West Indies pacers turned back the clock. They rattled the batters with pace and bounce the way they used to in the 1970s and 80s. In the second innings, when the pitch started losing its venom, a spinner took the centre stage and scalped as many as 8 wickets. Sandwiched between these two bowling performances was a magnificent double-hundred by Jason Holder.
Pitch report
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is only 12 years old. Here, in 6 Tests, West Indies have emerged triumphant twice and lost once – Virat Kohli scored a double-hundred and the rest is history.
However, in one of the victories, Kemar Roach was adjudged Man of the Match despite not bowling at all in the second innings due to injury. His figures in the first innings had read 5-1-8-5.
In the first Test of the ongoing series, it was Roach who started the carnage. His 5-wicket haul bundled out England for a paltry 77. To make things interesting, he is the highest wicket-taker (17) at the venue.
In 19 innings, there are nine scores of over 300 runs, suggesting that the pitch becomes easier to bat on as the ball gets older. Batters will have to wait for the ball to lose its shine and then take on the opposition.
Wicketkeeper
In the first innings, James Anderson had Shane Dowrich caught behind for a duck. In the second innings, England could not dismiss Dowrich. He remained unbeaten for 224 deliveries, scoring 116.
Ben Foakes could score only 7 in two innings. In his defence, England sent him at No. 8, ahead of Moeen Ali. He lost partners quickly in both innings. If England are to bring the best out of Foakes, he has to bat higher up the order.
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Batters
The highest individual score in the first innings read 17 in England’s first innings. There were as many as six single-digit scores. They got better in the second essay, but only Rory Burns could score a fifty.
For that matter, England are known for their batting depth, with Sam Curran coming to bat at as late as no. 9. But they could not escape the maze laid by the West Indian bowlers.
For West Indies, openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell played with a positive mindset, stitching up half-century partnerships in both innings. Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, and Roston Chase then continued the momentum and scored fifties in the first innings, while Dowrich (116*) and Holder (202*) added 195 runs for the seventh wicket in the second.
All-rounders
We have spoken about Chase and Holder at length already.
Of all the English all-rounders, Stokes performed better. He took 6 wickets in the match. With the bat, the story was as sorry as other English batters’.
Moeen Ali won’t face the axe as he took 4 wickets. He, nonetheless, has to live up to his reputation as a batter.
Bowlers
West Indies will play the same four-pacer attack: Holder, Roach, Gabriel, and Joseph.
An English bowler who could have reaped rewards on a seaming track was benched. The conditions were tailor-made for Stuart Broad. England instead played with Adil Rashid who eventually went wicketless.
James Anderson was England’s performer of the match. Had it not been for his five-wicket haul on the opening day, England would have stared further down the barrel. Broad and he bowl well in tandem, something England are in dire need of. Let’s not forget than Broad took a hat-trick in the practice match, that he has found his rhythm.
It was evident that Curran becomes ineffective as the conditions start favouring the batters. England have a better option in Chris Woakes who generates way more pace than Curran.
Probable XI for West Indies: Kraig Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shane Dowrich (wk), Jason Holder (c), Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel
Probable XI for England: Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran/Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Fantasy team
I have picked top seven performers from the West Indian team. I wanted to add Alzarri as well, but I have to play by the fantasy rules.
Root cannot be ignored. He, after all, ranks fifth in ICC Test Rankings for players.
You may go for either Burns or Bairstow. Burns was the only successful batter, while Bairstow has a good technique to tackle pace bowling.
The remaining two Englishmen are Stokes and Anderson. They have all the skills and experience to come good even on a bad day, and as a fantasy player, I’m always itching for those bonus points.
Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
My XI: Shane Dowrich (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (vc), Ben Stokes, Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Stuart Broad, Kemar Roach (c), Shannon Gabriel