The second Test match between England and West Indies at Trent Bridge witnessed a spectacular display of aggressive batting from the English side. Led by Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, England unleashed a whirlwind of boundaries, reaching a score of 50 runs in a mere 4.2 overs. This feat rewrites history, etching England’s name in the record books for the fastest team fifty in Test cricket history. The previous record, also held by England, stood at 4.3 overs, achieved against South Africa at The Oval in 1994.

Fastest team 50s in Test cricket: (where known)

• 4.2 overs – England vs WI, Nottingham, 2024
• 4.3 overs – England vs SA, The Oval, 1994
• 4.6 overs – England vs SL, Manchester, 2002
• 5.2 overs – Sri Lanka vs PAK, Karachi, 2004
• 5.3 overs – India vs ENG, Chennai, 2008
• 5.3 overs – India vs WI, Port of Spain, 2023

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, perhaps haunted by their meager batting performance in the first Test where they were dismissed for 121 and 136 runs, surprisingly opted to field after winning the toss. The weather seemed perfect for batting, with clear blue skies and a well-prepared pitch with minimal grass cover. Brathwaite’s decision, however, can be understood in the context of the previous Test’s humiliating defeat.

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“It looks like a good pitch for batting, but I think we’ll utilize what we get today,” Brathwaite stated, aiming to level the three-match series at 1-1. He acknowledged the need for better bowling discipline and urged his batsmen to build partnerships and score big runs in the first innings.

England captain Ben Stokes, on the other hand, remained tight-lipped about his preferred choice at the toss. While both teams had already finalized their lineups beforehand, England welcomed back fast bowler Mark Wood to replace the recently retired James Anderson, the leading wicket-taker in Test history for pace bowlers.

England sets record for fastest team 50 in Test Cricket history 🔥

They reach the milestone in just 4.2 Overs 🥵 #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/diMTfBtyGv

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 18, 2024

The West Indies, however, faced a setback just before the toss. Their lone bright spot from the first Test, spinner Gudakesh Motie, woke up with flu-like symptoms and was forced to withdraw from the match. This was a significant blow as Motie was not only their most effective bowler at Lord’s but also their only batsman who managed to score more than 30 runs.

Kevin Sinclair, a spin-bowling all-rounder, was brought in as a last-minute replacement, marking his second Test appearance. Sinclair, it’s worth noting, had previously impressed on his debut with a half-century during the West Indies’ unexpected victory over Australia in Brisbane earlier this year.

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As the dust settles after the toss, all eyes are on England to see if they can capitalize on their explosive start and build a dominant position in the second Test. Meanwhile, the West Indies face an uphill battle, needing a quick turnaround in both their bowling and batting performances to stay in contention for the series win.