England’s refined version of Bazball demolishes West Indies for first series win in 18 months

Brendon McCullum promised a “refined” version of Bazball and that is exactly what England delivered to win their first Test series for 19 months.

McCullum made his pledge sitting in the team hotel in Dharamsala 24 hours after England lost the fifth Test against India, routed before lunch on day three.

He talked of some “pretty deep thinking” about how to evolve England into a “better version” of themselves and come back from a drawn Ashes and 4-1 loss in India as a “bigger, stronger and more refined” team.

Well, they have done just that. Centuries from Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope exemplified the renewed maturity of Bazball batting while Shoaib Bashir’s first five-wicket haul in his first proper bowl in a home Test on a ground not renowned for spin wrapped up a comfortable, fully deserved win at Trent Bridge and England’s first series victory since beating Pakistan in December 2022.

Nobody encapsulates the new look better than Root. He was castigated for recklessness in India, his reverse scoop dismissal in the pivotal third Test held up as the distasteful side of Bazball for turning the master accumulator into a chancer.

Bazball has never been about feckless risk taking, just picking your moments. And Root did it better here. Instead of 220 behind and facing the best bowler in the world (Jasprit Bumrah), Root played his reverse scoop against Shamar Joseph when England were 350 ahead.

It was just one shot in his 32nd Test hundred but it exemplified that “refinement” required to take England to the next level. It coursed through his effortless 189-run stand with Brook that defined the Test, setting up a 241-run victory confirmed in the golden sunshine of a wonderful Sunday evening at Trent Bridge.

Brook’s first Test hundred at home was also an unfussy, classy performance of managed aggression and, with his batting and athletic catching, he has brought a refreshed energy to the side in place of Jonny Bairstow.

All of the decisions pondered by McCullum and Stokes in the six months since they trooped out of India humbled have come off. The pace of Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson rattled West Indies and was worth more than the six wickets they shared, Bashir’s five for 41 proved right the hunch to pick him over Jack Leach while Jamie Smith has settled in seamlessly behind the stumps and showed promise with the bat.

All the top seven have scored fifties in the series and at 2-0 with one to play there is an opportunity for experimentation at Edgbaston next week, giving games to those who could be on the next Ashes trip. So far, so very good.

The Lord’s Test win was freakish, the James Anderson farewell an emotional distraction, and West Indies were woeful after losing a big toss. But at Trent Bridge the pitch was flat and wickets were hard to fashion. England were made to work more by determined opponents who posted a first innings lead and had England effectively 99 for three in their second innings when Root and Brook came together in the toughest batting conditions of the match. In the past England have tried to blaze their way out of such situations but this time responded by being measured to set West Indies 365 to win, once-in-a-lifetime run-chase territory.

England scored their runs at just under 4.7 an over in the Test, making 400 in both innings, curiously the first time an England team has done that in Test history, but it never felt frenetic or risky. There were no smart alec declarations either.

Root was guilty of missing out in the first innings but made no mistake this time bringing up his 32nd Test century with a glorious cover drive and punching the air.

His numbers are better under Stokes but in India he was the lightning rod; the reason to haul Bazball in the dock when he played a poor shot. He averages 53 since he stepped back from the captaincy at a strike rate of 68 which is quicker than Viv Richards and Brian Lara, the man he is just tucked behind on the all-time run-scorers list.

The presence of Brook, who scores so quickly, is important because it negates the need for Root to take the kind of risk he did so disastrously to Bumrah in Rajkot. Root was content to nudge it around scoring 52 singles and 12 twos in his hundred, and because he is an egoless man he can sit back and allow the more junior Brook to dominate. Their partnership will go a long way to defining the success of the next period in England’s history.

Brook started the day on 70 and eased his way past three figures, mutedly celebrating the achievement. A wafty drive brought his downfall and there were signs of more uneven bounce as well as turn that would prove decisive later in the day.

Root drove a half volley to cover and England lost their last seven for 96 as West Indies continued to plug away. They did not help themselves, spilling two in the slips taking the number of missed chances in the game to eight. That is the warning sign for England; better opponents would have made this a different game.

West Indies started their run chase confidently, negotiating the new ball and batting through the first hour putting 61 on the board. But the drinks break broke the concentration of Mikyle Louis who lazily drove at the first ball of the restart and edged Chris Woakes behind.

West Indies lost 10 for 72 disappointing thousands who were queuing on an online portal to snap up free tickets for day five. Bashir became the first spinner since Muttiah Muralitharan to take five wickets at Trent Bridge – something that was beyond Graeme Swann – bowling with lovely flight, bounce and turn. This was not just mopping up tailenders; he dismissed four of the top six. Smith took a good low catch of an underedge off a poor Kirk McKenzie shot to give Bashir a start. Round the wicket to left-hander Alick Athanaze, turn and bounce took the edge to Root at slip. First-innings centurion Kavem Hodge was beaten by spin playing back and Jason Holder’s defence breached by one that turned past the outside edge to hit off stump.

