England have dropped batsman Joe Denly for the second Test against the West Indies, returning captain Joe Root confirmed on Wednesday. Root missed England's four-wicket loss in last week's first Test after attending the birth of his second child. But the star batsman has slotted back into the side for the second Test at Old Trafford starting today. Last week's victory left West Indies 1-0 up in the three-match series. A win in either of the two remaining matches, both being staged at Old Trafford, would see the tourists to their first Test series triumph in England for 32 years.

Although all three fixtures are being played behind closed doors because of the Coronavirus outbreak, Root will be in a familiar situation. England have now lost the opening match of a series for the eighth time in 10 campaigns, a run dating back to the 2017/18 Ashes in Australia. Most recently in South Africa they did recover from a heavy defeat in the first Test to win that series 3-1. But now at 1-0 down with just two to play, there is far less margin for error.