Hodge (120), Athanaze (82) lead West Indies fight on gripping day

triumph over Australia in Brisbane in January.

Even England fans who revelled in their team steamrolling the visitors in little more than two days in the first Test at Lord’s will agree that this was a more enjoyable spectacle and a greater showing of health for the five-day game.

Hodge was magnificent. Yes, everything about the conditions were ideal for batting, yet some of his team-mates had already wasted their chance through some awful strokes. Supported by Athanaze, he has put West Indies into a position from which they have a chance of levelling the series.

England, without Anderson and Stuart Broad in a home Test for the first time in 12 years, did little wrong and are probably learning more than at Lord’s. Wood was scintillating, at one stage bowling in excess of 97mph, only to later pull up in his 15th over.

Kavem Hodge celebrates a maiden Test hundred (Photo: Getty Images)

However, England’s cessation of control is down to some old frailties. Their 416 in the first innings was a good total, though their wastefulness prevented it from being impregnable.

If Root had held his straightforward chance at first slip, perhaps England would have been batting again before the end of the day.

Stokes’ side may well go on to win this match, but they are in a battle. The contest is all the richer for it.

Hero Hodge

Hodge is a personality, one who went viral on the tour of Australia for talking through the stump microphone. Here he showed that his character also includes determination, bravery and pizzazz to score a fabulous hundred.

Starting their reply at the beginning of the day, West Indies were improved on Lord’s but repeated mistakes. Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie were softened up by pace then hacked at Shoaib Bashir, while captain Kraigg Brathwaite got into a tangle at a Gus Atkinson bouncer on 48.

Hodge joined Athanaze and began carefully, taking only eight from his first 43 deliveries. If his edge to Root off Wood was taken, West Indies would have been 140-4.

England peppered both men. Whereas Hodge was willing to pull and hook, Athanaze, an attractive driver, ducked into a Wood bouncer on 48. The left-hander completed his maiden Test half-century and could have had a hundred of his own, only to drive Stokes to gully.

Hodge remained and his punch past mid-off to go to three figures was followed by elated celebrations. The image of him embracing Holder will live long in the memory.

When he was finally trapped on the crease by Woakes, Hodge watched as a review failed to save him and threw his bat in the air in frustration. He left to a rapturous ovation. (BBC)

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