prepares to bow out of international cricket, all eyes will be on Anderson as he chases a couple of milestones, including one involving the late Australian spinner Shane Warne. Fans and teammates alike hope to see Anderson end his exceptional career on a high note.
Series progression and team dynamics
Following the opener at Lord’s, the series will move to Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. England will be testing their Test cricket capabilities with a slightly revamped pace attack, where Chris Woakes stands as the only senior bowler. The team aims to blend experience with emerging talent in their quest for victory.
For the West Indies, the challenge lies predominantly with their batting, a common hurdle for visiting teams in England. The team will need to build on their previous bowling successes, such as their performance at the Gabba, especially in the absence of their experienced pacer Kemar Roach. How they adapt to the English conditions will be crucial in determining their success in the series.
ENG vs WI, Test series, complete fixtures and match timings:
First Test: July 10-14 – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London; 10:00 AM GMT/11:00 AM Local/3:30 PM GMT
Second Test: July 18-22 – Trent Bridge, Nottingham; 10:00 AM GMT/11:00 AM Local/3:30 PM GMT
Third Test: July 26-30 – Edgbaston, Birmingham; 10:00 AM GMT/11:00 AM Local/3:30 PM GMT
Also READ: ENG vs WI: England unveils their playing XI for James Anderson’s farewell Test
Squads:
England (for first two Tests): Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson (1st Test), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Alick Athanaze, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph (vc), Shamar Joseph, Mikyle Louis, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Jeremiah Louis (Kemar Roach injured), Jayden Seales and Kevin Sinclair
TV channels and Live streaming details:
India: Fan Code
United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket; Sky Go app
Australia: Fox Cricket
USA and Canada: Sling TV – Willow TV (sign up here)
South Africa: Super Sports
Also READ: Tim Paine lashes out at Ben Stokes for his ‘fans are lucky to witness England’ remarks
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