Wood had already bombed out Kevin Sinclair with a bouncer and Atkinson pinned Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph with quick, full deliveries.

Stokes jumped on Bashir’s back when he wrapped it up by bowling Shamar Joseph. “Top class,” was his verdict on his spinner. “This week has been great for the progression as a group,” he added. Refinement indeed.

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England beat West Indies by 241 runs, as it happened

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07:13 PM BST

So England win the series 2-0

One to play, they got to Birmingham on Friday. Hopefully see you for that one, thanks for reading.

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06:55 PM BST

Shoaib Bashir

“Captain has a lot of words of inspiration, so calm under pressure. Good atmosphere in the dressing room. I am the youngest and they really get around you (to support).

“A lot of things have happened for me recently. Trying to focus on my England stuff.”

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06:53 PM BST

Ben Stokes

“Remarkable comeback after that opening partnership. Incredible to take ten for 70.

“Bash showed the world what he is about today with his variations and his ability.

“A lot of credit for the way the whole team has performed.”

“This week has been great for the progression the team has made. Duckett is a good example, he changed the way he plays but still looks to put the bowlers under pressure.

“Woody could have got man of the match the way he bowled, somebody is going to get it (ie blown away by Wood) this summer.

“He has the heart of a lion, will run in ball after ball. Phenomenal pace. Fantastic and he will get rewards some time this summer.”

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06:46 PM BST

Brathwaite

“We did well in the first innings but we did not follow it up on second innings so not satisfied with overall performance.

“Guys had efforts, fitness is there, need to be disciplined. England showed us how to use this pitch. Guys will learn from this. We dropped some crucial catches.

“What we can control is our line and length.”

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06:44 PM BST

Ollie Pope

“Stokes had snuck off at the end so I was inclined to keep him out there (when they got two wickets).”

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06:41 PM BST

Reaction

coming up from all the key players.

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06:31 PM BST

West Indies all out for 143

England win by 241 runs.

It was all going pretty well for West Indies, 61/0 and looking like they could make England sweat throughout day five but England really put their foot down and looked like a well-balanced and talented attack. Woakes and Atkinson asked plenty of questions with the new ball, and then a classic combo of high pace and good quality spin did for the brittle batting on what was a pretty decent surface. Five wickets for Bashir, two for Wood who could have had more. West Indies made England work hard for a lot of this game but once they went, they went quickly.

England win the series 2-0.

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06:30 PM BST

WICKET! Shamar Joseph b Shoaib Bashir 8

Magnificent. A five-fer for the exciting spinner Bashir, the last spinner to do that at this ground was Murali, no less. 143/10

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06:29 PM BST

OVER 36: WI 143/9 (Seales 8* S Joseph 8*) chasing 385

Atkinson hunts that final wicket but no dice yet.

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06:29 PM BST

OVER 35: WI 138/9 (Seales 8* S Joseph 3*) chasing 385

A brief tail wag now in progress.

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06:28 PM BST

OVER 34: WI 133/9 (Seales 6* Joseph 0*) chasing 385

A bidda slogging.

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06:27 PM BST

OVER 33: WI 129/9 (Seales 2*) chasing 385

Windies on the brink and given that England can claim the extra half hour, this is surely getting wrapped this evening.

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06:18 PM BST

WICKET! Holder b Bashir 37

A defiant knock but it’s over now a Holder is bowled by Bashir. FOW 129/9

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06:11 PM BST

OVER 32: WI 113/8 (Holder 27* Seales 1*) chasing 385

The ball that did for Alzarri kept low, there’s a very real chance of this ending on day four now. Seales, who had some fun with the bat in the first innings, is promoted up the order.

Holder throws his arms at a ball and edges for four.

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06:08 PM BST

WICKET! Alzarri Joseph b Atkinson 0

Oh dear, that’s a two-ball duck for Alzarri. FOW 113/8

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06:07 PM BST

that brings

Alzarri Joseph to the crease.

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06:07 PM BST

WICKET! Da Silva lbw Atkinson 14

Da Silva plays back, given lbw and the review cannot save him. FOW 113/7

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06:05 PM BST

OVER 31: WI 113/6 (Holder 23* Da Silva 14*) chasing 385

Bashir slammed for six by Da Silva.

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06:05 PM BST

OVER 30: WI 106/6 (Holder 23* Da Silva 7*) chasing 385

A few minutes there lost to the Davy Jones’ Locker of tech problems but Mark Wood has finished his spell to be replaced by Gus Atkinson. Da Silva and Holder have thumped a couple of boundaries.

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06:03 PM BST

OVER 29: WI 97/6 (Holder 19* Da Silva 2*) chasing 385

Bashir continues.

