Watch: Mark Wood’s Pace Beats Kirk McKenzie’s Defense
Mark Wood’s stunning dismissal of Kirk McKenzie highlighted England’s strong start in the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston. On the opening day, West Indies faced early setbacks after skipper Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and chose to bat.
Brathwaite showed resilience, reaching a solid fifty, but his team struggled to build a stable innings from the other end. Opener Mikyle Louis contributed 26 runs before being dismissed, having shared a 76-run partnership with Brathwaite. The West Indies’ innings took a downturn as they transitioned from a promising 76 for 1 to a precarious 97 for 3 during the first session.
The first hour saw the openers add 48 runs, but the second hour saw a dramatic shift as England’s bowlers made significant inroads, claiming three wickets for 49 runs. Among the notable dismissals was Kirk McKenzie, who was removed by Mark Wood. Wood, bowling at an impressive 146 kmph, delivered a fuller ball that pierced McKenzie’s defense and shattered his stumps. McKenzie could only manage 12 runs from nine balls before his departure.
Gus Atkinson also played a crucial role, dismissing Alick Athanaze shortly after McKenzie’s exit, leaving the West Indies struggling at three wickets down by lunch. England’s bowlers made their presence felt, setting a dominant tone for the remainder of the match.
As the West Indies continue their first innings in the final Test against England at Edgbaston, they face a critical phase with key players Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, and Joshua Da Silva still to bat. This experienced middle order will need to rise to the occasion, given the team’s struggles so far. The West Indies have been outperformed with the bat, having been dismissed for 136 and 121 in the first Test. Their performance in the second Test showed some promise with a score of 457, but they ultimately fell short, being bowled out for 143 while chasing a target of 386.
Currently, the West Indies find themselves in a challenging position in the first innings of the final Test. England, having already secured the series by winning the first two Tests, is now aiming for a clean sweep. This series loss has placed the West Indies at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. They have won just one out of six Test matches, losing four, and hold a Points Percentage (PCT) of 22.22. In contrast, England has climbed to sixth place with a PCT of 36.66 following their back-to-back victories.
India leads the WTC table with 74 points and a PCT of 68.51, while Australia and New Zealand are in second and third places, respectively. In the WTC 2023-2025 cycle, teams earn 12 points for a win, 4 for a draw, and 6 for a tie.
Earlier, West Indies’ captain Kraigg Brathwaite chose to bat first, hoping to capitalize on favorable weather conditions. However, with three wickets down on the first day, their situation is precarious.
