Eng vs WI, 1st Test, Day 1 : England Post 35/1 At Stumps As Rain Hits Resumption Of International Cricket After 117 Days

England stand-in captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in the first Test of the three-match #raisethebat series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

(Image/ AFP)

Southampton: After a wait of almost 4 months, International Cricket finally returns to Britain on Wednesday as England plays the West Indies in the world's first cricket test match since the start of March because of the Coronavirus pandemic. England stand-in captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in the first Test of the three-match #raisethebat series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. Host England ended the opening day of the rain-hit first Test against the West Indies being played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on 35 for 1. The series opener of the 3-match Test series also marked the resumption of international cricket after a 3-month long hiatus enforced by the Covid pandemic. At stumps on Day 1, Rory Burns was batting at 20, while Joe Denly was unbeaten at the crease on 14.Shannon Gabriel was the lone wicket taker for the Windies, returning with impressive figures of 1 for 19. Joe Denly and Rory Burns resurrected the English innings after Windies seamer Shannon Gabriel clean bowled Burns' opening partner Dom Sibley early in the innings. Rain played spoilsport on the first day of the landmark first Test amid the Covid pandemic, with only 82 minutes of play possible all through the day, most of which came during the second session of the day in which 17.4 overs were bowled.

Bowled on the angle - Gabriel cleans out Sibley for a duck!

England 0-1 after 10 balls! #EngvWI Watch live on Sky Sports Cricket now or follow here: https://t.co/ZUqX1InU7t pic.twitter.com/BZK5hSy9nl — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 8, 2020

The Test assumes historic significance as it marks the return of cricket after the sport was suspended in March due to the Coronavirus outbreak. A smoothly run test series, played in a strict isolated environment featuring repeated Covid-19 testing and social distancing, can lay the blueprint for future matches and tours in cricket but also events in other sports targeting a resumption. Meanwhile, the visitors have gone into the match with an all-pace attack led by skipper Jason Holder. Playing XI England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Joe Denly, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes (c), Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Dominic Bess, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, James Anderson West Indies: John Campbell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder (c), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel