NICK HOWSON: Jofra Archer answers his critics while eagle-eyed viewers thought they spotted James Anderson breaking the rules. Day five of the first Test was not without incident
Among the restrictions in place for this Test series amid the coronavirus pandemic sees players blocked from using saliva to shine the ball.
There has been plenty of dialogue on how that will affect the ability to treat the ball and provoke reverse swing.
Additionally, conditioning the ball using saliva has become second instinct for players.
Penalties are in place for breaches, with two warnings issued before a five-run penalty. Though at least in the early stages of the rule change, some players will probably apply saliva out of force of habit.
Social media was not quite as forgiving when footage emerged of Anderson and Archer appearing to lick their fingers before rubbing the ball.
The videos were inconclusive, but Twitter was judge, jury, and executioner in this case. They were banged to rights.
It took Sky Sports to intervene to settle the matter, showing alternative angles of England's fast-bowling pair rubbing their foreheads before working on the ball. Sweat is permitted, given the lack of evidence the disease can be transmitted via perspiration.
It was another example of the internet jumping to conclusions and asking questions later. Sky were excellent in responding to the unsubstantiated claims, but I fancy there was a tinge of embarrassment on the part of Nasser Hussain who took to the mic for the explanation in having to address such baseless accusations.
𝑱𝑬𝑬𝒁 😳#ENGvWIpic.twitter.com/nOlXTSlbLn
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) July 12, 2020
Another Test, and another opportunity to question the desire and hunger of Jofra Archer. Or that's at least how it seems.
Three five-wicket hauls in seven Tests has not kept the wolves from the door throughout the seamer's England career, and this week has been no different.
Billed as this rapid gun-slinger, anytime Archer doesn't burst the speed gun open he is being accused of resting on his laurels, being lazy, not caring about the format, hating Queen Elizabeth II, and detesting Great British Bake Off. Any heinous crime his detractors can find.
Granted, Archer did not blow through West Indies in the first innings but there should be no questioning his want to do so. The constant attacks amid his fine start to life in Test cricket are utterly bizarre.
The record needed changing on day five as Arched produced a fine spell in the morning session. Figures of 5-2-13-2 don't do justice to the Sussex seamer's control and threat. He also did for John Campbell, who was forced to retire hurt.
Deep into the afternoon, Archer produced arguably the ball of the match. On a tired pitch on unleashed a brutal ball, which launched into Roston Chase's grill and was gloved behind.
To execute a delivery of such velocity in the penultimate session of the match was remarkable, and highlighted once again what a world-class talent England have at their disposal.
There is no room for nuance when it comes to discussions about just about anything. Discourse has disintegrated, thanks in part to the trend on social media to produce cutting views on demand. If you do not stand for something you do not matter.
Archer's career will sadly be considered in such terms. He will please some people, and disappoint many - with conscious and unconscious racial bias often at the forefront.
Jofra Archer stormed through the West Indies top order
The resumption of sport following the enforced break due to the coronavirus pandemic comes with a major caveat: it won't be the same as before. At least, not immediately.
And that is more than understandable. Most sportspeople have had the longest break from competitive action in their professional careers. They're going to be rusty.
England and West Indies may have been practicing for a few weeks, often in groups of no more than six, but their preparations for this series have been hugely truncated.
The only proper practice they have each had has been against each other, in intra-squad matches at The Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford.
This week in Southampton should, therefore, have seen both sides play themselves into the series. A poor quality one-sided encounter, either way, would have been totally understandable.
But it would be fair to say that both sides came out of the traps and impressed. Recent trends suggest there was always going to be a winner, but both groups head to Manchester with positives to take from this experience. The Test reached the final session with all three results still on the table.
Granted, there were errors. Dropped catches, no balls, missed run-out and lazy shots. But when aren't there?
There were some eye-catching displays to boot. Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, and Jofra Archer were excellent with the ball; Shane Dowrich, Dom Sibley, and Ben Stokes had their moments with the bat too.
There were no centuries and just one five-for but it was not the low-quality start - which would have been fine - that for example some of the Premier League football has been affected by.
With the cobwebs blown off, a platform has been laid for the rest of what should be a hotly contested series.
Dom Sibley produced a solid knock in the second innings
"It’s about getting to the mental stage where you are prepared for a Test match in England, because it’s different to many other places. The next three days of practice is about sharpening up the skills. Mentality is the big thing."
Phil Simmons doesn't owe West Indies cricket anything. He has given them his all. Several times. As a player and coach.
He will know as well as anyone about the talent in this current group. The bowling attack is as good as any in Test cricket. It is in the top five where the team's fortunes can either be dashed or realised.
When Simmons observed that mental strength would be key to the outcome of the series, he encapsulated what this three-Test series is all about. Players have not had time to capture their best form. This will be about having a consistent mindset.
Perhaps no player in the Windies batting line-up has a more scrambled mind than Jermaine Blackwood. With a strike-rate just below 60, the 28-year-old never likes to hand around - even if it damages his team's hopes.
The first innings encapsulated Blackwood's troubles. It was like he couldn't wait to pick out James Anderson at mid-off.
But when the Windies needed him, the Jamaica-native came to the core. He played an unbelievable innings of patience - granted it was not without chances - and built a match-winning knock. It should have ended with a century.
His defence was solid and constant but when the opportunity came he kept the scoreboard moving, not allowing England to ratchet up the pressure.
There is a long way to go to secure this series but when Joe Root returns his first task will be trying to unhinge some of these West Indies batsmen in the remaining two Test matches.
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