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06:00 PM BST

OVER 28: WI 98/6 (Holder 17* Da Silva 0*) chasing 385

Wood finishes a fine spell that deserved more in the W column with a nasty yorker that Holder survives.

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05:55 PM BST

OVER 27: WI 93/6 (Holder 17* Da Silva 0*) chasing 385

Bashir maiden.

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05:44 PM BST

OVER 26: WI 93/6 (Holder 17* Da Silva 0*) chasing 385

Wood still tearing in and unsettling the batsman, in this case Da Silva.

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05:43 PM BST

OVER 25: WI 92/6 (Holder 16* Da Silva 0*) chasing 385

Bashir keeps asking questions.

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05:42 PM BST

OVER 24: WI 91/6 (Holder 15* Da Silva 0*) chasing 385

Wood completes a wicket maiden. Keeper Da Silva the new man.

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05:32 PM BST

WICKET! Sinclair c Crawley b Wood 1

Oooh. The worst of all worlds for Sinclair as he is hit hard on the wristband of the glove by Wood. Horrible delivered that lifted off the pitch. It is initially unclear if that hit him on the forearm or glove. It’s the glove. So he loses his wicket and suffers some physical pain as well. FOW 91/6

Will Macpherson: “That is a truly brutal dismissal for Kevin Sinclair. He’s out, he’s taken a review, and he’s probably broken his arm. Shocker.”

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05:29 PM BST

OVER 23: WI 91/5 (Holder 15* Sinclair 1*) chasing 385

Two off Bahir.

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05:26 PM BST

OVER 22: WI 89/5 (Holder 14* Sinclair 0*) chasing 385

Sinclair survives an over from Wood but he’s struggling. Holder down to have a word. Maiden.

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05:21 PM BST

OVER 21: WI 89/5 (Holder 14* Sinclair 0*) chasing 385

Holder looking to noise up the spinner, launched for six over long on.

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05:15 PM BST

OVER 20: WI 83/5 (Holder 8* Sinclair 0*) chasing 385

Wood too good for Sinclair. Angled in at 92 mph and nibbling away. Not good enough to edge it and fair enough.

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05:13 PM BST

OVER 19: WI 82/5 (Holder 7* Sinclair 0*) chasing 385

Holder slogs a four.

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05:09 PM BST

Monday out?

Things are happening fast here. It’s not impossible that England win tonight – Jason Holder is in already. Shame to see Kavem Hodge’s Test end with a duck. He was quite brilliant in the first innings.

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05:07 PM BST

WICKET! Athanaze c Root b Bashir 1

Oh dear, the collapse continues. Nice off-spinner from Bashir, Athanaza prods and it’s a smart low catch. FOW 82/5

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05:05 PM BST

OVER 18: WI 75/4 (Athanaze 1* Holder 0*) chasing 385

Woakes to Athanaze, it’s a maiden. No wicket in it though so that’s progress.

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05:04 PM BST

OVER 17: WI 75/4 (Athanaze 0*) chasing 385

Real danger of this being over this evening now. That’s a shame for people that were looking to take advantage of the free tickets tomorrow. Still, we will see.

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05:00 PM BST

WICKET! Hodge lbw b Shoaib Bashir 0

Kavem Hodge plays back to a full ball, tries to hit across the line and misses. Ugly stuff, hit plumb in front and LBW decisions don’t get any easier than this. FOW 75/4

West Indies have lost 4/14 in 24 balls.

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04:58 PM BST

OVER 16: WI 74/3 (Athanaze 0*) chasing 385

Not sure the West Indies recover from that.

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04:54 PM BST

WICKET! Brathwaite c Smith b Woakes 47

Hammer blow, possibly a fatal one, for the West Indies chances. Horrible length from Chris, KB has to play it even though he’d rather not, the ball does enough and it’s another good grab behind the timbers. FOW 74/3

Tim Wigmore: “As often happens at home, takes England a little while to move the ball – Chris Woakes is now generating more movement than in his first spell, to great effect.”

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04:51 PM BST

OVER 15: WI 66/2 (Brathwaite 39* Athanaze 0*) chasing 385

Athanaze comes in. Uppish defence to one ball. Bashir in the game with a wicket maiden.

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04:49 PM BST

WICKET! McKenzie c Smith b Bashir 1

Ooh that’s a nice catch! Short ball from the off-spinner, McKenie tries to force off the back foot but gets in a mess. Edged and a smart catch at the wicket. Poor Kirk McKenzie is a walking wicket on this evidence. FOW 66/2

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04:47 PM BST

Bashir

is coming on for a spell.

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04:47 PM BST

OVER 14: WI 66/1 (Brathwaite 39* McKenzie 1*) chasing 385

McKenzie comes in and is off the mark pronto. Brathwaite with another lovely clip through midwicket for four.

