BY BRYAN DAVIS
KRAIGG Brathwaite’s West Indies (WI) team did an exemplary job against the Englishmen in the three-Test cricket series completed in the Caribbean at St George’s, Grenada on March 26.
After the first two were drawn, the WI showed fighting spirit, the will to win, plus the determination of a bonding team, that brought victory in the third Test.
This was the decisive Test: winner takes all, no turning back. Hence it required composure, performance, fierce concentration, confidence and a firm purpose of commitment.
It was won handsomely by ten wickets through an incredible execution of functions by two highly promising youths, Kyle Mayers and Joshua Da Silva.
Yet overall, it was in the nature of captaincy, the calm leadership that held sway over the hapless players of England, who could not come to terms with the moving ball and the deft bowling changes of the West Indian skipper.
It’s always good to win, as that is the aim of a sporting contest. Also, England is a regular top-of-the-line performing team.
Nevertheless, it must be taken in its context. The strength of the visitors, led by Joe Root, was on the wane when they arrived in Antigua for the first Test match. Whether they underrated their opponents or were rebuilding is anybody’s guess.
Leaving out fast bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad was a huge mistake, especially after losing four-nil to Australia in the recently concluded Ashes series.
However, that’s England’s business, and WI have to look after their own.
The newly-minted selectors, with Desmond Haynes at the helm, are hopefully a good sign. The inclusion of Mayers in the third Test to replace Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyanese slow left-arm orthodox bowler, was a brave one and could only come about through a knowledgeable outlook.
This was after skipper Brathwaite had asked for a pitch with some help in it for the bowlers. The same pitch might have helped the Guyanese, as its moisture content would also have assisted a spinner. Yet it was more suited to the medium-pacer, given the extra pace off the pitch.
WI need to build on their strengths. The batting line-up needs strengthening.
John Campbell is not the answer to open the batting with the skipper. Brathwaite likes him at the start of the innings because they feel comfortable batting together, as they both opened rather successfully for WI under-19 in the past.
Nonetheless, that is no recommendation to open in Tests. And unfortunately, Campbell has been a failure at Test level.
Shamarh Brooks did not make the cut. He played a few fine strokes without looking settled. Maybe in time, but I wouldn’t bet on it. To be a success in the highest format, one has to possess the temperament for the big occasion, plus the confidence in one’s ability to perform.
[caption id="attachment_948508" align="alignnone" width="900"] -[/caption]
Nkrumah Bonner is a determined batsman and needs to stay at number four in the order. He was successful there in Bangladesh a year ago, but since that time the selectors have m
