England’s Root, Brook Batting Windies Out of First Test Joe Root and Harry Brook produced a masterful batting display to guide England to a crushing victory over the West Indies in the first Test of the series. On a rain-affected day in Antigua, Root and Brook came together at the crease with England struggling at 48-3. However, the pair defied the difficult conditions, building a partnership that would ultimately prove unbreakable. Root, the former England captain, played with his customary elegance and control, effortlessly finding the gaps in the Windies attack. Brook, the rising star of English cricket, matched Root’s class with his aggressive strokeplay. Over after over, Root and Brook tormented the Windies bowlers. Spinners Alzarri Joseph and Roston Chase were unable to trouble them, while pacers Kemar Roach and Jason Holder found their deliveries dispatched with disdain. Root brought up his 27th Test century, his second in as many matches. Brook, not to be outdone, scored his maiden Test century, becoming the youngest English player to reach the milestone since Jonny Bairstow in 2014. The pair’s partnership eventually came to an end when Brook was dismissed for 134, but the damage had been done. England declared on a mammoth 507-9, setting the Windies an improbable target of 493. The Windies offered little resistance in their chase. Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks provided some early resistance, but once they were dismissed, the innings collapsed. Root and Brook claimed two wickets apiece as England wrapped up a convincing ten-wicket victory. Root and Brook’s performances were hailed as a testament to their exceptional batting skills. The pair have now scored 314 runs between them in the first two days of the series, putting England in a commanding position. With three more Tests to play, England will be confident of sealing the series victory. However, the Windies will need to show significant improvement if they are to avoid a whitewash.Half-centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook helped stretch England’s lead to 172 on day two of the first Test against West Indies.Half-centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook helped stretch England’s lead to 172 on day two of the first Test against West Indies. Having bowled the tourists out for 121 on Wednesday, England moved to 6-293 on the second morning at Lord’s. West Indies conceded 104 runs in the first session but spinner Gudakesh Motie produced two brilliant deliveries to prevent the hosts from running riot. Motie ripped one devilishly out of the rough to clean bowl captain Ben Stokes for four and then knocked back Root’s off stump just before lunch, leaving Jamie Smith in charge of the remainder of the innings on debut. With perfect overhead batting conditions, England wasted no time building on their overnight score of 3-189, reeling off 42 runs in the first half-hour. Brook was quick to find his timing, driving Jayden Seales to the first boundary of the day. Root was equally keen to feel ball on bat and followed up with four fours in nine deliveries, ruthlessly dispatching anything that drifted towards his pads. Things were beginning to look painful for West Indies when Brook stepped back and pulled Shamar Joseph’s short ball for six into the Mound Stand, bringing up his half-century in just 55 balls. But his enthusiasm was about getting the better of him. Shaping to hook another bumper from Alzarri Joseph, he looked as though he might pull out of the stroke before sending a top edge straight up and into the gloves of Josh Da Silva. That brought Stokes to the crease, but his short stay was ended by a moment of class from Motie. The arrival of a left-hander brought the footmarks into play and he got one to spin viciously outside the England skipper’s off stump and flatten middle stump. Motie had nothing quite so appealing to work with against the right-handers but stuck to his task and eventually snuck one past Root’s outside edge with just enough turn to take the bails. Smith had earlier got off the mark by hacking a drag down for four and added two more boundaries as he reached the interval 16 not out.England’s batters, led by Joe Root and Harry Brook, put on a dominant display to effectively end the West Indies’ resistance in the first Test match. Root, who opened the innings, anchored England’s batting, scoring a patient and composed 153 runs. Brook, at the other end, showcased his attacking flair, smashing an unbeaten 134 off just 126 deliveries, including 15 fours and five sixes. Supported by half-centuries from Alex Lees and Ollie Pope, England amassed a formidable 507 runs in their first innings, giving them a substantial lead of 311 runs. The West Indies’ batting lineup struggled to keep up with England’s pace and quality. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite provided some resistance with a gritty 55 runs, but the rest of the team failed to make significant contributions. England’s bowlers capitalized on the West Indies’ vulnerability, with James Anderson claiming 6 wickets and Chris Woakes taking 4. The visitors were bowled out for 219, giving England a comprehensive innings victory. The victory gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series, putting them in a strong position to secure a series win. The second Test is scheduled to start on March 16 in Barbados.