Bitterly disappointing. Perhaps that’s the best way to describe the West Indies’ performance in the recently concluded second Test match versus England.
One fan said to me after the loss that we have grown increasingly accustomed to this type of cricket from the West Indies. He also compared West Indies matches to that of a roller coaster ride - they play excellent cricket in one game and in the next, they look like a bunch of amateurs now learning the fundamentals of the game.
Admittedly, while such a view is widely held by many cricket fans and although it may be perceived as harsh, I have to agree with him to an extent. In years gone by, they lack the consistency to play each and every game with the same type of mindset to go out onto the field and perform to the best of their ability.
So, what went wrong? How can a team that outplayed England for nearly four days in the first Test just win about three sessions in the second Test? I think that the desire that existed in the first Test was missing.
Having won the first Test, there may have been some complacency creeping into their game especially looking at the England side. No Jimmy Anderson, no Mark Wood and the biggest bonus of all - no Jofra Archer. The West Indian batsmen must have felt that the game was over before a ball was bowled.
England looked hungry. Stuart Broad had something to prove to the England selectors and bowled like a man possessed; Chris Woakes swung the ball both ways and was very deceptive with his pace; Sam Curran is just about medium pace but gets all his wickets in English conditions and do I write more about Ben Stokes except to say he tends to make things happen?
I previewed all of the English bowlers before the series started and I mentioned that them playing at home can’t be taken lightly and unfortunately, we succumbed to this notion with poor batting.
In comparison to the changed English attack that looked fresh and raring to go, I thought our bowlers looked jaded. Although Shannon Gabriel bowled quickly at times, this is a man just coming back from injury and it would have been a great achievement had he got among the wickets.
But it was not unexpected that he went wicketless in the Test and while a few catches were dropped off his bowling, he didn’t look like the energetic bulldozer from the first Test. The other quickies also looked a shadow of themselves so it was no surprise that Roston Chase bowled 44 overs in the first innings.
My main concern for the third Test starting tomorrow (Friday) is that our quickies would have just three days to put their feet up before the gruelling task starts again to try and get 20 wickets and win the series.
Young Chemar Holder is in the squad as well as the medium pace of Raymon Reifer. Also on tour is the speedy Oshane Thomas, so there is some firepower in the reserves, but they all lack Test experience. However, if given the chance they will want to prove that they are up for the big occasion so coach Phil Simmons will have to think carefully about his bowling attack.
On the other hand, the English will not have that problem. Instead, their headache will be which bowlers to rotate. Will they play Broad and Woakes in successive Tests? There is no doubt Archer will be back for Curran but will Anderson and Wood also return? What a wonderful headache for the English to have.
With our bowlers struggling in the last Test, it meant that our batsmen had no protection and they had to come good but unfortunately, they failed. The application and discipline were non-existent this time around. We lost an entire day to rain, but England never gave up. They wanted victory badly while we appeared just satisfied not to lose the game. The body language of the English told its own story as compared to the West Indies.
In the batting department, Kraigg Brathwaite is having a much better series but must turn his half-centuries into centuries and needs to do some soul searching to find out why he has failed in both second innings.
Unfortunately, I have never been convinced by John Campbell. At the top of the order, his batting average in Tests is 26.92 while in First-Class cricket, it is 29.70. That tells me that we need someone different at the top of the order. His crucial drop catch that gave Ben Stokes a reprieve cost us dearly. He has to go.
Another difficult decision is whether to bring in the uncapped Nkrumah Bonner or go to the reserves and select Shayne Moseley or Joshua Da Silva. With Shai Hope badly out of form and in such a crucial Test, do our selectors gamble with Mosely or Da Silva at the top of the order and Bonner in the middle with Sharmarh Brooks going at number three? Somehow, I don’t see them gambling and they may very well go for the tried and tested. They may well ask Hope to open and go with Bonner in the middle, but so much depends now on Jermaine Blackwood and Chase.
But most importantly, whichever batsmen are selected must apply themselves in this Test match and get hundreds or we will simply struggle. Skipper Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich will have to contribute with the bat if we are to leave England with the Wisden trophy.
A revitalised West Indies team is critical for the final Test in this series - a team with the application, the desire, the heart, the will to win and that fighting, consistent West Indian spirit. Take us back to the mindset of the first Test or I am afraid we will be leaving the Wisden trophy in England. I hope I am wrong.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views of any organisation of which he is a stakeholder.