Eng v W.I: First Test Report Card

The first Test match of this series will be remembered for the catastrophic West Indies batting collapse in the second innings and the subsequent public 'apology' to the fans. But, before all that, this was shaping up to be quite a match.

And, yes, there were some positive signs. In Devon Smith and Ryan Hinds, two of the more junior batsmen showed up for the occasion and Tino Best and Fidel Edwards gave a hint of what could be in the fast bowling department. But, unfortunately for West Indian fans, the seniors were largely invisible, and it shows in my first Test report card...

Chris Gayle

His penchant for loose footwork returned with a vengeance, causing him to play on in the first and slashing high to Thorpe in the second to become the first of Steve Harmison?s seven victims in the second. Gayle will have to do better as the number one opener in blunting the English new ball attack of Harmison with his awkward bounce, and Hoggard with his movement.

Grade F

Devon Smith

Devon recorded his maiden test hundred, and in the process showed what a classy player he is by mixing aggression with sound defense and canny play. It was a triumphant return after being unfairly ignored after his first series against Australia in 2003. He looked sound in the second innings until he drove one hard back to Hoggard who held a good catch.

Grade B+

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Looks like another slow start to a series by Ronnie Sarwan. The trouble is that the WI could ill afford a slow start by their number three batsman. He has to get out of the box faster. The other troubling aspect of Sarwan?s dismissal is his habit of shuffling across and being trapped on the crease in the process. As vice captain, he has a responsibility to the people of this region and is held to a higher standard. Being seeing in the 'party' stand after the embarrassing loss is something he must avoid in the future.

Grade F

Brian Lara

The trump card of the WI batting and the captain, Lara, the grizzled veteran of the team had a forgettable match. Looking exceedingly uncomfortable at the crease where he jumped into line rather than moving smoothly, Lara was out to tame catches behind the wicket in both innings. He did however have his shining moments as captain when he came onto the field on day three after resting a dislocated finger, to introduce Sarwan into the attack, a change which immediately produced the wicket of the dangerous Andrew Flintoff. A not-so-shining moment was removing Best from the attack after lunch on day 2 after he had rung the bell of Mark Butcher with the last ball of the preceding session. As has become the norm, his field placings remain strange.

Grade F

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

The other veteran of the WI batting lineup, Chanderpaul failed to fire when it mattered most. If the WI is to turn this series around they?ll need his usually consistent bat.

Grade F

Ryan Hinds

Along with Devon Smith, the other returnee to the team who in the minds of many had not done enough to force his way onto the team ahead of Ricardo Powell. However, cometh the moment cometh the man, and in the first innings when the West Indies were struggling at 101/4 he teamed up with Smith to put on 122 runs to haul the West Indian innings back to respectability. He should have gone on to score a richly deserved hundred, and has to realize that the great ones don?t throw them away at 84 too often. Hinds also bowled a reasonably tight spell of left arm spin that did not alarm the English batsmen unduly; however he did take one wicket in the process.

Grade B

Ridley Jacobs

Ridley turned in an adequate performance behind the stumps. Took a great catch to dismiss Butcher and make up for Lara?s dropping of the same player two balls earlier off Edwards and in a game where the WI team conceded 60 extras, only seven of those were byes. His batting has fallen off greatly and despite a few lusty blows in the second innings, Ridley has to do more with the bat at the end of the batting order.

Grade C

Tino Best

Arguably the most exciting and excitable bowler to ever play for the West Indies, Tino Best has a celebration dance that would not be out of place on football pitch. His sprint to fine leg and subsequent mobbing by teammates after picking up his first test wicket in the form of Graham Thorpe was an electrifying moment for the team. Best is also bowls very fast. He is fast and direct and is more than willing to get into the face of the English batsmen. However, he still has to learn to cut down on the bouncers that sail over the batsman?s head. It?s a wasted ball, and even though he seems to have enormous amounts of energy, he should conserve it and concentrate on bowling effective deliveries. Having said that, along with fellow Barbadian Fidel Edwards, the WI have two speedsters that should make batsmen the world over sit up and take notice.

Grade B

Adam Sanford

Sanford was all over the shop, bowling 22 overs for 90 runs. If he is to establish himself as the workhorse of the attack, he has to improve on his accuracy and control and bowl tight spells. He cannot afford to give up four balls every over to good test batsmen. At his pace, he is a luxury that the WI would not be able to afford. He does, however, remain one of the fittest players on the team and because of the high attrition rate of the WI fast bowlers, he may yet figure in the WI plans.

Grade F

Corey Collymore

Collymore was plagued by no balls even though in between he bowled some great deliveries that did everything but take wickets. He was, unlike Sanford, economical, and once he stays fit, he too like Sanford, will continue to figure in WI plans.

Grade C-

Fidel Edwards

The ever present specter of injury that perpetually looms over the West Indies hit Fidel hard. When it seemed like he was about to repeat the heroics of his last Jamaican test, that time vs. Sri Lanka, he pulled up in mid over. His castling of the static Trescothick was a thing of beauty and is a classic fast bowler?s two ball trick. Hopefully his injury is not too serious and he will be able to rejoin the team. He will be needed to have a standout series if the West Indies are to pull this one back.

Grade C