Five W.I Cricketers of 2004
Mon, Dec 27, '04
Each year, some cricketers by virtue of their outstanding performances distinguish themselves from their counterparts.
In 2004, the following five stood head and shoulders above the rest and, in my opinion are the West Indian cricketers of the year...
When the West Indies selectors recalled the injured opener for the third test in Cape Town, they knew they were taking a gamble of sorts. Little did they know it was a sign of things to come as Gayle would go on to have his most successful year thus far in Test cricket.
It was a year that yielded 1135 Test runs, 4 centuries, 7 half-centuries -- all at an average of 54.04. Having hurt his hamstring in the first test and after being batted out of the first two tests by the South Africans, the West Indians desperately needed to strengthen their batting. Facing a huge South African total of 532, Gayle did not disappoint as he proceeded to decimate the South African attack with a 79-ball ton. On to Centurion, where it was more of the same as Gayle went on to record his second consecutive ton.
Next up was the home series against the English but, like the majority of West Indian batsmen, he found success hard to come by. However, Gayle regained form with a patient 141 against Bangladesh at Beausejour, St Lucia.
His 4th century of the year came at the Oval where he had the distinction of hitting a record six 4's off the hapless Matthew Hoggard. To demonstrate his all-round ability, he grabbed 5 wickets and fell just short of being the first player in history to score a ton and take five wickets in a single day?s play. In ODIs, Gayle's unbeaten 132 powered West Indies into the Nat West final and his three-wicket haul underlined why he is rated as one of the best ODI all-rounders in the world.
West Indian cricket fans generally look forward eagerly to the naming of the Test squads. So, when the squad for the home series versus the English was announced and the name Pedro Collins was omitted it caused the raising of several eyebrows. The left-armer had been the most successful bowler with 43 wickets in the Carib Beer Cup series. He, however, had to wait until an injury to his brother Fidel Edwards paved the way for his recall in the Port of Spain Test.
In a year when bowlers either succumbed to countless injuries or had below-average performances, Collins stood out. Showing a marked improvement in line and length, Collins grabbed 35 wickets in 8 tests at an average of 24.89. In the 6 tests versus England, Collins grabbed 21 wickets and 14 in the two tests versus Bangladesh.
Against the Bangladehis, he also had the distinction of dismissing Hannan Sarkar with the first ball of the Test match in both games, a Test record. His personal best of 6/53 was instrumental in West Indies recording a series win at Sabina Park over the Bangladeshis.
In a dramatic collapse Bangladesh lost by an innings and 99 runs after putting up a 4th wicket stand of 120 only to see their last seven wickets fall for just 22 runs as they crumbled to 176 all out.
In every era of West Indies cricket, one batsman has always had that special quality which distinguishes him from the rest, an aura of greatness. At the Antigua Recreation Ground on April 12, Brian Lara demonstrated again why he is the great West Indian batsman of this era.
It was the 4th and final test of a series that the English had completely dominated. Naturally, all thoughts were now centred on whether or not the West Indians would be able to avoid a whitewash. Brian Lara, who in the previous 6 innings had scored just 100 runs, knew the onus rested on him to restore some pride to both himself and his team.
And as he done before, when facing enormous pressure he dug deep and rose to the occasion. When the declaration came at 751/5,Brian Lara had written himself into the record books as being the first man to record quadruple figures, 400*.
Along the way, he regained the test record that he had lost to Matthew Hayden a mere six months before and joined Don Bradman as the only other batsman to have score a triple twice. The whitewash had been averted and a region that had hung their heads in shame dared to smile again.
To crown a year that yielded 1178 runs at an average of 58.90 including 3 centuries, Lara's fielding was stunning in the ICC final that was won by the West Indians. It included 2 catches, none more spectacular than the one that dismissed Andrew Flintoff and a run out that was pivotal in limiting the English to 217.
When, after a series of low scores, Shivnarine Chanderpaul was omitted from the West Indies squad for the 4th test in Antigua, opinion was divided with respect to the fairness of the decision. Recalled to the squad for the first test vs Bangladesh, the Guyanese left-hander with a score of 7 from 36 deliveries in his only innings failed to impress. However, by the second test at Sabina, he was back to form with an unbeaten 101.
On to England where in the early warm up games vs Ireland he struggled to find form. But, in the final game prior to the first test, Shiv was back to his best with an unbeaten 104 vs Sri Lanka A. His rather poor record with respect to scoring overseas tons had oft been criticised, but he answered his critics in commanding fashion at no lesser place than Lords, the Mecca of cricket.
Facing an English score of 568, Shiv with a fighting 128* that epitomised his reputation as a gritty middle order bat was the top scorer in the West Indian reply of 416. Set 477 to win Chanderpaul, with a courageous 97*, once again led the way as the West Indians went on to lose by 210 runs.
In the process, his undefeated batting, going back to his undefeated innings vs Bangladesh, was extended to more than 14 hours. Throughout the series, he played vital fighting innings and was awarded the West Indian Man of the Series. His 437 runs at an average of 72.38 was the best returns for any batsman on either side. His tally for the year in 10 tests was 715 runs, 2 centuries, 3 half centuries at an average of 47.66.
For Ramnaresh Sarwan, 2004 has been a year that yielded 1005 test runs at an average of 50.25, including 3 centuries and 4 half centuries. The first of these three centuries came in the Centurion test where with Christopher Gayle a 4th wicket stand of 179 was realised.
Sarwan would go on to score 119, his second century of the series. Like most of the West Indian batsmen, he found runs difficult to get against the English pace attack. A century appeared to be there for the taking at the Antigua recreation Ground but he fell short by 9 runs. Against Bangladesh, he went on to record his personal best score of 261* at Sabina Park. His third century of the year, a fighting 139, came at Old Trafford in reply to England's 566/9 declared.
Sarwan also enjoyed a fantastic year in ODIs. In 24 games, he recorded 791 runs at an average of 50.68, complete with one century and six half centuries. Those included two match-winning in the ICC Champions Trophy -- 75 vs the South Africans and 56* not out against the Pakistanis.
Although Gayle was the top scorer in the game that powered West Indies into the Nat West Finals, Sarwan?s dazzling 89 will long be remembered. Apart from topping both the West Indian aggregate and averages (166 runs at an average of 83.00), the crowning accolade was also being named the ICC Champion trophy player of the tournament.