WI v RSA: First Test Report Card
Wed, Apr 6, '05
Long suffering fans of West Indies cricket, at least those who didn't engage in a boycott on behalf of the sidelined players, finally had something to cheer about in the first 2005 Digicel Test at Bourda in Georgetown, Guyana. Displaying a commitment not recently seen, the West Indies team managed to dominate South Africa for four of the five days, and were it not for a few badly missed catches and the loss of about 64 overs due to weather, this match may well have had a different result.
One thing is certain, the team came well prepared, the fielding was much improved, and players like Wavell Hinds showed improved technique. Even Shivnarine Chanderpaul was able to play a long innings without any apparent physical discomfort. It looks as though Bennett King is already beginning to make his mark on this team. Perhaps this was one hire the WICB has gotten right.
Wavell Hinds
Returned to his spot in the Test team and racked up his highest
Test score. Sporting a tightened technique and driving imperiously
in the vee and straight down the ground, Wavell took on the South
African bowlers and dominated them over the course of two days.
With the West Indies losing 2 early wickets, many fans were saying
"not again" but Wavell, along with debutant Pagon, solidified the
innings and set the stage for the record breaking 284 run
partnership. Prior to his match he averaged a paltry 13.71 against
the South Africans.
Grade: A
Devon Smith
Devon continued to have problem on or about the offstump, falling
caught behind off Nel. As players like Pagon and Ramdass continue
to pile on the runs in regional cricket, chances for Devon will
come fewer and further in between. As it is, he has been dropped
from the squad for the second Test. After a stand out youth career
Devon has not managed to make the transition over to Test cricket.
On day 4 he should have taken a sharp offering at slip off Rudolph
which might have opened the door to further West Indian
successes.
Grade: F
Darren Ganga
Another chance, another failure. Coming to the wicket at the fall
of Smith's wicket, and with 30 Tests under his belt one of the more
experienced players in this team, Ganga chased a delivery he had no
business playing at and only managed to steer it into the willing
gloves of Boucher. With this match we might have seen the last of
Ganga in a West Indies setting, but he has been written off before
and inexplicably has returned.
Grade: F
Donovan Pagon
Another of the several players in this match with a standout record
at the youth level. He came to the crease with the team in dire
straits at 24 for 2 and immediately stamped his class on the
proceedings with some well timed drives through the offside. He
counted 7 fours in his 106 ball stay at the crease for 35 runs, and
featured in a damage-repairing 82 run partnership with Wavell
Hinds. Unfortunately he seemed to lose concentration immediately
after lunch when he gifted his wicket to the persevering Nel in the
first and last rash stroke of his innings. If he wants to succeed
at the Test level, he will have to learn to bat for longer periods.
Clearly Pagon is one for the future, and should figure in future
plans for the West Indies, either at his accustomed opening slot or
in the middle order.
Grade: B-
Shivnaraine Chanderpaul
The newest West Indies captain almost had a perfect debut. Dusting
off his little used legspin, he came close to winning the game when
he should have had the key wicket of Kallis, drawing the edge of
Kallis' bat, only to see Browne badly muff the offering. He reached
his highest Test score on his home ground, featuring in a record
setting 284 run partnership with Wavell Hinds, the highest
partnership by a West Indies pair against South Africa. The icing
on the cake would have been a win, but it was not to be. Still, the
West Indies dominated an opponent who has been contemptuous of them
in recent times. While not setting the world on fire with his
tactical acumen, Shiv was competent and will have to learn on the
job. Needs to show more urgency in field settings, and not be
afraid to attack.
Grades - Batting: A, Captaincy: B-
Ryan Hinds
He did the job with the bat when he featured in a 116 run
partnership with his captain. Should have gotten his third test
fifty. Bowled steadily without being penetrative and held on to a
wonderful catch at third slip to dismiss Rudolph in the SA first
inning. Hinds will have to work on turning over the strike, as the
team lost some momentum after the departure of Wavell Hinds.
Grade: B-
Narsingh Deonarine
Had a brief appearance at the crease where he showed that he was
competent with the bat, however it was with the ball where he
really showed his value. Using flight, variation and guile bowling
his off-spin, Deonarine showed that he has a promising future as a
genuine off-spinning allrounder. His match figures of 31.5-15-40-2
wickets are nothing to scoff at and in my opinion the selectors
erred in not retaining him for the next game at the more spin
friendly Oval. If the selectors are looking for a spinner who can
bat they need look no further. Many fans are looking forward to his
selection to the Test team again in the near future.
Grade: A-
Courtney Browne
In his first Test back since 2001 he immediately reminded fans of
WI cricket of his dropping of Steve Waugh in Jamaica in the home
series against Australia. This time it was West Indies chief
tormentor Jacques Kallis who he let off and who went on to complete
a hundred, effectively saving South Africa from defeat. Browne also
put down a more difficult chance off Rudolph and gave up sixteen
byes. Virtually handed the wicket keeping spot on the retiring of
the popular and dependable Ridley Jacobs, Browne will have to
justify his continued retention in the team sooner rather than
later.
Grade: F
Darren Powell
Powell on his return to the test team displayed good pace and
extracted bounce from a notoriously flat Bourda Track. He also was
able to get some movement, and hurried and worried all the South
African batsmen. However, he seemed to lose pace as the day wore
on. As Bennett King said, Powell will have to improve greatly on
his fitness if he is going to be the pace spearhead of the attack.
After a shaky start where he seemed to stray down the legside a bit
he tightened up and bowled a good line and length, and got some
reverse swing when the ball got old. He is a whole-hearted
cricketer who seems willing to want to give his all. He bowled the
fewest no-balls for the three quicks.
Grade: B
Pedro Collins
Collins continued to show improvement, but needs to work urgently
on his run-up. He was one of the chief offenders when it came to
no-balls, delivering a total of 14 for the match. On a positive
note, he got Gibbs out to a peach of an inswinger, and troubled all
the batsmen with his each way movement. To be even more effective,
he needs to develop the ability to do more with the older ball.
Grade: B-
Reon King
Even though he took four wicket in the match, King sent down a
total of nineteen noballs and one wide. He also seemed to
inexplicably lose concentration and his line in the middle of some
spells. In the SA first innings he did settle down after a patchy
start and produced the ball of the match, a reverse swinging
inswinger, to bowl Nicky Boje who along with Boucher was struggling
to extend the South African first innings. King also could have
made a better attempt at an offering from the lucky Rudolph.
Grade: C+