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04:39 PM BST

WICKET! Louis c Smith b Woakes 17

Drinks interval has claimed another victim, proper serial killer is D. Rinks.

Is this one a tad wider? Louis has left well until now. But he’s followed this ball and edged it to the keeper.

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04:37 PM BST

OVER 13: WI 61/0 (Brathwaite 35* Louis 17*) chasing 385

Brathwaite impressing. Swetly times drives sends a ball from Mark Wood skittering to the boundary.

Windies will take drinks in good heart.

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04:32 PM BST

OVER 12: WI 56/0 (Brathwaite 31* Louis 16*) chasing 385

Chris Woakes is back for a new spell. It’s a maiden.

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04:26 PM BST

OVER 11: WI 56/0 (Brathwaite 31* Louis 16*) chasing 385

Wood still rapid as you like. This pair resolute against the yorker.

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04:25 PM BST

OVER 10: WI 54/0 (Brathwaite 30* Louis 16*) chasing 385

Crisp pull from Brathwaite off Atkinson for four. It brings up the 50 stand. Good stat from Cricinfo: this is the first tine the Windies openers have put on 50 in each innings in England since Oval 1991.

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04:18 PM BST

OVER 9: WI 44/0 (Brathwaite 21* Louis 15*) chasing 385

The bowling change the crowd wanted to see. Mark Wood with proper pace right from the get-go. All above 90mph in this over and the last ball of the set is a 94 mph jaffer that straightens off the seam to beat Louis. No playing that.

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04:10 PM BST

OVER 8: WI 38/0 (Brathwaite 21* Louis 9*) chasing 385

Brathwaite pings the ball off his toes. Chalk up four against Gus Atkinson.

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04:05 PM BST

OVER 7: WI 32/0 (Brathwaite 15* Louis 9*) chasing 385

Woakes had been bowling a bit short but pitches it up more in this over. Draws the edge from Brathwaite, who in fairness plays with soft hands so it doesn’t carry.

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04:01 PM BST

OVER 6: WI 30/0 (Brathwaite 14* Louis 8*) chasing 385

Atkinson gets a ball to climb. Four leg byes bolster the Windies cause. They’ve made a decent start.

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03:57 PM BST

OVER 5: WI 25/0 (Brathwaite 14* Louis 7*) chasing 385

Woakes hits Louis on the pads in front of the stumps but England right decide not to review as this was going over and maybe down as well. Louis now eventually gets off the mark and in style, with an attractive drive for four.

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03:54 PM BST

OVER 4: WI 18/0 (Brathwaite 14* Louis 0*) chasing 385

Encouraging over for Windies. Brathwaite carves behind point for four, there’s some ones and twos. nine off it.

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03:46 PM BST

OVER 3: WI 9/0 (Brathwaite 6* Louis 0*) chasing 385

Woakes hits Louis on the pad but it’s far too high.

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03:45 PM BST

OVER 2: WI 9/0 (Brathwaite 6* Louis 0*) chasing 385

Atkinson. Testing over because he finds some seam movement away, and some variable bounce. Three leg byes in this over.

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03:40 PM BST

OVER 1: WI 6/0 (Brathwaite 6* Louis 0*) chasing 385

Woakes wobbling the seam. Brathwaite leaves three and blocks one. Brathwaite pushes to the offside for two and then spanks the ball in front of square for an attractive four.

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03:34 PM BST

Chris Woakes

has the new ball, three slips, a leg gully and Miklye Louis and Kraigg Brathwaite in his sights. It’s Brathwaite who will take strike.

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03:31 PM BST

Context

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03:25 PM BST

Batting is going to become harder

West Indies have four sessions to score 385 to win and level the series. That is the optimists viewpoint. With the odd ball keeping low from both ends, batting is going to become harder and England’s first series win in 20 months is in their hands.

Root’s 32nd Test hundred, his fifth at Trent Bridge, proved England’s determination to refine Bazball. It was a controlled, composed century from Root who hit just seven fours before his hundred, but still batted at a good tempo with 52 singles and 12 twos. He reached his hundred with a classic cover drive and punched the air before the ball hit the boundary.

He unfurled the reverse scoop over the slips when England were 350 ahead, showing off his range of shots and better judgement of when to go funky.

West Indies dropped two catches to take their tally of missed chances in the game to eight, and those will probably cost them the Test match.

Can they string together partnerships, and push England bowlers who have few overs in their legs? Despite the odd low one, it is still a good pitch for batting. The sun is out and modern players relish run chases, they can play their white ball shots. West Indies have nothing to lose and confidence from a decent first innings.

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03:15 PM BST

England 425 all out

That will be the tea interval.

Atkinson the man left on 21*. Hard to fault a side that have scored 400 in both innings but England might have been wanting a bit more from 329/3, maybe. Windies battled back well.

