Brathwaite’s stoic work - he was out in the middle for 53 overs – embodies much of what is admirable about West IndiesKraigg Brathwaite, like many Caribbean cricketers of his generation, was drawn to play the sport by the dashing brilliance of Brian Lara. But as he grew to appreciate the nuances of the game it was another batsman who became his muse: Shiv Chanderpaul.After first entering the West Indies dressing room in 2011, aged 19, Brathwaite spent four years studying Chanderpaul close up. And at a time when his peers were looking to expand their games and scorch their way round the global Twenty20 circuit he became captivated by the great Guyanese’s ability to concentrate for extended periods. Related:...
With some expecting the groundsman in Anitigua to prepare a road, West Indies instead seized the initiative - with the help of the weather - to put England on the back footThere was a mildly patronising theory doing the rounds after West Indies went 1-0 up in Barbados that the call would go out to the groundstaff of Antigua and St Lucia with instructions to kill the pitches; that somehow the best chance for Jason Holder’s side to regain the Wisden Trophy was to protect their lead with draws rather than duke it out.Things do not quite work like that in the Caribbean. Yes, there is a central curator, Kent Crafton, who travels around the islands trying to instil best...
A successful West Indies team is important to the overall health of Test cricket and the manner of their crushing victory over England in the first Test only added to the enjoymentIs there a soul alive with an ounce of love for cricket who did not rejoice at the way the first Test in Bridgetown turned out? Even the ranks of the Garrick Club could scarce forbear to cheer the sight of a team assembled under the banner of West Indies playing as if the maroon caps meant more to them than the gold necklaces. By finding two different ways to humiliate England with the ball in the space of a single match, they achieved something not even the greatest...
The opener played positively in England’s second innings but fluffed his lines when facing Roston Chase on 84Rory Burns keeps a diary about his batting, regularly jotting down thoughts in the search for self‑improvement. One fancies his latest entry may read much like that of Blackadder’s Captain Darling on the day of the big push: “It simply says ‘bugger’.”It was on the stroke of lunch on the fourth day here in Barbados, with just one English wicket snared, when Jason Holder called on Roston Chase. Related: Joe Root bemoans ‘very soft dismissals’ after England’s battering by Windies Related: Roston Chase humiliates England as dominant West Indies win first Test Continue reading...
The all-rounder has been exposed by a selection which has bowled Jimmy Anderson and Ben Stokes into the groundSam Curran, seven Tests into his fledgling England career, could have been forgiven for thinking it was all a bit of doddle. Surrey’s 20-year-old all-rounder had tasted only success up to this point, every cap had resulted in victory and either his jail-breaking, lower-order batting or bustling, left-arm swing had contributed along the way. Related: West Indies bowled ‘fantastically well,’ says shell-shocked Moeen Ali Related: ‘Now I feel I can bowl on most pitches,’ says England’s Jimmy Anderson Continue reading...