THE EDITOR: Kavem Hodge became the first player from that tiny yet very beautiful speck of land called Dominica to score a century in Test cricket in almost half a century! And the only one to do so outside the West Indies!
With a population of less than 73,000, Hodge has put Dominica on the map. The first ever Test cricketer from Dominica was Irving Shillingford vs Pakistan in 1977 in Guyana – almost 50 years ago!
Dominica is so small it combines with other teams, namely Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, as the Windward Islands, in order to play regional cricket.
Hodge was born in the capital, Roseau, but grew up in Antrizle, a small village on the east coast with a population of less than 7,000.
Dominica is known as “the nature tsle of the Caribbean,” owing to its lush scenery and varied flora and fauna. The island is largely covered by rainforest – 75 per cent of its total land space – and offers 365 rivers – akin to Antigua, which offers 365 beaches, one for every day of the year.
The naysayers of WI cricket have predicted an early end to this Test, but this supporter and his small crew predicted the game would go until day four, and as I write this letter on day 3, we are confident it will go into day 5 and hopefully end in a draw.
Thanks to the heroics of Shamar Joseph and Da Silva, West Indies were able to surpass England’s first-innings score and closed on 457, a 41 run lead!
Joseph scored 33 runs off 27 balls and added a valuable 71 runs with Da Silva for the tenth wicket, including a six on the roof of one of the boxes, with the tiles dropping on spectators below. Luckily, no one was injured. Da Silva was not out on 82. England responded in telling fashion and closed on 248 for three – a lead of 207 runs. Test cricket at its best!
Hodge, in only his fourth Test, pipped his countryman Athanaze – playing his sixth Test – to the honour of becoming only the second player from Dominica to score a Test century.
These Windward Islands teammates ply their trade playing regional franchise cricket for the Windward Volcanoes, who are based in Grenada. They often train together and bat together, as evidenced by their magnificent hurricane-force 175-run partnership, which rescued West Indies from 89 for three in the first innings.
Incidentally, Grenada and especially Carriacou was hard-hit by a different hurricane recently – Beryl – so this twosome would have brought some cheer for people living there.
Athanaze got to his maiden Test 50 after taking a nasty knock on the helmet from a Mark Wood bouncer and motored to a well played 82. He later told ESPNcricinfo: "I really haven’t done as well as I’ve wanted to, definitely in the Test arena, before this game began." He admitted, “I would really love a Test hundred.”
He came close, but as sure as day follows night, he will have his day in the sun.
Many have been charmed by Athanaze's talent, including a certain Brian Lara. Everyone is pleased by his cover drives, which are well-supported by his “soft” hands.
Kavem and Atha