West Indies will need 385 to win.

Will Macpherson: “With tea taken, we will have a mega session this evening – just under three hours. Windies need 385 to win, so we will have a pretty good sense of where things are by stumps.”

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03:14 PM BST

WICKET! Bashir b Seales 0

Pleased for Jayden Seales, who has kept on trucking and kept on running in. A straight ball, a smear and a miss from Bashir, and Seales has four-fer. FOW 425/10

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03:11 PM BST

OVER 92: ENG 425/9 (Atkinson 21* Bashir 0*)

Atkinson wallops a ball for four. Bashir will be on strike next over.

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03:07 PM BST

OVER 91: ENG 421/9 (Atkinson 17* Bashir 0*)

Dropped catch, dropped catch, wicket. Now Bashir comes to the crease. He drives his first ball to midwicket. Good shot for no run.

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03:06 PM BST

WICKET! Wood b Seales 0

West Indies have dropped two slip catches in two balls! Seales is ticking. First, Atkinson slashes to second slip where Holder reacts slowly and drops it. Next ball, Wood dropped at first slip, this was a sharper chance. But still. poor old Jayden Seales figures, “Do I have to do everything myself?” and produces a cracking delivery that smears Wood’s stumps all over the place. FOW 421/9

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03:03 PM BST

OVER 90: ENG 419/8 (Atkinson 16* Wood 0*)

Wicket maiden.

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02:58 PM BST

WICKET! Root c McKenzie b Holder 122

Holder comes on for a new spell, bowls a full, wide loosener. Nobody is more surprised than Jason when Root somehow manages to slap it to short extra for a palm-warmer of a catch. FOW 419/8

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02:56 PM BST

OVER 89: ENG 419/7 (Root 122* Atkinson 16*)

Atkinson helps hismelf to a legside four off Seales. Batting well.

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02:55 PM BST

OVER 88: ENG 413/7 (Root 121* Atkinson 11*)

Alzarri Joseph driven by Root for four. England stride on towards what we anticipate will be the 400 that they reckon they need.

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02:46 PM BST

Free tix

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02:44 PM BST

OVER 87: ENG 407/7 (Root 116* Atkinson 10*)

Poor cricket all round as Root dabs to the offside and runs, Atkinson doesn’t, or sends him back (surely not?) or more likely Root changes his mind. Anyway it’s a real dog’s dinner and they’re both in the centre of the pitch. But the Windies fielders somehow manage to muck it up and by the time they’ve thrown it, Atkinson has got back.

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02:41 PM BST

Root rate

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02:36 PM BST

OVER 86: ENG 405/7 (Root 115* Atkinson 9*)

Alzarri Jospeh. Nice shot from Atkinson in this over, off the pads for four.

We’ll have drinks. The lead is 365.

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02:33 PM BST

New tricks

Cheeky reverse ramp over slip by Root after passing his hundred and his team 351 ahead. Trent Bridge is where he first unfurled it against Tim Southee two years ago. Since then the shot has had a chequered history, but if anything tells you something about Root’s longevity, and why he will go on for so long, it is his desire to be different and learn new tricks well into his 30s. Basically, he just loves batting.

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02:32 PM BST

Right to play

I absolutely agree with Michael Vaughan on TMS. After reaching his hundred, and with the declaration fairly imminent, Joe Root has the right to play his reverse ramp … for the first time since the Rajkot Test debacle.

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02:31 PM BST

OVER 85: ENG 397/7 (Root 114* Atkinson 2*)

Wigmore: “And, right on cue, there’s a reverse scoop for four…”

Root with a scoop over second slip, Shamar Joseph the glowering bowler. Now a more conventional boundary from JR, off the pads through midwicket. He might pile it on now.

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02:26 PM BST

Vintage

A lovely moment with Joe Root celebrating his fifth Test hundred at Trent Bridge by punching the air: a sign of how much playing for England still means to him. This has been a vintage Root ton, but of the pre-Bazball variety: only seven fours, and 52 singles. The tempo and placement has been just right.

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02:25 PM BST

OVER 84: ENG 388/7 (Root 105* Atkinson 2*)

Root chalks up his 32nd Test hundred with a glorious square drive, what a magnificent player. Loves it here. Fifth ton at Trent Bridge. Takes a tight single off the last ball of the over that would have left Atkinson struggling had the throw hit.

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02:19 PM BST

OVER 83: ENG 378/7 (Root 98* Atkinson 0*)

Smart catch. New ball is travelling more rapidly, which has also meant that England are getting value for their shots. Woakes had clipped four off his legs crisply the ball before.

