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2nd Test: Joe Root explains England's declaration against West Indies

England captain Joe Root acknowledged that he could have declared earlier on the final day of the drawn second Test against West Indies. By leaving his somewhat conservative declaration until lunch, he left his bowlers only 65 overs on a docile pitch to collect the 10 second-innings West Indies wickets needed for victory. The hosts were never going to seriously chase the 282 runs they needed to win, and probably would not have gone for a somewhat smaller margin either. But Root in a post match interview sounded as though he did not want to give the hosts even a sniff of a chance. "It's always a tricky one isn't it ... trying to weigh that up," he said of the constantly changing mathematical calculation surrounding the declaration. "Just with how small this ground is and how strong the wind was, you don't want to ... give too many overs. To look back in hindsight, could we have pulled out 10 overs earlier, would it have made much difference?"

West Indies vs England, 2nd Test: Stubborn Kraigg Brathwaite Sets Up Decider In Series Finale

Kraigg Brathwaite's celebrated obduracy was again necessary after his first innings marathon 160 as the West Indies captain's unbeaten second innings half-century ensured another draw on the final day of the second Test against England at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday. Needing to survive two sessions having been set the improbable target of 282, Brathwaite's unbeaten 56 made sure a stumble to 93 for five just after tea did not result in a complete collapse as he got the necessary support from Joshua da Silva (30 not out) with the skipper and wicketkeeper negotiating 21 overs without being separated.

2nd Test: West Indies hold out for draw as England fall five wickets short

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was again a gigantic roadblock that England could not dislodge as the second Test ended in a tense draw in Barbados on Sunday. England declared in enough time to give themselves 65 overs to bowl out West Indies a second time and picked up five wickets inside 45 overs, including three by spinner Jack Leach. But a singing Barmy Army in typically good voice could not quite inspire the visitors across the finish line as West Indies finished on 135 for five. Though England were the better team overall, the match will be best remembered for the remarkable batting performances by Brathwaite. After stoically occupying the crease for almost 12 hours in scoring 160 from 489 balls in the first innings, he was there at the bitter end on Sunday, unconquered on 56, having spent all but about one hour on the field over five long days.