West Indies vs. England, 2nd Test: Date, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
West Indies and England meet for the second Test in Grenada on Tuesday, with the three-match series deadlocked following the draw in the opening Test in Antigua.
Commences: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. local
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Venue: National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada
Live On: Sky Sports (UK), Star Sports (India), Ten Sports (Pakistan), Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (South Africa)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)
Overview
At various times throughout last week's first Test, there was a vast chasm evident between these two teams.
The West Indies, gutted by administrative issues and the absence of star names, looked like exactly what they are: the lowest-ranked Test team among the game's eight major sides. England, meanwhile, continued to demonstrate that there's little correlation between Test and limited-overs form, shrugging aside a disastrous World Cup campaign to play with an evenness from top to bottom.
As such, it felt like bantamweight vs. heavyweight.
And yet, the series is still all square.
For that, England only have themselves to blame—and a staggeringly flat pitch in Antigua, too—after failing to bowl the hosts out in the game's fourth innings, despite having 130 overs in which to do so.
Indeed, it was a frustrating encounter for the visitors, who, despite taking many positives away from the Test, were denied the victory they craved to help soothe the pain of a difficult winter. And as the series switches to Grenada, more toil and graft will be needed.
For England, the expected return of Moeen Ali will be a boost, even though it's likely he'll replace the incredibly unfortunate James Tredwell in what could be the only change to the side. For the West Indies, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo is a good chance of earning his first Test cap in three years following the decision to drop Sulieman Benn, pinning the slow-bowling duties on a player with a Test average nearing 40.
Form Lines
| D: vs. England | D: vs. West Indies |
| L: 8 wickets vs. South Africa | W: inns & 244 runs vs. India |
| D: vs. South Africa | W: inns & 54 runs vs. India |
| L: inns & 220 runs vs. South Africa | W: 266 runs vs. India |
| W: 296 runs vs. Bangladesh | L: 95 runs vs. India |
| W: 10 wickets vs. Bangladesh | D: vs. India |
Predicted XIs
| Kraigg Brathwaite | Alastair Cook (c) |
| Devon Smith | Jonathan Trott |
| Darren Bravo | Gary Ballance |
| Marlon Samuels | Ian Bell |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul | Joe Root |
| Jermaine Blackwood | Moeen Ali |
| Denesh Ramdin (c/wk) | Jos Buttler (wk) |
| Jason Holder | Ben Stokes |
| Kemar Roach | Chris Jordan |
| Jerome Taylor | Stuart Broad |
| Devendra Bishoo | James Anderson |
Players to Watch
Though his Test record isn't exactly flattering, Devendra Bishoo enjoyed an excellent domestic season with Guyana in 2014-15, capturing 61 wickets in 10 games at 17.06. And after the axing of Benn, it seems likely that the forgotten leg-spinner (after a flurry of appearances in 2011-12, Bishoo hasn't played an international game in three years) will come into the West Indies side for this second Test in Grenada.
On another surface expected to be flat, Bishoo will need to perform the role Benn was unable to: creating pressure for the home side's quicker men at the other end.
If he can, the hosts will undoubtedly put together a stronger showing than they did in Antigua.
For England, it already feels as though Jonathan Trott is under significant pressure after just one game back.
Undone by the swing of Jerome Taylor in both innings in the first Test, the recalled veteran finds himself desperately in need of runs, with the presence of the outstanding Adam Lyth in the touring squad looming large.
England coach Peter Moores has insisted there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Trott's struggles, but the selectors might not be so kind if the theme repeats itself in Grenada.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
West Indies: 9/2
Draw: 15/8
England: 10/11
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