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02:16 PM BST

WICKET! Woakes c Holder Shamar Josph 12

Woakes with a familiar Woakes dismissal, staying leg side of the ball and pushing at it with hard hands. Decent wheels from Shamar, draws the edge, and that’s another sharp catch by Big Jason Holder in the slips. FOW 378/7

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02:15 PM BST

OVER 82: ENG 372/6 (Root 98* Woakes 6*)

Alzarri Joseph back into the attack. Root inching up towards the century.

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02:07 PM BST

OVER 81: ENG 368/6 (Root 95* Woakes 5*)

Will Macpherson: “Nottinghamshire have announced we’re in for a People’s Monday at Trent Bridge. It’s free entry tomorrow! It should be a pretty good finish so get on down if you’re in the local area.”

New ball taken. Shamar Jospeh gets first use. Very full, looking for swing. Woakes resolute. Well bowled, well played.

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02:03 PM BST

OVER 80: ENG 367/6 (Root 94* Woakes 5*)

Here is Windies with an lbw review so bad that keeper Da Silva is saying “it wasn’t me” that wanted it!

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01:57 PM BST

OVER 79: ENG 364/6 (Root 93* Woakes 3*)

Root pulls away Shamar Joseph’s short ball, the fielder takes a while to pick that up.

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01:52 PM BST

OVER 78: ENG 362/6 (Root 92* Woakes 2*)

Umpire review for a catch as Root pull drives the spinner, it bounces onto the ground and pops up for a catch by the keeper. Nah, that’s clearly bounced.

Productive over for Root as he crashed through the covers for four, and adds a brace of twos.

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01:44 PM BST

OVER 77: ENG 354/6 (Root 83* Woakes 2*)

Shamar Joseph to bowl. Root off strike first ball, and now Woakes opens his account third ball with a single off the pads. No ball off the last ball of the over, Shamar’s run up hasn’t been great.

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01:42 PM BST

The players are out

for the afternoon session.

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01:37 PM BST

Where does that leave the game?

England managed to score 100 runs in the morning but West Indies will feel that those three wickets have kept them in the hunt. If they could bowl England out for another 50 or 60 then they might have a sniff at chasing 360-odd. Odds against obviously but they’d have a chance, and there’s nothing much in the pitch or atmospheric conditions to cause alarm for a chasing side.

West Indies are about 15/2 to pull that off the heist as it stands.

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01:17 PM BST

Nick Hoult’s lunch report

West Indies are hanging in. Two wickets in two overs before lunch prevented England from total domination of the morning session after Harry Brook’s first home Test hundred.

Ben Stokes is a captain who likes to give opponents a sniff so the question of when to declare may have been on his mind when he swung a catch to deep backward square leg. Jamie Smith nicked spinner Kevin Sinclair behind in the next over, England lunching on 348 for six, a lead of 307.

Brook had earlier made 109 off 132 balls, playing a refined innings when he scored at a decent link but took few risks. It was controlled batting with Joe Root just when England needed it. Root, unbeaten on 81, is anchoring the innings.

England chased down 299 in 72 overs against New Zealand at Trent Bridge two years ago, the spark that lit the Bazball fire. This pitch is good for batting and England have a raw attack beyond Wood and Woakes. England probably have enough already, but Root still has a little bit of work to do with the tail.

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01:05 PM BST

LUNCH: England 348/6 (Root 81*)

That’s an excellent fightback from West Indies in the last 40 minutes, England had it all their own way in the first 80 minutes or so but those three wickets have kept Windies in the match. England put on 100 for the loss of three and they lead by 307.

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01:03 PM BST

WICKET! Smith c Da Silva b Sinclair 3

Last ball before lunch! And Sinclair has got one to hurry on, Smith plays for the off break but feathers behind and that’s FOW 348/6

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12:58 PM BST

OVER 75: ENG 344/5 (Root 80* Smith 3*)

Broad: “incredible how the game can change, fifteen minutes ago you would say only England could win it. But now in the West Indies dressing room you’d be saying, if we could get five for 50, knock Smith and the tail over with the new ball…”

Jamie Smith comes in and guides the ball to third man for a two and a one.

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12:55 PM BST

Can’t believe it

Stokes cannot believe he’s picked out Joseph there. He genuinely didn’t need to move. I had the sense that England were playing for lunch, before returning after the break to explode. But that’s quite a big blow to that plan.

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12:53 PM BST

WICKET! Stokes c Joseph b Seales 8

Short ball from around the wicket, Stokes goes at it, just hits it flat and true to the man at deep backward square. Not a top edge or anything. Just helped it on the way to the man in the deep, who hardly have to move! FOW 341/5

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12:51 PM BST

OVER 74: ENG 341/4 (Root 80* Stokes 8*)

Lunch is at one, time for a few more overs. Over rates in this Test have not been great. But Kevin Sinclair should get through quickly enough. This is a maiden.

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12:48 PM BST

OVER 73: ENG 341/4 (Root 80* Stokes 8*)

Stokes with a solid block off Seales and a momentary moment of confusion as Root sets off from the other end but they nip that in the bud.

