Dhaka, August 2015. That’s how far back we’d have to dig into the Test archives to find a 0-0 drawn series. That is, of course, until the West Indies and Sri Lanka matched each other over the last two weeks in Antigua to reset the record. A positive result would have seen the West Indies leapfrog their opponents to 7th in the ICC Test Rankings, but for an unapologetically flat final-day wicket.
On commentary, in the media and on social platforms, one particular question held constant throughout the just-concluded series: “Are the West Indies a batsman short, here?”
Based on the general composition of West Indies Test teams over the last three years, which usually took the image of six batsmen (including all-rounder Roston Chase), a wicketkeeper-batsman, Jason Holder and a pace-trio, one could argue that WINDIES were indeed a batsman short this time around. Yet, it never felt as such.
Regardless of the series win in Bangladesh, there was to be no debate as to whether Holder—who declined the invitation to tour the Asian Subcontinent—being the number one ranked Test all-rounder in the world, would be included in the West Indies playing XI. His imminent inclusion was also set to shift the balance of the team in the process.
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