When the West Indies arrived in England for a three-Check collection, many observers puzzled if their batsmen might give a gifted assault sufficient runs to play with. In the long run it was a job that proved past the vacationers’ top-order throughout a 2-1 reverse that noticed England regain the Wisden Trophy. The Caribbean aspect struck first, profitable the primary Check at Southampton by 4 wickets, with Jermaine Blackwood’s 95 anchoring their spectacular run-chase within the fourth innings of the match.
Nevertheless it was a unique story within the subsequent two matches at Outdated Trafford, the place a fired-up Stuart Broad, controversially omitted from the collection opener, took 16 wickets — together with his 500th in Assessments.
Going through Broad in English situations, the place he repeatedly makes the ball transfer off a very good size, is considered one of world cricket’s tougher assignments.
However whereas the West Indies survived for 70.1 overs within the second innings of the second Check, they had been all out in a mere 37.1 overs as England accomplished a 269-run win in Manchester on Tuesday.
Broad was reunited with new-ball accomplice James Anderson, England’s all-time main wicket-taker, within the third Check and West Indies coach Phil Simmons stated that gave his aspect a tough job.
“Wherever you go it may be powerful, in England’s it may be hardest with two bowlers (Anderson and Broad), one there in 600, one there in 500 wickets,” he stated.
Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks all twice reached fifty however none went on to succeed in three figures. In distinction, Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley scored very important lots of for the house aspect.
For all England’s excellence with the ball, there have been a number of self-inflicted wounds.
Shai Hope, who scored his solely two Check lots of in opposition to England at Headingley three years in the past, gave his wicket away on Tuesday by mistiming a pull off Chris Woakes to mid-on — an attacking shot when the West Indies had been batting for a draw.
Batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer each declined invites to tour for a collection happening in opposition to the backdrop of the coronavirus.
Schedule strain
Even earlier than COVID-19, trendy schedules had significantly decreased the variety of warm-up matches that enabled touring sides to regulate to native situations.
This time round, the West Indies needed to make do with a few intra-squad video games as a substitute.
The rise of profitable franchise Twenty20 tournaments imply a number of main West Indies cricketers now play little first-class cricket outdoors the Check area.
However it’s nonetheless solely a 12 months in the past since West Indies captain Jason Holder, an all-rounder, made an unbeaten double century and shared a stand of 295 with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich throughout a 381-run win over England in Barbados.
When West Indies had been Check cricket’s dominant power within the 1970s and 1980s, lots of their gamers had been additionally English county regulars.
Opener Gordon Greenidge and quick bowler Malcolm Marshall confronted Check team-mates Viv Richards, considered one of cricket’s best batsmen, and large fast Joel Garner when Hampshire performed Somerset.
An rising variety of worldwide matches and modifications in rules led to restrictions on abroad stars, however from subsequent season the 18 first-class counties will once more be allowed to discipline two per aspect.
“That will undoubtedly assist and provides our gamers publicity,” stated Holder of the prospect of renewed West Indian involvement in county cricket.
Promoted
“In the meanwhile the (visa) guidelines for abroad gamers are stringent — it’s important to play worldwide cricket to qualify as an abroad participant.
“But when we get extra gamers over right here it will put us in higher stead.”
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