Resilient England remember absent mentors with emotional milestones in West Indies Test

Two looks skyward — the first protracted, the second just a glance — to remember absent mentors while celebrating emotional milestones provided the highlights of a romping, joyful second day here in Barbados for England.

When Ben Stokes pushed into the offside for a single — one of his few sedate strokes — in the afternoon session, he reached his 11th Test century. It was one of his very best, as well as his first for 22 innings, and more importantly, his first since the death of his father, Ged, in December 2020.

Stokes completed the single, dropped his bat and removed his helmet and left glove. In what has become his trademark celebration, Stokes clenched the knuckle of his middle finger — Ged was missing part of this digit — and looked to the heavens.

“It was great,” said Stokes. “In India I got 99 and it was a bit of a dagger in the heart, but it was nice to get there and remember him that way. Of the hundreds I’ve got, personally, that’s probably one of the more memorable, with everything that’s gone on over the last two years. It’s a very special feeling.”

In the final session yesterday against West Indies, Matt Fisher, the surprise debutant, seduced an underedge from John Campbell with just his second ball in Test cricket. Fisher hared off towards the Barmy Army in the Hewitt and Inniss Stand. Among the throng were his family and, on the way, he pointed a finger to the sky in memory of his father Phil, who died when he was 14.

These two looks to the skies are reminders that these players are human — and Stokes and Fisher are not alone in holding such memories.

Taking the catch to complete Fisher’s wicket was Ben Foakes, who lost his father Peter when he was 13. In the middle with Stokes was Jonny Bairstow, whose