ENG VS WI - 2nd Test, West Indies tour of England, 2017

So, a narcissistic reminder about how I believed that this Test would serve remorse cold to Test cricket dropouts. And so it has. About time my little cousins know cricket's birth format, and in turn know Windies, who are to Tests what Pakistan are to ODIs, sparking a miracle every time you dispute their existence, or mourn the many annihilations. On that happy note, it's time to bid goodbye. This is Pratyush Sinha, exiting a thoroughly-stunned commentary box along with Raju Peethala, Mukesh and Venkatesh. Sometimes, it's just wonderful to be alive at a time you are, ta-ta!

How the Test match panned out? Bowling, like it always does, set up the win. Four-wicket hauls for Kemar Roach and a returning Shannon Gabriel offset Stokes's "lucky" Test hundred, limiting England to 258. In reply, Windies' first innings was about the mega partnership between Kraigg Brathwaite, the Windies undercurrent in this Test, and Shai Hope, the ultimate hero. 6 English batsmen hit fifties on a flattening pitch in the second essay, meaning Root believed he had enough against a side he had just bullied a few days back. Not to be. Brathwaite stood up again, and so did Shai Hope.

Shai Hope (147 and 118*) - Player of the Match: "Elated. We worked very hard as a team. I had no doubts. I made my way into Test cricket through First-Class cricket. We fought hard. I think we all know who Jermaine is. He's one of those characters who gets the game going. Scored the runs and made it easy for me. Everytime you're on the field, you're trying to improve."

Jason Holder - captain, Windies: "Yeah, thought we could win. Always believed in this group. We have done some outstanding things. In the team chats, I told the guys to believe. Nobody moved from the seats. It was a bit nerve-racking but Blackwood plays that way. Shai Hope was outstanding. He said he's never scored a Test century but comes here and scores two. Must not forget Brathwaite. It's about delivering on the big stage and what better than to come here in England and win. Windies have been through hard times in recent times. I want to thank everyone for the support. We will have to work on dropped catches and have to work on the consistency of our bowling. Special mention to our bowling coach; his mom passed away a few days ago."

Joe Root - captain, England: "Great Test match but not great to be part of a losing side. Shai Hope played exceptionally well - fifth day against high quality bowlers. It didn't surprise me. We could have been a lot better (in the first innings). I am proud that we could afford to come back, declare and try for a win. It's nice to look back in hindsight and see how things could have worked differently. But to be brutally honest, we weren't good enough with the bat. Dropped catches has probably cost us but as I said, we fought extremely hard to get into that position. For a long time, the newbies have been behind the eight ball. I think the declaration was a positive thing, and we were in a position where we could do that. We have to learn and keep moving forward."

Stats from Deepu
*** England's 490 is the highest declared second innings total which a team lost.
*** 322 chased down by WI is the:
+ 4th highest for WI
+ 4th highest vs Eng
+ 3rd highest in Eng
+ 2nd highest at Leeds
*** This is the first Test win for the Windies in England in 17 years.

This Test match had a redemptive theme to it all through, as the end would scream in advocation, but amidst all the competitive cricket and shifting allegiances, there were dropped catches which, in hindsight, proved to be the game-changers. Try making sense of the fact that Alastair Cook, the least sweaty bucket hands that's ever existed, dropped two catches in the second innings. The first one, of Kraigg Brathwaite on 4, was perhaps what set Windies off. Cut back to the first innings, when Moeen Ali dropped a sitter from Blackwood at mid-on. Windies, then tentative about their own competitiveness, were daring to pile on a lead. And they did, something that was gnawed at by England as Windies dropped more catches and set themselves the ignominy of an England declaration. Rest is history.

Well, firstly, I'm lost for words. This is one of the greatest Test victories you'll witness in a lifetime. Can be the greatest, too. Root chose to bat here, remember, in his debut as England's Test captain at his home ground. And lost. But kudos to him, absolute props to his intended renaissance of aggressive captaincy, for a declaration that syringed in so much more context into the game. Unlike the run-bleeding limited-overs cricket, 322 is still a tall chase in Test cricket. But try telling Windies that, who registered their first Test win in England in 17 years.

18:46 Local Time, 17:46 GMT, 23:16 IST: "I just put my hand up," says Shai Hope, drenched in sweat and glory. "It was amazing," chips in Brathwaite. "Disappointed to not get a hundred but we win, which was our main goal. We did believe."

Woakes to Shai Hope, 2 runs, cry Windies, cry, for you're reborn! Battered into abyss with criticism, they come back from the Edgbaston shambles to register a memorable win, at the venue they once recorded their heaviest Test loss. Stories -- and the way they are made. Shai Hope stays crease-bound and works this behind square leg. And runs, pumping his fists mid-pitch and exercising the nerves in the cape. Poetically gets the chance to hit the winning runs. The series is now emphatically level at 1-1

Woakes to Shai Hope, no run, takes his bottom hand off and shoves one to mid-off

Shane Dowrich, right handed bat, comes to the crease

KP: Can't think of when last Windies win a Test match in England? -- 2000 at Edgbaston.

Moeen Ali to Blackwood, out Stumped!! This was coming. Shunned his helmet for a better view at that ball he intended to send sailing over the ropes.. and is now walking back, stumped and stunned. Comes down the track and wafts out the bat, leaving a bat-pad gap that this off break exploits. Easiest of stumpings for Bairstow. Blackwood st Bairstow b Moeen Ali 41(45) [4s-3 6s-2]

Moeen Ali to Blackwood, THATS OUT!! Stumped!!

Moeen Ali to Shai Hope, 1 run, doing it in singles, are Windies. Well, who thought. This has been tickled to short mid-wicket

Moeen Ali to Blackwood, 1 run, doesn't quite untangle a mighty swing. Skips down the track and extends his arms to drill this to long-off

Blackwood has abandoned his helmet. He's gearing up.

Moeen Ali to Shai Hope, 1 run, works it with the turn to backward square leg

Moeen Ali to Shai Hope, no run, sliding on the pad, blocked

Moeen Ali to Blackwood, 1 run, dropped in trying to go for the glory hit. By Stokes at deep mid-wicket. Swats across, fetching it from just outside off, and doesn't get the power