As Jimmy Anderson's final Test progressed smoothly toward an inevitable England victory, the second day at Lord's concluded with the West Indies struggling at 79 for six, still needing 171 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
However, the 41-year-old missed a planned guard of honour for what might be his final appearance at the crease. This tribute was interrupted by the West Indies' jubilant celebration of Mikyle Louis’ impressive run-out of Shoaib Bashir, leaving Anderson to settle for a quick handshake from Jason Holder. Jayden Seales, the West Indies bowler, mentioned that they had discussed the honour, but the unexpected run-out had disrupted their plans. Thankfully, Holder managed to catch up with Anderson for a brief acknowledgement.
Anderson also missed the chance to replicate Stuart Broad’s feat of hitting a six off his last Test delivery, as Jamie Smith was caught in the deep, ending England’s innings before Anderson faced a ball. Smith expressed his regret, saying he wished he could have hit one more six to allow Anderson his moment. Reflecting on his own experience, Smith described his debut with England as “surreal” and “incredible,” after scoring 70 to help secure a dominant position for the team. He relished the supportive environment and the confidence boost from his teammates.
Smith became the latest debutant to thrive under Ben Stokes’ captaincy, following Gus Atkinson’s impressive seven-wicket haul on the opening day. While Atkinson was the fifth player to achieve a five-fer on debut under Stokes, Smith was the first to score a half-century. Smith explained that the team's messaging was relaxed, encouraging him to play his natural, aggressive game. He admitted to initial nerves but felt confident at the crease, eager to prove his capability at this level.
Despite a positive fielding effort, the West Indies fell short on runs, hampering their chances of victory. Seales, who took four wickets, acknowledged their inconsistent bowling and rued the lack of runs on the first day. He highlighted that bowling out a team for 371 in a Test match is commendable, but their initial batting performance left them in a difficult position.
The third day at Lord’s holds promise for an England victory as Anderson’s final Test continues to unfold with drama and excitement.