A 2-0 result may sound a very comprehensive win, indeed, in a three-match Test series. Yet, one gets the feeling that this wasn’t at all the case during the Frank Worrell Trophy.
While the Aussies often stuttered with bat and ball, the Windies showed nerves of steel at times (surprisingly) to make every match in this series a memorable one!
The fact that West Indies did not face a single innings defeat and actually managed a draw should do their confidence a world of good. For, try and deny it as you may, they have been bordering on the minnow status for some time now.
The runaway star of the show was Chanderpaul. His man of the series performance almost singlehandedly exposed the state of the Aussie bowling attack. One wonders, had Warne and McGrath been there, would they have allowed a No. 5 batsman to score 442 runs?
With all due respect to the man, Chanderpaul does have weaknesses, and it is quite apparent that the Australians certainly missed a trick there. Yet beginning the series with an average of 47, and ending with 49, Chanderpaul has fittingly put himself into the shoes that belonged to Lara.
And I dare say, he just might do a better job of a batting mainstay! Sarwan, too, managed to garner some runs, a most remarkable hundred in the final innings of the drawn Test match at North Sound being the highlight of tournament for me!
The fact that numbers three and five have been the most successful batsmen in this tournament is both, good news, and bad news for West Indies.
While it highlights their batting strength in the middle order, it also exposes their brittle top order, with their ever random opening pair.
Constantly changing the top order can have its effect on the openers’ confidence.
With Xavier Marshall’s brave inning of 85 in the last game, and Chris Gayle’s recovery, though, and Bravo’s bravados at number six, it seems West Indies might have a chance to field a batting order worthy of Test match standards.
Talking of Bravo, the man has transformed from the lackluster cricketer he was during Lara’s reign. My earliest memories of him are of his charging in to bowl against South Africa in a one day game at home, and pointing to his name on the back of his jersey, ala Raul, after claiming a wicket.
He also stirred quite a few emotions when he dismissed Yuvraj Singh off the last ball of the match to win West Indies the game by one solitary run! Though it would be premature to state that he has reached his pinnacle, it would be safe to say that he has matured greatly.
If he continues in this vein, he might just end up being West Indies’ second greatest all-rounder ever!
The other aspect of West Indian flair was the fast bowling! Fidel Edwards, playing all three games was the highest wicket taker for West Indies. With 15 wickets to his name, including a five wicket haul, best match figures of 8 for 144, and an average of 25.13, he was the pick of the bowlers.
Jerome Taylor missed the first Test, and proved why his team missed him too, with 8 wickets in the remaining games, and figures of 3 for 46 during the dismantling of Australia’s famed batting line-up in the in the third Test.
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6 months ago
Good Read mate.
I do reckon it's a bit of both in this case. With the retirements in the Australian team specially that of Warne and Mcgrath its no surprise that Australia were going to concede more runs and take longer to bowl out teams. Australia also have always in the past had the luxury of a great wicketkeeper batsman in Gilchrist that would come and bail the team of of trouble "on the few occasions that they would find themselves in trouble" with some powerful hitting and with him gone Haddin just doesnt match him in regards to his batting at least. So those are some of the reasons why Australia seems to on the decline.
As for the Windies well they have a few good fast bowlers who can actually take 20 wickets in a match, which they havent had for the past few years since the days of Walsh and Ambrose. As for their batting lets just credit Chanderpaul for stonewalling through the whole series he was magnificent, he still ain't no LARA though. They did perform better than their Rank 8 as a team, cricket really does need a strong West Indies team. A few more Tall scary fast bowlers the likes of Walsh and Ambrose will do just fine.
from 6 months ago
Agree on all points mate!
And just to clarify, I didn't mean to say CHanderpaul was as good or a better batsman than Lara. Lara was a legend, and will probably be number 2 on my list of contemporary batsmen, and I know many others who will say he is number 1. So no dispute there.
I think Chanderpaul is what West Indies need at the moment. Lara was flamboyant, but lacked consistency. He would go on a string of low scores, and suddenly come up with a wirlwind 200 or 150. CHanderpaul on the other hand scores his 50s consistently. West Indies needs that kind of effort more often, I feel.
Would you say Lara was still of more use to West Indies?
6 months ago
Lets see its a topic which can be debated on for ages. I shall throw in my two cents in anyways. In West Indies present situation i would still prefer Lara, Chanderpaul is doing a magnificent job no doubt but West Indies still lost 2 out of 3 tests. With Lara around no doubt he didnt scores as consistently sometimes as Chanderpaul has been for a while but when he did, when it was Lara match he would almost single handedly put his team into a winning position. I can remember Lara winning matches not Chanderpaul, and they need to win some matches to bring crowds back to the stadiums, just hope it happens real soon as test cricket needs them.
I also agree with you on Lara being number 2, if i was to have a list of contemporary batsmen, No. 1 would have to be Sachin Tendulkar.
from 6 months ago
You are very right that Shiv is not as a destructive and dominating batsman as Lara and will never be that type of batsman (that is just not his game). Though shiv had pivotal contributions to many WI wins none so far has been to the extent of those of Lara. I think if i have to choose right now I would go with Shiv though. Mainly because he fits better into the team. He always bats like he is the underdog, Lara bats with a champions mentality. That works good for Lara but does nothing much for the struggling/new players in the team. It just allows the struggling players to go into a comfort zone thinking Lara will save the day. In recent times Shiv have been able to bring decent performances out of his, below par young, batting partners. I can't recall Lara doing that much.
PS. Lara is #1 :)
6 months ago
Great Article... minus the mention of Marlon Samuels..
"While it highlights their batting strength in the middle order, it also exposes their brittle top order, with their ever random opening pair, and Marlon Samuels at number three (a blasphemous decision if you ask me).
While constantly changing the top order can have its effect on the openers’ confidence, the persistence with Samuels at three is stupefying to say the least! He does not have the technique to play the new ball, and would much rather be suited to number six or seven."
Samuels did not play in the recent series and is currently serving a 2 yeas ban. Neither has he batted @ #3 in recent times. In this series it was Sarwan who batted at #3.
from 6 months ago
Thanks for the observation mate! I owe you for this one!
from 6 months ago
btw, he DID bat at 3 in the series against SA a couple of months ago. thats how i got confused, i suppose!
6 months ago
Great article dude! Everything you wrote is completely true and it just could be the fall off the kangaroos..
5 months ago
australia is still on top position
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