”Some folks will say, ‘Oh, winning ain’t all!’ But I know it is all. At the end of the day, no one looks at the loser. So that is why we play to win.” — Sir Vivian Richards
Broad to Blackwood, OUT!
The Windies squad returned home without the Wisden Trophy and will remain with tag — Windies has not won a Test series in England since 1988.
Although they are ranked eighth in the ICC’s Test table, one was hoping that they would have helped themselves to at least a series draw.
Yes, the team could have performed much better, but for the team’s handlers’ lack of imagination and creative thinking.
However, they have taken their shellacking and must now go back to the drawing board and reinvent themselves.
That said, a report card is provided below for reflection:
1. John Campbell: 3/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 84
Average : 16.80
50’s: 2
100’s: 0
H.S : 32
John Campbell was flashy while facing the new ball. He didn’t show enough patience in his batting. The 3rd match of 2nd innings was only one instance where he showed some character but failed to capitalize on the good start. 2. Kraigg Braithwaite: 4/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 176
Average : 29.33
50’s: 2
100’s: 0
H.S : 75
Experienced opener Kraigg Braithwaite didn’t seem to have a good time batting in English conditions. He failed to give the Windies a good start and survive the new ball. Most of his dismissals were bowled and lbws.
3. Shai Hope:
Matches : 3/10
Runs : 105
Average : 17.5
50’s : 0
100’s : 0
H.S : 31
Shai Hope is the hope of the Windies team in ODI cricket but hasn’t been in-form for the past two years in test Cricket. Every team has a technically strong batsman batting at number 3. Shai Hope no doubt is the most technically sound batsman of West Indies but hasn’t delivered for a while now.
4. Roston Chase: 7/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 157
Average : 26.16
50’s: 1
100’s: 0
H.S : 51
Wickets: 10
BBI: 5-172
Economy: 3.61
Roston Chase is the only spinner who has been effective in this series. He took a fifer in the 2nd test match. He did not contribute much with the bat, but one saw only regular 30s and just one half-century from him.
5. Jermaine Blackwood: 8/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 211
Average : 35.16
50’s : 2
100’s : 0
H.S : 95
Jermaine Blackwood is the only Windies batsman who showed temperament in the entire batting line-up. He was the architect of Windies victory in the first Test by scoring the match-winning 95 runs while chasing a target of 200. He also batted in situations where chips were down and showed a lot of confidence in his footwork. He got a couple of good fifties but couldn’t convert those starts to big tons. Most of the time, he got out by soft dismissals.
6. S Brooks: 7/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 195
Average : 32.50
50’s: 2
100’s: 0
H.S : 68
New to International Cricket Shamarh Brooks had batted well in middle-order. He played a few good knocks along with Blackwood, but just like other Windies batsmen, failed to convert good starts into a big score.
7. Shane Dowrich: 4/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 126
Average : 21
50’s: 2
100’s: 0
H.S : 61
Wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich was sloppy in his catching. Although he didn’t drop any, he had a couple of blows to his fingers and also his Jaws. His batting was good in the first match, but he drastically failed in the following matches.
His twin ducks in the second match exposed his weakness against the short-length deliveries. He had a tough time facing quick bouncers coming from the England bowlers.
8. Jason Holder: 5/10
Matches : 3
Runs : 114
Average : 22.80
50’s : 0
100’s : 0
H.S : 46
Wickets: 10
BBI: 6-42
Economy: 2.69
As the number one all-rounder pre-series, Jason Holder was expected to lead from the front with both bat and ball. He took a 6-wickets haul in the first innings of the first match but didn’t deliver after that.
Considering that he scored a double ton in the previous tour, a lot was expected from him with the bat, but he failed to deliver. He looked clueless in the 2nd and 3rd matches.
The bowling decisions and team selections made by skipper Holder wasn’t up to par. Some other day these decisions could have turned out good if the result would have gone the other way.
9. Shannon Gabriel: 5/10
Matches : 3
Wickets: 11
BBI : 5-75
Economy: 3.61
Man of the match in the first Test for his consistent bowling, Gabriel looked lost and tired after the first game.
Leaving the overs incomplete and going off the field for a while, clearly indicated that he wasn’t in the same good rhythm as in the first Test. He lacked discipline in his bowling figures as he tried to push his lower body too much onto the popping crease, which eventually increased the frequency of no-ball.
10. Kemar Roach: 7/10
Matches : 3
Wickets: 8
BBI: 4-72
Economy: 2.50
Roach was not amongst the wickets in the first Test. He ended the drought by taking wickets from the second match. He also completed his 200 wickets landmark, becoming the 9th Windies bowler. He bowled with consistent line and length with a good economy rate. He did his job by draining runs from one end. If he had enough support from the other bowlers, the team could have done better.
11. Alzarri Joseph: 3/10
Matches : 2
Wickets: 4
BBI : 2-45
Economy: 3.24
An exciting young talent Alzarri Joseph didn’t perform too well in this series. Fitness has been a concern for him.
However, it will be a learning experience for him touring away from home.
12. Rahkeem Cornwall: 1/10
Matches : 1
Wickets: 0
Economy: 3.56
Cornwall was picked in the 3rd match as an extra spinner. He didn’t pick any wickets despite bowling more overs than Roston Chase. He took a fantastic catch to dismiss Rory Burns off Roston Chase.
Follow CaribbeanCricinfo.com on Twitter and Instagram@CaribbeanCricinfo.com and on Facebook @CaribbeanCricinfo.com Send us a message on WhatsApp at 646-874-7976 or Call us at 201-500-7715 email us at CaribbeanCricinfo@gmail.com