Windies send England into bat

Keemo Paul (2L) and Roston Chase © of West Indies celebrate the dismissal of Keaton Jennings of England during day 1 of the 3rd and final Test between West Indies and England at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 09 February, 2019. Photo: AFP
Keemo Paul (2L) and Roston Chase © of West Indies celebrate the dismissal of Keaton Jennings of England during day 1 of the 3rd and final Test between West Indies and England at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on 09 February, 2019. Photo: AFP

Rain briefly interrupted play on Saturday after West Indies put England in to bat in the third and final Test.

England had made five runs without loss in the first 5.1 overs when rain drove the players off at Darren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia.

Play resumed after a brief delay.

West Indies stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and put England in on the first morning of the third and final Test in St Lucia.

With regular skipper Jason Holder suspended from the match as a cumulative penalty for his team’s ongoing slow over-rate problems, all-rounder Keemo Paul returns to the team for his first match of the series in the home side’s only change from the second Test in Antigua.

Leading 2-0 in the series and having reclaimed the Wisden Trophy following crushing victories in the first two matches, West Indies resisted the temptation to give fast bowler Oshane Thomas a debut on a pitch at the Darren Sammy Stadium reputed to be the paciest in the Caribbean.

By contrast, England are seeking to avoid their first whitewash in a series against the West Indies since 1986 and have made two changes from the team thrashed by ten wickets a week earlier.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes and young all-rounder Sam Curran are dropped with opening batsman Keaton Jennings recalled after missing the second Test while fast bowler Mark Wood, who was drafted into the touring party as replacemen.