Matchwinner Blackwood ignored jibes

Jermaine Blackwood claimed he ignored the barbs of England stand-in captain Ben Stokes to carry the West Indies to victory in the first Test at the Ageas Bowl last weekend.

Blackwood’s impetuousness at the crease has led to a stop-start international career and a rash shot in the first innings proved old habits die hard.

However, after arriving to the crease with the tourists on 27 for three, with John Campbell retired hurt and chasing 200 for victory, the Jamaican was much more resolute and his 95 was the catalyst for a four-wicket triumph.

Blackwood said: “I went out there and, from the first ball, Ben Stokes was in my ear. I wasn’t really paying too much attention to that, I was keen on getting the runs and getting my team across the line.

“That didn’t faze me – once I’m there, you’re going to be under pressure because you know you can’t bowl a loose ball to me. Once I’m at the crease, they’re the ones under pressure, not me.

“Pressure doesn’t move me too much. Once I get myself in I get into my zone and once I’m in there it’s hard to come out of. I don’t pay attention to [criticism], I always have fire inside of me.”

Asked what Stokes said, Blackwood replied: “I can’t really remember but it was nothing bad. That’s cricket, you’ll always hear a bit of talking – that’s how it should be played, in my view.”

Blackwood was eventually caught looking for a big shot which would have moved him closer to just his second Test century but his innings was enough as the Windies drew first blood.