West Indies beat England by four wickets in thrilling First Test full of drama

Test cricket returned, and needed just one match to remind us why it is the greatest game.

West Indies’ victory over England – by a margin of four wickets (and it felt a lot closer than that) – was always not the highest quality fare but it never lacked drama, and had just about everything, right up to 6pm on the final day.

Before it even began there were was selection contention, and the two teams came together for a special and necessary show of solidarity. When the game got going there were brilliant spells of fast bowling and some fine batting (if not, quite, a century), a wide array of weather and entertaining interviews.

All that was missing was a crowd. It had taken a mighty effort (not least from the Windies in coming to this country) and plenty of cash to get it on, and was worth every drop and penny. Any old cricket would have done, but this was far better than any old cricket. Nothing came easy for either team, and the result was a win for the underdog, and the away team. Neither of those things happen that often in Test cricket. We have a thrilling series on our hands.

On the final day it was all about Jofra Archer, who proved unwarranted doubters wrong, and Jermaine Blackwood, who produced an innings that most thought he could not. Indeed many would not even have had him in the team, or believed that his improved first-class numbers would translate to this level, especially after his shot in the first innings. He fell caught at mid-off again – but this time he had 95 to his name.

Archer dominated the first half of the day, Blackwood the second. Blackwood won, and joined Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder in the queue of Caribbean candidates for man of the match.

After Archer helped bosh an extra 29 (with Gabriel taking the last two wickets to finish with five in the innings and nine in the match) to set a target of exactly 200, England started brilliantly.

There were five maidens in the first seven overs and, in that time, both openers were removed – in one way or another. John Campbell was bashed on the toe by an Archer yorker, and retired hurt. Then Kraigg Brathwaite was bowled off his inside edge and, in his following over, Archer had Shamarh Brooks plumb lbw.