After the T20 World Cup 2024, the action now shifts to the Test format as England host West Indies for a 3-match Test series starting from 10th July 2024. All eyes will be on this series as both teams are still in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) finals.
The last time West Indies had toured England in a Test series in 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown, England had defeated the Windies 2-1 in the Test series. Ben Stokes had scored 363 runs and finished as the leading run-scorer of the series.
The 1st test at Lord’s starting from 10th July 2024 is a historic one as it is the last Test match of the veteran English pacer, James Anderson. Anderson has 700 Test wickets under his belt and is the leading wicket-taker among pacers in this format.
He will be with the squad for the remainder of the series as a bowling mentor of the England cricket team.
In this article, we take a look at the top 5 players to watch out for in the ENG vs WI Test series:
1. Ben Stokes (England)
The captain of the England Test team, Ben Stokes will be playing a key role in the Test series versus West Indies. Ben Stokes had also finished as the leading run-getter, the previous time West Indies had toured England in 2020.
Ben Stokes didn’t play the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and therefore would have a fresh mind ahead of this Test series. England also need to win all their matches and depend on other team’s results in order to find a place in the finals of the WTC.
2. James Anderson (England)
Playing his last Test match at Lord’s James Anderson will be bidding adieu to a glittering and illustrious cricketing career that spanned 22 years at the international front. Anderson has 700 wickets in his kitty and ages like fine wine.
Anderson loves playing against West Indies and has 87 Test wickets in 22 Test matches against this opposition.
3. Kraigg Brathwaite (West Indies)
The captain of West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite, is one of West Indies’ best batters in this format. Brathwaite knows he has a huge task against England and will have to be at his best. The 31-year-old cricketer has 5513 runs under his belt in 89 Tests and has an average of 34.2.
In the 2nd Test match between West Indies and England at Bridgetown in 2022, Brathwaite marshalled his troops well and led them from the front. He slammed a knock of 160 runs in 489 deliveries and deservedly won the player of the match award.
4. Jason Holder (West Indies)
One of the finest all-rounders from West Indies, Jason Holder will be another key player to watch out for. He is a big match player and absorbs pressure extremely well.
Holder had bagged 10 wickets and had scored 114 runs, the last time West Indies toured England for a Test series in 2020.
5. Chris Woakes (England)
Post the retirement of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the likes of Matthew Potts, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson will have the onus and responsibility in red-ball cricket. And out of this trio, Woakes is supremely experienced and will need to lead the bowling stocks of the Three Lions.
He had taken 11 wickets and had finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker of England in 2020 vs West Indies.
Also read: Major League Cricket 2024: 3 Reasons Why MI New York Can Defend Their Title
