West Indies team fall into a deep hole yet again despite a brave performance by Shivnarine Chanderpaul yet England wins the Series
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| Fig:-Andrew Strauss |
Yet another batting failure proves that a lot of things need
to be solved for the team management. A long dispute between the board and some
key players like Christopher Gayle specially is making him not to be a part of a
well-deserved team. A top order collapse and yet another batting failure is
making the team pay huge defeat in the test match. From the outset West Indies team
look like depending on just Chandrepaul who scored 87 of 242 balls in first
innings with 12 crisp but was eventually left alone and 91 of 383 balls with 10
fours well-timed fours. Adrian Barath (42) and Darren Bravo (29) the two expected
players are not meeting the standard they set in the early days and even in the
tour of India where they showed a lot of fight. Darren Sammy (17&37 with 3
wickets) alone is holding in all departments where he needs to rescue his team
when they ball, bat and even in the field. This shows the imbalance and lack of
group performances in the team. No spinner in the team is also pulling them away
from victory. They are really missing the magic of Sunil Narine who is arguably
the best and most impressive variety bowler as Ajanta Mendis once used to be.
Talking about
the first test in the home of cricket “LORDS”, West Indies were outplayed by confident
and most importantly NO.1 team of test cricket. Batting first West Indies were
in a very deep trouble and thankfully for them chandrepaul hold the crease one
end giving their total some respect. English bowlers bowled them out quickly
and Stuart Board (7 for 72 in 24.5 overs) proves he is the current 1st
rank swing bowler under the chilly and bad light condition. He took 7 in the
first innings and 4 in second completing 11 wickets in the first test in front
of a well disciplined and knowledgeable crowd of Lords. The catching and ground
fielding of Strauss & co proved yet again why they haven’t lost a home test
series since Strauss has took over and collaborated with Andy Flower.
Everything is working according to the plan for them. The bowling change is
perfectly co-ordinated and field placement is spot on by Andrew. Despite a
second inning fight back by Chanderpaul and Samuels heroic in both the innings
couldn’t rescue the team because of first inning failure. Keema Roach(3 for 60)
gave England some shock when he took the 3 of first 4 wickets for just 45 runs
chasing 196.But Ian bell and Alaister
cook played thoroughly professional cricket both scoring half century and
making their team win the opener of the
three test match leaving the opponents a lot to think about.
Also the
second test held on Nottingham was also comprehensively beaten by England and
won by 9 wickets. The main feature of this test match was seen in Andrew
Strauss’s fluent century (141 of 303 balls) with 22 fours. Equally supported by
Pietersen(80) and Bresnen(39).They scored 428 overall chasing trail of 370.The Caribbean
were in a deep trouble at 136-5 but super cool Sammy and silent wind Samuels
rescued the team total to reach a successful l score of 370.not to forget
chanderpaul who scored 46 good runs and anchored the inning at the middle
stage.Now West Indies needed some good batting to complement the bowling and
fielding performances but the whole inning fell apart when Bresnen and Broad
run into the heart of the windies leaving them to score mare 165,thanks to
Samuels scoring 76 out of 165.England chased the 111 target and retained no 1
test spot which seems to the great reward for their effort .
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