Saturday 18 April 2015 11:21, UK
Nasser Hussain says England’s spirits will be high going to Grenada for the second Test of the series despite the West Indies frustrating them for a draw in the first in Antigua.
England fell short of the win – despite James Anderson taking two wickets to pass Sir Ian Botham as England’s leading Test wicket-take – as Jason Holder hit a maiden hundred and the West Indies reached 350-7 at the close.
“They gave it absolutely everything,” said Hussain. “England tried everything today. I don’t think they’ll be sitting in that dressing-room thinking ‘oh dear, what a disaster’.
“I was fortunate enough to go into the dressing-room for a team talk before this game and I see a group of lads that are very much together.
“They’re not the greatest side in Test cricket – in fact they’re the third best side – but they are working hard to get better and Jimmy Anderson and his record-breaking achievement will lift spirits.
“I don’t think that’s a dressing room that will be down.
It’s in stark contrast to the sentiments after England drew their last Test in Antigua six years ago when Andrew Strauss’ side fell one-wicket short of a win by leaving their declaration too late.
“This time, the pitch won this game,” said Hussain. “Cook’s declaration, I think, was pretty much spot on. You can’t argue with the captain.
“It won’t hurt England as much as it did last time out here. I think when they left here after batting on too long six years ago, there was a feeling ‘that was an error and we could have won that game’.”
England travel to Grenada for the second Test which starts on Tuesday, and Hussain highlighted a few positives in particular the side can take into that game.
“I like someone who gets runs in adversity – that’s why I liked Holder’s hundred today – so I liked Gary Ballance’s knock,” added Hussain. “That said something about him.
“It’s alright getting runs when you’re in nick, but getting runs when you’re out of nick is seriously difficult.
“He was batting like a man with no arms and no legs this winter to be honest – flapping at things outside the off-stumps – and he had no idea where his next run was coming from.
“But finally in this Test he got his head down –got a couple of cuts away, a couple of drives –there are a lot of Test runs to come from him.
“Plus Ben Stokes – with the ball he was unlucky, that no-ball hit him hard – but the way he went about his business with the bat shows that he’s got a bit of confidence about being back in this England side.
“Stokes is a massive tick as if England are going to have an extra bowler, they need Stokes the all-rounder.”
Watch the second Test between the West Indies and England live on Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm on Tuesday.
