Stuart Broad says tourists ‘missed an opportunity’ as hosts extended lead at Trent Bridge –

A Test match that unfolded in fascinating fashion after the first innings between England and the West Indies probably turned out in favour of the home side.

England turned a 41-run deficit at lunch on the third day into a 207-run lead at stumps, thanks to the cricketing talent of Ben Stokes’ team – a refined version of Bazball – and the erratic bowling of Kraigg Brathwaite’s men, helping the home side to 248-3 under overcast skies at Trent Bridge.

After Zak Crawley was run out when he was back-hit in the second over of England’s second dig, there was a chance for West Indies to strike. A chance Sky Sport Cricket According to expert Stuart Broad, they did their best.

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“I think it was a missed opportunity for West Indies,” said the former England international.

“If they are lucky enough to get Crawley out in the manner they were and then don’t make the most of the circumstances, they will be disappointed.

West Indies put England under pressure – but let it slip

“There were too many soft deliveries, easy boundaries, especially to Ollie Pope when he first came in. He got a bit of width and some deliveries on the leg side.

“If they had controlled the pace and taken a few wickets, England would still have been behind. But Pope and Ben Duckett got the scoreboard moving and the pressure was gone.”

Duckett and Pope shared their second century stand of the match, with Duckett making 76 and Pope 51 in an alliance of 119 from 143 deliveries, before they were dismissed in quick succession by Alzarri Joseph after an exchange of balls.

Broad said: “Duckett and Pope played some great cricket and they score well because they can hit good balls for four. When you have players who can do that, you can’t give them easy fours.

“You don’t want to give them anything, so they have to create something. We’ve seen that Pope is busy and if you tie him down, he dances around the wicket and then you might create a chance.

“After tea West Indies came up with a clear, solid plan for half an hour – went to Duckett’s outside edge, used up 7-2 fields. But Test cricket is a long game and you can’t be good for 45 minutes, it has to be hour after hour after hour.”

‘Root and Brook showed cricket brains’

After Duckett and Pope’s century partnership was broken, Joe Root and Harry Brook scored once more in the twilight, largely brushing aside the extremely aggressive batting, barring an occasional swipe from Brook.

“There was a bit of movement on the pitch due to the high pressure, which caused the ball to fly back and forth more than on days one and two,” Broad said.

“It wasn’t that easy to get the ball to the bowlers, so Brook and Root, players with good cricketing brains, chose the areas and style of stroke that made them most comfortable scoring.

“Brook attacks the short ball a lot, opens the off-side to dink over third man, while he can also pull the ball hard through midwicket and square leg.

“There’s a great understanding, having played together for Yorkshire, they run well between the wickets. England certainly won the last hour and a half with Brook and Root playing so beautifully.”

Broad’s fellow pundit Michael Atherton added: “In this series I think we’ve seen a slightly more mature approach from England. They’re still rattling along at a rapid pace for Test cricket – almost five an over – but it hasn’t felt as chaotic.

“They’ve been criticized in the past for their gung-ho approach and their gung-ho words. Here they’ve been aggressive and forward, but not reckless, and they’re in a decent position.”

England need time to bowl out West Indies

How will England play on day four?

Broad added: “They’ll be aware that the Trent Bridge pitch isn’t going to deteriorate massively. It’s not the sort of pitch where you’re going to bowl a team out in 25 overs – you need a chunk of time.

“I don’t think they’ll give the West Indians 320, 330 – they want to be at 370, 380. But the way England are batting, that could happen soon.

“I can imagine England wanting to bowl 60 overs.”

Watch the fourth day of the second Test match between England and West Indies live from Trent Bridge Sky Sport Cricket from 10.15am on Sunday (first ball at 11am).

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(c) Sky Sports 2024: England vs West Indies: Stuart Broad says tourists ‘missed an opportunity’ as hosts extended lead at Trent Bridge