From the heights of a series-leading victory to being bowled out for one hundred and twenty-nine (129) runs inside 38 overs, the West Indies fell to a 2-1 series defeat to England on Day 5 of the third and final Test at Old Trafford, ensuring the Wisden Trophy will know the host nation as its final home. In a series of contests where the visiting bowlers were seldom dominated, their batting counterparts, who briefly threatened the unexpected, soon return to substandard familiarity.
Talent, present as it now is, has never been an issue in West Indies cricket. And while being visibly evident in all the members of the West Indies top-six, two were unable to produce anything of significance with the bat throughout the entire series. Brathwaite, Brooks, Chase and Blackwood all recorded half-centuries at some point on the tour; with Brathwaite, Brooks and Blackwood doing so twice. Yet the highest scores for John Campbell and Shai Hope were recorded as being 32 and 31, respectively.
As a result, Shai Hope’s Test record is currently being narrated as a revelation by the cricketing media—who have been forced into a distinction that Caribbean fans have, for some time now, been able to make; one between the right-handers ODI form and his Test struggles. And John Campbell, who admittedly had a poor time of it on this tour—a man who only had six Test caps prior to this series—has been “coupled” with the Barbadian—who was averaging 24.77 in his last 34 innings prior to this series—as the ‘other’ struggler.
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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
This started out with much promise but disintegrated as it went along.
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In reply to Ewart
Hetmeyer as opener even though he doedn't open for Guyana? No other openers? Gayle may have started in the middle for Jamaica but moved up to open very early and scored runs at that position to be selected for WI.Had a poor tour of England, was dropped, came back and scored a bucketload of runs and the rest is history.
Hetmeyer is a middle order bat. As you said, it devolved.
that's a bad idea the guy is struggles in the middle order and has not even got a hundred and you going to put him to open hetmyer has to prove himself in test cricket in his natural position first
Sometime we have to think out of the box if what if the status quo is not working. Lawrence Rowe did not open for Jamaica or his club, Kensington CC, when he was pressed into service by the West Indies as an emergency opener against England.
Rowe ended up having the best test series of his career, including a triple century. The current crop of openers is not cutting it; time to try something new!
The selection of Campbell was an experiment, even in the local competitions he was inconsistent, until the WI improve their local FC tournament the WI will be in the situation they are in.
In reply to jacksprat
Did anyone ask Hety if he wants to open? And yes there have been successful middle order to opening transitions- Justin Langer anyone? But Hety at this stage is sort of like Gayle at the beginning voops and out so not sure about opening. If however, it were to teach him responsibility- would have to do it for Guyana first though like Gayle with Jamaica.
