Fight over fireworks as West Indies graft away
PROPER cricket, this. Digging in, grafting, edging forward step by step. Heaven knows what the generation the Hundred is aimed at would have made of it, but for those who have watched successive West Indian teams sell themselves short in the Test format, it was very easy on the eye.
West Indies haven’t exactly taken this Test away from England. Not yet. But they won some very significant battles yesterday, the majority of the sessions, and demanded their hosts demonstrate at least the equivalent reserves of discipline for the next two days if they are to survive.
It was impressive watching players such as Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich going through the process of accumulating the necessary numbers, old school. And even if nobody went big, they all chipped in. Every West Indian batsman in the top seven made it to double figures, the captain Jason Holder recording his sole blemish of the Test so far by holing out to Ben Stokes for five.
It meant the first-innings lead was not quite what it should have been given the way the tourists had handled England’s bowling for much of the day. Long before tea, many observers were concluding that England had made a mistake leaving out Stuart Broad, which gives an indication of the victors on the day.
Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, picked for their pace with one eye on a visit to Australia in two winters’ time, took a single wicket between them, and even that was the 10th. Their combined figures were one for 135.
So as England toiled for scant reward, the West Indies ever so calmly took control. It was an old-fashioned display of patience and composure; and mightily frustrating for the home team.
Since the days when they ruled the world, West Indian tourists have often been accused of demonstrating style over substance; taking the easy road.
Chris Gayle was undoubtedly one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era, but once spoke of his loathing for Test cricket and turned his back on it too soon. Sometimes it all seemed like too much trouble for little reward.
Equally, the West Indies talent pool has been regularly diluted by desertions to the white ball game — or to a rival country, in the case of Archer — leading to the conviction that this was a minor Test-playing nation. West Indies’ status and reputation suffered accordingly. It was almost as if they were not serious. They
certainly looked it yesterday. this was grown-up cricket, even a little dull at times, which is as the longform game should be. It ebbs and flows, goes to sleep and wakes up.
there were few fireworks in the West Indies innings — although archer was taken to the boundary in consecutive balls shortly before tea — and much sensible, conservative score-building.
and if what the tourists achieved does not appear especially exceptional, never forget England had their chance to do something very similar and did not take it.
they won the toss, elected to bat, lost a wicket before a run had been scored and struggled from there. Conditions were frustrating and this is a slow surface but the rearguard action by Dom Bess, and the steadiness of West Indies’ performances suggest the track is less of an obstacle than it was made to look.
as wicketkeeper Dowrich, batting seven, moved past his half- century, any number of English top- order specialists playing for their positions, not just this summer but long-term with India and the ashes on the horizon, must have rued a missed opportunity.
It was the batsmen, more than the bowlers, who have disappointed for England here. Wood was better than his figures suggested; Bess is increasingly resembling Nathan Lyon in action and influence; Ben Stokes recorded the best bowling figures by an England captain since Bob Willis in 1983; and, as for Jimmy anderson, like the poor, it seems he will always be with us.
he toiled more than any man who will be 38 at the end of this month rightfully should, and took a crucial wicket, trapping Chase for 47 just when West Indies looked to be building a definitive matchwinning partnership. anderson and Stokes together took seven for 111.
Even so, despite the best efforts of England’s most experienced bowlers, West Indies led by 114 when the final first-innings wicket fell, and while that does not seem the greatest gap, it is rare that a team trailing by such a margin after the first innings wins.
as if to emphasise the point, the moment the tourists had ball in hand, Southampton’s surface seemed to change, to rear up, to engage with them. at the completion of an over, the tourists sprinted coltishly between the ends, as if in front of a roaring full house cheering them on as England fought to see out 14 overs.
this was a performance that deserved more than bio- secure silence. and again, it was an intelligent, nuanced display — not just a matter of trying to blast England’s batsmen out.
West Indies have adapted to their surrounds much better across these first three days — no mean feat considering this match has been played in what might be termed perfect English conditions.
England’s openers were still there at close, grimly hanging on. they will need to do that for at least one more day to win. Serious cricket, proper cricket: that is the only way forward from here.