Nottingham is buzzing with activity, bursting at the seams as university students and their families flood the city for graduation ceremonies. Adding to the excitement, the Touch Rugby World Cup, boasting a record 188 teams from nations like Chile, Chinese Taipei, Lebanon, and Luxembourg, is taking place. Evenings see the city centre alive with groups in team attire, navigating the cobblestone streets in search of social spots.
Amidst this flurry of events, a Test match has also found its place, making these thrilling days for Nottingham’s hospitality sector. At a budget hotel, a receptionist expressed surprise at the high room rates, a reflection of the city's bustling visitor influx. Despite the crowds, when England started batting just after 11 am, Ben Duckett found himself surrounded by open space.
Recalling last year, Pat Cummins faced criticism for setting a defensive field against England in the Ashes, allowing easy singles and little pressure on the batsmen. Ricky Ponting had criticised the approach, questioning where the bowler was supposed to aim with such a spread-out field.
In contrast, Kraigg Brathwaite adopted the opposite tactic, keeping fielders close and challenging England’s batters to get past them. This, however, proved ineffective as Duckett continuously sent the ball through the gaps. England set a record by scoring 50 runs in just 26 balls in a Test first innings. Duckett contributed seven boundaries in the first hour, reaching 60 runs by the first drinks break.
Brathwaite’s decision to bowl first under clear skies suggested a lack of confidence in his inexperienced batting lineup, and despite Alzarri Joseph's early success dismissing Zak Crawley, the West Indies' bowlers struggled. The second and third overs went for 19 and 12 runs respectively. Despite some improvement before lunch and good catches from Jason Holder, the bowlers lacked consistency, and fielding errors began to show.
The day’s play featured both quality and comedic moments. Harry Brook’s failed scoop resulted in a jubilant celebration from bowler Kevin Sinclair. Shamar Joseph, identifiable by his bright yellow watch, nearly dropped a simple catch from Joe Root twice before finally securing it, a scene more fitting for a circus than a cricket ground.
Ollie Pope, despite looking unsettled and being dropped twice, scored a handsome century, his fifth-highest in Test cricket. His performance stood out in a day marked by both high-calibre play and light-hearted moments, reflecting the vibrant yet chaotic spirit of Nottingham.