Stokes has got the 12th man on at the end of the over for some new gloves. The lead is now 300.

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12:45 PM BST

OVER 72: ENG 340/4 (Root 79* Stokes 8*)

Three runs off the Sinclair over.

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12:43 PM BST

OVER 71: ENG 337/4 (Root 77* Stokes 7*)

Stokes has been circumspect so far but seizes on some width from Seales and crashes the ball through the covers.

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12:38 PM BST

OVER 70: ENG 333/4 (Root 77* Stokes 3*)

First one we’ve seen turn from Sinclair, it grips the pitch and there’s a wee puff of dust but the turn is slow. Hard to see that troubling top batsmen but hope springs eternal for the toiling twirlyman.

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12:32 PM BST

OVER 69: ENG 329/4 (Root 76* Stokes 0*)

That brings the England captain to the crease.

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12:30 PM BST

WICKET! Brook c Da Silva b Seales 109

Windies had found a little smidge of movement since drinks, as I was saying. First Holder and now Seales, who has got the ball to nibble away from Harry Brook here. Harry still plays a significant role in his own downfall with a loose shot, edges behind, but he’ll obviously be pretty pleased with his work in this knock. FOW 329/4

No footwork from Brook, just wafted at it with flat feet. A rare lapse.

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12:27 PM BST

OVER 68: ENG 327/3 (Brook 108* Root 75*)

England only score off five balls of this Sinclair over. Not really happening for the spinner.

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12:22 PM BST

OVER 67: ENG 322/3 (Brook 106* Root 72*)

Rare poor ball from Holder, Root helps it on its way for four. Few singles and that’s an eight-run over.

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12:19 PM BST

OVER 66: ENG 314/3 (Brook 106* Root 64*)

Sinclair comes on. Will England put the hammer down against the spinner? Brook shows his intent by launching Sinclair through long off. England score off every ball of the over, 11 off it. Problems already for Sinclair.

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12:09 PM BST

OVER 65: ENG 303/3 (Brook 101* Root 58*)

Holder continues. Out of the blue really, this ball seams and climbs away from Brook. Well, well.

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12:04 PM BST

OVER 64: ENG 300/3 (Brook 101* Root 55*)

Alzarri Joseph, Four byes. Few singles, seven off the over, and as we take drinks, it’s the West Indies who need the refreshment. England lead by 259.

Some cloud cover rolling in, perhaps that will provoke some movement because there’s nothing to help the bowler so far.

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12:02 PM BST

OVER 63: ENG 293/3 (Brook 100* Root 53*)

Holder’s keeping things tight. One off his over.

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11:56 AM BST

Histrionics

One of the many fine features of Harry Brook’s batting: when he bats with Joe Root, Root leaves the histrionic hitting to Brook and just plays his orthodox game – so far.

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11:55 AM BST

OVER 62: ENG 292/3 (Brook 100* Root 52*)

An over of milestones. Brook reaches his hundred with a quick single. Will Macpherson: “Tense moment there, because Root and Brook have had their moments running between the wickets before (remember Wellington?). It’s a Yorkie thing, I suppose. But they get through, and that’s a magnificent hundred. I suspect it won’t be his last at home.”

That is his first hundred at home.

Shortly after that, Root reaches his fifty and also moves above Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the pantheon of Test Runs. BC Lara the next man ahead of Joe now.

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11:50 AM BST

OVER 61: ENG 288/3 (Brook 99* Root 49*)

Holder is coming on for a bowl. It is a maiden.

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11:46 AM BST

Timing

Harry Brook himself doesn’t realise what a splendid timer of the ball he is. On 95 he steered towards third man and cried out to Joe Root “two, two!”  And it sped for four.

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11:45 AM BST

OVER 60: ENG 288/3 (Brook 99* Root 49*)

Brook has moved on to 99 with a guide to third man. The West Indies want the ball changed. And why wouldn’t they.

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11:39 AM BST

OVER 59: ENG 284/3 (Brook 95* Root 49*)

Shamar Joseph plugging away. Three off the over.

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11:32 AM BST

OVER 58: ENG 281/3 (Brook 93* Root 48*)

First change of bowling of the day and it’s Alzarri Joseph. But not before a short hiatus while a deflated unicorn balloon is removed from the playing area. Sure.

Brook chips a drive to long off. Seales thinks he has saved four but the umpires say otherwise.

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11:31 AM BST

OVER 57: ENG 275/3 (Brook 88* Root 47*)

Shamar Joseph with an excellent bumper. Brook tries to have a go at it but gets himself tied up in knots.

