England vs West Indies: How the pitch could play a key role in the third test

The teams struggled to perform on a pitch with little life, rendering the last day of the second match a forgettable fixture.

It was not easy to smash fast runs so West Indies, during their last chase, managed an average of below two runs per over.

The flat surface was a nuisance once the new ball had softened up.

However, England exhibited good bowling, especially from Saqib Mahmood and Jack Leach, who bowled 94 overs and put immense pressure on the West Indies.

A languid pitch that put both the teams in a fix

On the last day of the second innings, England resumed from 40 without loss. They needed to score fast and make the West Indies bat again with enough overs left to stress the opponent out.

England declared the second innings when the scoreboard read 185-6 and they had a lead of 281 runs at Kensington Oval. So the West Indies needed to score 282 runs in 65 overs at more than four an over. They ultimately pulled through the entirety of those 65 overs and finished on 135-5.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite further exhibited commendable endurance and batted for more than four hours. He scored 56 runs from 184 balls but his partnerships were disrupted by Jack Leach, who took six wickets in the match.

He bowled 94.5 overs overall and set a record for the most overs delivered by an Englishman in a Test in 60 years.

Even when West Indies had five wickets remaining with 20 overs to go, Brathwaite continued his game and crossed Brian Lara's previous record of playing the most deliveries in a single Test by a West Indies player.

The West Indies managed a tally of 411 and 135-5 in response to England’s 507-9 and 185-6.

Slower over rate leading up to a boring match

England aggressively pushed for victory while the West Indies did everything in its power to stall the pace hoping for a draw. The match was painfully slow with fewer overs being bowled per hour. However, a few blissful moments accelerated the game.

Centuries by Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jermaine Blackwood, and Kraig Braithwaite alongside Jack Leach's bowling prowess stood out despite battling a pitch that threatened the integrity of the sport.

A total of 34 overs were bowled on the fourth day which was further disrupted by a rain delay.

Over-rates could be an issue that plagues fans, although catching up can be done by running through some overs of part-time spin.

However, as compared to a poor pitch, the one in Kensington did not affect the players as much. A dead pitch usually results in a loss of one or two per cent of a day’s play at the worst.

Having said that, the third and final Test match will take place in Grenada on March 24, where the pitch is expected to cater to the game rather than being a mere attempt in pulling off a five-day finish.