Holder takes six as England slump to 204 all out

Jason Holder took a career-best 6 for 42 as England were bowled out for 204 on the second day of the first Test (Photo by Mike Hewitt /POOL/AFP)

(AFP) - West Indies captain Jason Holder returned Test-best figures of 6-42 as England slumped to 204 all out on the second day of the series opener at Southampton on Thursday.

When bad light forced an early close, West Indies were 57-1, a deficit of 147 runs.

Kraigg Brathwaite was 20 not out and Shai Hope three not out.

Holder, the world's top-ranked all-rounder, surpassed his previous Test-best of 6-59 against Bangladesh at Kingston two years ago, making full use of overcast conditions at the Ageas Bowl.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who did the early damage, took all the other England wickets for impressive figures of 4-62.

Holder's haul, the sixth time in his past 10 Tests he has taken five or more wickets in an innings, included the prize scalp of opposing captain Ben Stokes, who top-scored with 43 after winning the toss.

"Leading up to this Test, with my ankle (niggle), I probably didn't get the amount of overs in that I'd have liked to, but I still felt really good," Holder told Sky Sports.

- McGrath example -

The towering quick added he had tried to learn lessons from both England spearhead James Anderson and retired Australia great Glenn McGrath.

"Funnily enough, the last tour when we were here, Jimmy was on 499 (Test) wickets...I said to myself, 'if he's that good and has got these results he's got over the years, then maybe he must be doing something right.'"

Holder added: "I watched clips of Glenn McGrath as well, because I think our styles are similar. We're not as quick, so I look at being consistent.

"Patience is something I lacked, but it's about having the weapons, putting that in the batsman's mind and then knowing when to deliver them."

England slipped to 87-5 before a stand of 67 between Stokes (43) and vice-captain Jos Buttler (35). Off-spinner Dom Bess chipped in with 31 not out.

England could have been dismissed even more cheaply with Stokes, leading the side because regular captain Joe Root, missed this match following the birth of his second child, was dropped on 14 and 32.

But Holder had Stokes, second in the all-rounder rankings, caught behind as he aimed legside after advancing down the pitch.

Buttler, with just one hundred Test hundred to his name edged an excellent Holder delivery, with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich holding a diving one-handed catch.

West Indies opener John Campbell made two successful challenges before he was lbw to Anderson for 28.

It was the first time in six reviews that English umpires Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth had seen a decision upheld.

That was the only breakthrough England managed before stumps, even though fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, both selected ahead of veteran paceman Stuart Broad, topped speeds of 90 mph.

"I think they are on top," said Wood of the West Indies. "They bowled really well, showed us the way to go."

England resumed on 35-1 after rain marred international cricket's return from lockdown on Wednesday, when both teams took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

"It meant the world to me," said Holder. "To see both teams come together in the way they did sent a really strong message. It shows the cricket world is unified."

England were soon 51-3 as Gabriel removed Joe Denly and Rory Burns as the West Indies' joyful shouts echoed round the empty stands that will be a feature of this three-match behind closed doors contest.

West Indies have not won a Test series in England since 1988 but they hold the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 success in the Caribbean last year.