WI v Eng: Third Test Grades
Tue, Aug 17, '04
In the third Test against, the West Indies played their best match of the series -- and still lost in four days.
It was the same old story in this game, as it has been throughout the series. Bursts of brilliance followed by mediocre bowling and fielding and the customary batting collapse. Let's take a look at the individual performances in this game, complete with my grades...
In the days of feudal Japan when a samurai warrior was defeated in battle, to preserve his honor and dignity, he performed the ritual of Seppuku or Hara-Kari. Honor for the samurai was dearer than life and in many cases self destruction was regarded not simply as right, but as the only right course. When England wrapped up the 3rd test with a seven wicket victory, one wonders whether Brian Lara pondered taking the course of action that almost every ex-cricketer with access to a microphone or a word processor has recommended -- give up the captaincy.
Lara is nothing if not determined. However, the more recalcitrant he is, the more his honor erodes. Lara has now "led" the West Indies to 22 losses and one wonders when his much talked about love of West Indies cricket would allow him to hand over to someone else, as he seems incapable of lifting this team. His batting has obviously suffered, and his slashing quest to get to the landmark 10,000 runs, only to fall one ball later, spoke volumes.
In feudal Japan, when defeated on the battlefield the disgraced warrior needed only two witnesses while he committed this rather painful method of self destruction. In his case he would have no shortage of witnesses should he decide to call it quits sooner rather than later.
GRADE: F
CHRIS GAYLE
Gayle endured a torrid opening burst on the first morning from Steve Harmison and this was probably responsible for his demise shortly after, playing a tad too early to the slower Matthew Hoggard. In the second innings Gayle was all watchful propriety, until the combined pressure and his continued inability to work the ball for singles caused his downfall.
In trying to break the shackles by hitting out, he succeeded in picking out Hoggard at a deep mid-on who held on to a wonderful catch. Gayle continues to be underused as a bowler by Brian Lara. His haul of five wickets in England's second innings should have ensured that he at least bowled than the 12.4 overs that he bowled in this match.
GRADE: C
SYLVESTER JOSEPH
Finally, after a series of high scores in the warm up games, Joseph was able to force himself into the starting lineup, unfortunately at the expense of Devon Smith at the unaccustomed opening slot. He gave a good account of himself in the first innings looking solid until he threw it away five short of what would have been a well deserved half century.
Joseph, unfortunately, managed to grass a simple offering from Robert Key in the second innings during England's run chase. Had he held on, the catch might have put pressure on England's lower order and who knows? With a batting order that set, Joseph may find his opportunities limited, unless he can produce big scores. I'm not sure if the team management is doing him any favors having him open.
GRADE: C
RAMNARESH SARWAN
Sarwan was involved in an excellent partnership with Joseph that helped the West Indies recover from a perilous 10 for one until, with the score on 95, he essayed a big drive at Flintoff and dragged the ball onto his stumps. It was a loose end to an innings that promised much.
In the second innings he played very well on a very difficult wicket for an accomplished half century. Sarwan's troubling lapses in the field, most notably the let-off of centurion Graham Thorpe, England's man for any crisis, was singularly responsible for the West Indies only taking a lead of 65 into the second innings. As a senior player and a veteran of 49 Tests, more is expected of Sarwan.
GRADE: C-
SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL
On this tour, Chanderpaul has been the backbone of the West Indies batting, time after time being cast in the role of a West Indian Horatius Cocles, and often with no one willing to play the roles of Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius.
The great pity is that instead of being awarded land, he would be fined 20% of his match fee. In the first innings he had the promising Dwayne Bravo to partner him, but he failed to fire in the second innings and fell victim to a screamer from the lively Flintoff. After a string of important knocks Shiv was due for a failure.
GRADE: B
DWAYNE BRAVO
Bravo continued to have a dream series with the ball and was finally able put together the type of innings of which his fans know that he is capable. After top scoring with a first innings 77 and grabbing six English wickets, it looked as though Bravo would place the West Indies team on his slight shoulders and bring them home to victory, thus keeping the series alive.
Alas, it was not to be, as indifferent batting by almost all wasted his yeoman efforts.
GRADE: B+
CARLTON BAUGH
Playing in only his fourth test, his third as a wicketkeeper, Baugh did much to confirm his abilities in front of the stumps. Alas, he did nothing to assuage the doubts of his detractors on his abilities behind the timber. If his wicket-keeping skills could catch up with the sheer guts and commitment he showed in his important knock of 68 in the first innings, he would be a keeper, in both senses of the word.
As it is, he gave away more byes in one innings of this match than Jacobs gave up in the entire first two Tests. With his place secure for the next Test, hopefully Baugh will clean up the glove work.
GRADE: C+
DAVE MOHAMMED
Brought in as a replacement for the injured Tino Best, Mohammed was supposed to be the answer to the English spinner Ashley Giles. The resemblance ended at their left-handedness. Where Giles was always able to apply and maintain pressure on the West Indies batsmen, Mohammed, with the exception of the simple offering that Sarwan grassed, was never able to build enough pressure on the English bats.
In England's run chase on a worn surface, one did not observe the ripping deliveries or the nasty bounce that a Test spinner should be able to extract from such a surface. Still, Mohammed is only in his second Test, but Test cricket is no place for learning. He did show that he knows how to use a straight bat in scoring 23 useful runs.
GRADE: C
PEDRO COLLINS
The loss of Pedro Collins to a nasty chin cut from a Flintoff bouncer cost the West Indies dearly in the first innings as they missed his two way movement. Eighteen overs in the entire match are not enough from one of our main bowlers.
GRADE: (Incomplete)
COREY COLLYMORE
Collymore produced a few pearlers to get rid of Key in the first inning and Trescothick in the second. He was always threatening in the second innings, and while he was operating West Indies were always in with a chance.
Corey Collymore simply was brilliant. At one time he had bowled 11 overs, seven of them maidens, and conceded only 13 runs. It was a great pity that such excellent bowling did not translate into wickets.
GRADE: B
FIDEL EDWARDS
Edwards bowled with lots of fire and commitment. Unfortunately this is Test cricket, and where at lower levels, pace is enough to set batsmen quaking in their boots and not show much stomach for the fight, at this level it has to translate into wickets.
As it is, 29 overs for 119 runs and with only one wicket to show for it leaves a lot to be desired. Edwards still bowls far too many no-balls and tends to spray the ball around. On the credit side of the balance sheet, he did manage to get rid of Thorpe for the final Test, which could prove to be of benefit to the West Indies.
GRADE: D