Test No 1 was a great start for West Indies. They certainly showed that determination that made them champions in T20's (Twenty20), but this time in the most difficult longest version of the game. Well done, boys!
Despite earlier reservations, West Indies does have the right bowlers to get the right results, for now. Even as Bangladesh made 556 in the first innings, Tino Best, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Darren Sammy, augmented by Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, operated well to get this positive result.
There was also much conjecture on eventual West Indies first innings declaration at only 527-4. It seemed quite strange at the time. Did West Indies believe that they could have dismissed Bangladesh cheaply in its first dig, or was West Indies taking Bangladesh for granted?
With this result, captain Sammy and coach Ottis Gibson should be very well pleased with their fateful decision. They have come up trumps! The end justified the means. Even after being led on first innings, West Indies bowled wonderfully well in the second innings, especially the effervescent Best, thus justifying that earlier declaration.
Also, pleasingly, like 'Old Man River', Shivnarine Chanderpaul still keeps rolling along. After massive, deserved hoopla of West Indies winning the World T20 Championships, "Tiger" missing out, it was great for him to come back to international cricket still with that insatiable hunger, attitude and aptitude for runs.
Before the opening Test, 38-year-old "Chanders" had already played 144 Tests, 10,342 runs at the highly desirable 50.20 average. Chanderpaul first double century, also 203 not out, was made against South Africa, with its pace bowling at Bourda, back in 2005. This second double century for the venerable veteran, again left unbeaten, surprisingly again at 203 versus Bangladesh, was a good test of his patience and know-how against fairly good spin.
"Tiger" did not have it all his own way in West Indies first innings and certainly not the second innings. While the veteran played his standard serene innings, scoring at an acceptable strike rate, it was the youngest player of the touring squad, Kieran Powell, who actually took the bouquets in both innings.
Everyone recognised 22-year-old Powell's talents when he came to full public consumption, playing for Nevis in early Stanford T20 series. By then, young as he was, he had already garnered a reputation of being a "basher." Hence, his absolute transition to Test opening batsman has been quite admirable.
Chairman of West Indies selectors Clyde Butts would also be silently smiling inside. He had always suggested that our "KP" was someone special and would eventually come good. Butts would also know that it has been a very long time since a West Indian opener had made two separate hundreds in a Test.
In 1976, Gordon Greenidge, whose Test record was tremendous – 108 Tests, 7,558 runs at an average of 44.72 – completed the great achievement against England, Manchester – 134 and 101- his second and third centuries.
Brian Lara was actually the last West Indian to make centuries in each innings. In 2001, Sri Lanka, showing batsmanship as never before seen, he scored 221 (total 390) and 130 (total 262) in the third Test. Five players made "no score" that second innings as Chaminda Vaas had 14 wickets in the match. West Indies lost!
Powell's twin centuries came in only his 12th Test, having 535 runs, average 25.47 before this first Test against Bangladesh. He does have some distance to get to Greenidge's efforts, but with his youth and abilities, it is likely that Powell could play as many Tests, even aspire to be like Chanderpaul and get to 10,000-plus runs.
Denesh Ramdin's third Test century (126 no), is also very welcomed. There had been murmurs that his batsmanship - 1,663 runs in 47 Tests, averaging 23.42 - was not good enough for modern-day wicket-keepers. Even in a West Indies team that is so strong in batting, Ramdin needs to score highly regularly.
Sunil Narine got three wickets in the first innings for 148 runs, while Rampaul also had three wickets then, for 118. Both bowled extended spells for 32 overs each, a very commendable effort. Narine's patience is growing well. As he must have realised by now, and from his exploits earlier this year, Test cricket is not T20's.