Plays of the Day from the first day of the second Test between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge
George Dobell at Trent Bridge25-May-2012Selection of the day
The selection of offspinner Shane Shillingford was widely anticipated. Not only did West Indies miss the variation of a specialist spinner at Lord’s, but there was a concern that the burden on Kemar Roach was growing too heavy. Conditions in Nottingham may prove tough for Shillingford, though. Going into this game, Graeme Swann had not taken a Test wicket on the ground (he has played two Tests at Trent Bridge before this one) and since 2008 spin bowlers have taken just four wickets here for a cost of 561 runs. That is an average of 140.25 per wicket. Even if wickets prove hard to come by, however, Shillingford should at least help Darren Sammy retain a measure of control in the field: he is slightly more economical than Swann and, in his last game, claimed ten wickets against Australia.Review of the day
West Indies were 64 for 4 when Asad Rauf adjudged Marlon Samuels, who had made only a single, lbw to Tim Bresnan. The review subsequently showed that the ball would have passed well over the top of the stumps and a reprieved Samuel went on to play perhaps the finest and important innings of his career. It was an out-of-character error from the normally excellent Rauf, who did not enjoy the best of days. But for the DRS, West Indies would have been 64 for 5 and Samuels would have endured a miserable – and unfortunate – day.Wicket of the day
Bearing in mind that Shivnarine Chanderpaul is rated as the No. 1 Test batsman and that, until that moment, he had resisted for 510 deliveries and scored 224 runs for only one dismissal in the series, his wicket was automatically crucial. But on this occasion it was relevant for two more factors. For a start it was the second time in the day that a decision by Rauf had been overturned upon review and it was also Swann’s first Test wicket at Trent Bridge. It was a fine delivery, too, drawing Chanderpaul forward and then turning past his bat.Shot of the day
There are several candidates, most of them provided by Samuels. An apparently effortless on-drive off the bowling of Stuart Broad, a delightful stroke that raced back past the stumps for four, was hard to beat, but the shot of the day was the one that brought Samuels his second half-century of the series. The ball from Bresnan was neither particularly wide nor particularly short, but Samuels forced through cover off the back foot to reach 50 for the 17th time in his Test career. While Samuels endured a turbulent start to this innings, he later provided a reminder as to why he once seen as the future of West Indies’ batting.Quote of the day No. 1
Asked how hard it was to have endured a prolonged period out of the West Indies side, Marlon Samuels replied with a phlegmatic shrug: “I wouldn’t tell you it was difficult … I got to spend quality time with my family and go to the beach.”Heated moment of the day
Frustrated after a day that included a couple of dropped chances, James Anderson’s temper came close to boiling point after an lbw appeal – a very long lbw appeal – against Darren Sammy, on 79, was turned down by Aleem Dar. A few moments later, Anderson threw away the pieces of his broken sunglasses and Dar asked him to pick them up. In the end Swann picked them up, put them back together and placed them around Dar’s sunhat. Combined with Anderson’s ‘talkative’ approach to Samuels and the England fast bowler may well be called to see Roshan Mahanama, the ICC match referee, at the end of the Test. “Things can get a little bit out of hand,” Anderson admitted afterwards. “He just told me to be careful. He said if the cameras caught me I could get a punishment, but it all seemed quite friendly at the time. My sunglasses broke. In frustration, I tossed them away.”Quote of the day No. 2
Asked about Anderson’s commentary on his batting – a feature of the day – Samuels replied: “James Anderson should know I am batting for the team. A lot of balls that could’ve been hit for the boundary I left them alone. But when I get a double [century] tomorrow, I would like James Anderson to say something to me.”