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11:26 AM BST

Wigmore: sumptuous

Sumptuous driving from Harry Brook to begin the day, in between some accurate bowling. Suddenly, England feel well in command, leading by more than 225 runs – though we know that Trent Bridge can be a fine ground for a fourth innings chase. The second new ball is still 25 overs away; West Indies will fear what the lead could be by then.

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11:24 AM BST

OVER 56: ENG 272/3 (Brook 87* Root 45*)

England having it all their own way so far, there’s a donation ball every over more or less and not a lot of help from pitch or atmosphere. Brook with the shot of the morning as he drives Seales down the ground for four.

Macpherson: “unusually for an England player, he’s got six higher scores than this in overseas Tests, including four hundreds. It feels a very good moment for him to get his first hundred at home.”

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11:20 AM BST

OVER 55: ENG 265/3 (Brook 83* Root 42*)

Root guides the ball to third man for four.

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11:19 AM BST

Gun player

If Harry Brook had been a cavalry officer at the Charge of the Light Brigade, he would surely have charged raced, solo, and reached the Russian guns before they had time to fire.

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11:16 AM BST

OVER 54: ENG 259/3 (Brook 82* Root 37*)

Single to Brook, Root thus faces his first two balls of the morning.

Nick Hoult: “Brook is batting at just under a run a ball, not very Geoffrey Boycott, but it is a measure of how England have batted in similar situations in the recent past that this innings feels like a step up in maturity if he converts it into his first Test hundred at home.”

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11:11 AM BST

OVER 53: ENG 258/3 (Brook 81* Root 37*)

Brook pinched the strike off the last ball there so it is he who faces Shamar Joseph. Hit on the pads second ball, probably going down but some encouragement for Windies.

He gets a single off the last ball of that one as well.

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11:05 AM BST

OVER 52: ENG 255/3 (Brook 78* Root 37*)

Seales offering a bit of width in that over, Brook runs it to third man for two and now Seales overpitches as well as bowling it too wide and Brook creams the ball through the covers for four.

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11:00 AM BST

The players are out

Joe Root fiddling with his kit. It is is Harry Brook who will take the first ball. Jayden Seales has the ball.

OVER 51: ENG 248/3 (Brook 71* Root 37*) lead by 207 is the overnight score.

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10:54 AM BST

Trent Bridge

looking a picture as we wait for the players to emerge.

Will Macpherson: “Good morning from Trent Bridge, where it’s a beautiful day. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a crowd this thin at a home Test; it’s understandable that people aren’t booking tickets for day four or five weeks in advance when England talk about finishing games quickly, and the quality of the opposition is unknown. But without wishing to talk the game down, it’s a bit of a worry.”

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10:53 AM BST

Broad also

interviewing former comrade Chris Woakes.

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10:34 AM BST

Stuart Broad doing the pitch report for Sky

“It hasn’t reversed in this match because they have changed the ball so much. And there is no worn area on the outfield, there is nothing to put that wear into the ball. There is a different type of soil here so when you bowl it into the pitch it does not scuff it.”

“Spin will be lovely to face. There are no footmarks to aim at, no concern for the batting groups. If you get out to spin it will be a mental mistake.

“The art of bowling is locating the top of off stump. With a lower bounce (now) you can bowl a bit shorter and hit the pitch harder.”

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10:23 AM BST

England against the tail

An interesting sub plot at the start of day three was England’s difficulties in getting rid of the West Indies tail.

Here is Tim Wigmore on that.

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10:16 AM BST

Fans are arriving

for day four. Shorts and t-shirts the order of the day.

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09:45 AM BST

Who can set the game up?

Good morning, welcome to our live blog for day four of what has turned into a really entertaining Test match. England will resume at Trent Bridge on 248/3, with Joe Root on 37* and Harry Brook on 71*, which adds up to an overnight lead of 207. Whn England were 127/2 and then 140/3, the door was open to a famous West Indies victory. I suspect that the pair of Yorkshireman at the crease right now have shut it but you never know. If West Indies could get England out to leave not much more than 300 then they’d likely have enough time to get the runs, if not necessarily the batting resources. But the pitch seems to hold few terrors so a fourth-innings chase might yet be on.

As for England, they sit 1-0 up in the series and can afford to bat all day and take the game out of sight. Those would be the old ways, I think what’s more likely is that they come out swinging and try to build a domineering lead that will have the dual advantage of making it hard for West Indies to win and also applying psychological pressure on a side that could crumble. Or maybe they will  rise to it.

Yorkshire pair dig in with performance that will leave Boycott purring is our take on the action yesterday, with thoughts obviously with the great Yorkshire batsman as he recovers from surgery.

Play will resume at 11am. The weather forecast for Nottingham looks good, the temperature should be in the 60s and there is little or no chance of rain according to the experts. Could be cracking day, so thanks for joining us and hopefully we can make it a fun one for you. Our correspondents at the ground, including Scyld Berry and Nick Hoult, will be updating us throughout the day.