3 amazing coincidences in 2012 and 2024 England vs West Indies Tests
England vs West Indies Test series is currently underway in the United Kingdom. The home team won the first Test by a comprehensive margin, but the Caribbean side fought back well in the second Test.
The third day's play is still underway in Nottingham. England scored 416 in the first innings. In response, the West Indies posted 457 on the board and took a 41-run lead in the first innings. England are 224/3 in the second innings, leading by 183 runs at the moment.
This is the first time in 12 years that neither James Anderson nor Stuart Broad feature in England's playing XI for a Test match. Incidentally, the last Test for England without Anderson and Broad was also against the West Indies at home. It took place in Birmingham from June 7 to 11, 2012.
Apart from the aforementioned similarity, here are three other amazing coincidences between the 2012 and 2024 England vs West Indies Tests.
#1 Wicketkeeper and number 11 of West Indies tormented England bowlers
England enjoy bowling in home conditions. It is rare to see the number 11 of visiting teams score big against England in the UK, but it happened in the 2012 and 2024 England vs West Indies Test matches.
In 2012, fast bowler Tino Best stunned fans with a 95-run knock at number 11 for the West Indies. He stitched together a 143-run 10th-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin in the first innings.
Twelve years later, pacer Shamar Joseph smacked a 27-ball 33 at number 11 for the West Indies in the first innings against England. Joseph built a 71-run 10th-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, which helped the visitors gain a crucial first-innings lead.
#2 England's opening bowler took a 4-wicket haul in 1st innings
James Anderson and Stuart Broad would usually open the bowling for England whenever they played in Test cricket. However, they weren't involved in the two England vs West Indies Tests mentioned in this listicle.
Chris Woakes started the bowling for England in the ongoing match and returned with figures of 4/84 in his spell of 28 overs. Incidentally, Graham Onions opened the bowling for England in the 2012 Birmingham Test against West Indies and scalped four wickets while conceding 88 runs in 29.3 overs.
#3 The Caribbean team was bowled out for less than 200 in their last innings of the England vs West Indies Test before scoring 400+
Over the years, the West Indies cricket team have experienced a lot of ups and downs. The one thing that has remained the same about the Caribbean outfit is they have always shown great character, and they know how to bounce back from the lows.
In 2012, England blew away the West Indies by bowling them out for just 165 in the second innings of the Nottingham Test. Not many expected the visitors to bounce back after that, but they scored 426 in the first innings of the Birmingham Test.
Twelve years later, England bowled the West Indies out for only 136 runs in the second innings of the Lord's Test. However, when the teams reached Nottingham, the West Indies scored 457 in their first innings.