England declared 466-6 in their opening innings, with Jonny Bairstow finishing unbeaten on 106 and Dan Lawrence on 83; the home team made it to 48-2 at the end of the game, with Jack Leach claiming sole wicket along with Craig Overton.
Jonny Bairstow cruised to a fine unbeaten century on day two of England’s Test preparation game against a West Indies Cricket President’s XI in Antigua.
Bairstow picked up where he left off in Sydney, where he scored England’s only century of a torrid Ashes campaign before suffering a broken thumb that ruled him out of the final test in Hobart.
Bairstow (106th) came into form ahead of next week’s first test against the West Indies, lifting his ton just before the tea interval as the tourists declared at 466-6.
That left a full session for England’s new couture attack (James Anderson and Stuart Broad, both controversially overlooked for this trip) to make inroads, but they were unable to do so.
The home team went to 48-2 at the close, with the first of two England advances, Jeremy Solozano for 17, thanks to a Craig Overton running from his own bowling alley, before Jack Leach brought down Shayne Moseley (20 ), beating the batsman. booming unit.
Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson shared the new ball, just as they did in the Ashes’ first match at The Gabba in December when Anderson and Broad were deemed unfit, but failed to create any real mischief.
They shared 14 overs but managed no more than a late catch cry behind Robinson. Joe Root would have liked to ask for a little extra pace, but with Mark Wood out of the field and Ben Stokes so far only bowling in the session breaks, he couldn’t do it.
England have suggested that Wood was simply resting, taking his turn off the pitch in what is a 12v12 contest, and there has been no mention of a veil injury.
Earlier in the day, Bairstow, who resumed on day four without going out, was the star of the show, with the Yorkshireman prevailing in a tiring home attack with 13 bounds and six in two dominant batting sessions.
Bairstow was the fifth England batsman to pass fifty in innings, following Zak Crawley (62), Alex Lees (65), Root (54) and Dan Lawrence (83). Surely Woakes would have followed suit on his 33rd birthday as well, but he went undefeated in 49 when Root called his team.
Lawrence hit an early six to turn his 46 overnight, not into a fifty, and then went through a series of chops and cuts as he blasted toward a hundred, only to find a rising delivery from Colin Archibald to lose. 17 races.
Bairstow, however, would not refuse and reached his century just before tea when he lobbed a Preston McSween delivery off his hips and into the thin leg limit.
Ben Foakes was the only other England batsman to go down on the day, giving away his wicket somewhat for 25 when he picked out Shermon Lewis’s square leg.
Lawrence admitted he was frustrated at not getting a chance to help England’s faltering batting in the Ashes, but says he is ready to make up for lost time in the West Indies.
After his spirited 83 strike scored at No. 4 during the first two days of England’s warm-up match against Cricket’s West Indies President’s XI, Lawrence reflected on a “frustrating” winter.
“That was my first competitive bat since the end of the English summer, so it was nice to spend a couple of hours in the crease,” he said.
“It was a nice feeling to score some runs. Obviously I would love to play in the first test, that’s my number one priority.”
“It was a bit of a frustrating time for me in Australia not to play, but that’s life.
“Obviously it hasn’t been easy, it was tough not being able to try to help the guys when they were going through a pretty tough time. But it happens, I can’t wait to play. I’m just trying to prepare myself for when the opportunity comes.”
Lawrence added: “I’ve batted in a few different places for England so far, but for Essex in the last three or four years I’ve hit number four and felt quite comfortable there. It’s a place I enjoy batting.
“I haven’t had a conversation yet about what the team is going to be, but if I get a chance to play and hit number four, I’m really excited about that.”
“I feel like sometimes I haven’t shown everyone what I can really do. I think when I go in, I usually do well, sometimes it’s just the beginning for me. But I feel very positive and I’m really just trying to enjoy each day. I play for England and not put too much pressure on myself.
“It hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to go so far in my career, but I hope it can change. If I get the chance, grab it with both hands and really establish myself in the England middle order.”
