Windies revel in thrill of the Chase as hosts crush dismal England
IT IS one thing struggling against genuine West Indian pace — but it is quite another to submit to a part-time, non-spinning off-spinner with an utterly brainless display of batting.
England’s Barbados humiliation was complete yesterday and it was not their first-innings destroyer Kemar Roach who did for them nor even West Indies’ fastest bowler in Shannon Gabriel.
Instead, they were undone by a bowler with a Test average of 47.61.
Roston Chase claimed eight — yes, eight — wickets as England were rushed out for 246 to lose by a whopping 381 runs in what represents a huge upset and a thoroughly deserved win for an impressive captain in Jason Holder and his proud West Indies team.
Chase sent England hurrying towards their demise as batsman after batsman succumbed to him with a shocking display of shots despite, earlier on the fourth day, looking as if they could at least delay the inevitable until today.
Much as this is a notable triumph for West Indies, it is an absolute shocker from England, who remain maddeningly inconsistent and have now got off to the worst possible start to a year which includes a home World Cup and the Ashes.
For once, captain Joe Root was one of the most culpable in playing a truly awful shot against Chase that set a terrible example after Rory Burns had battled to 84 before becoming the first England batsman to softly offer his wicket to Chase.
Root had no complaints in heavy defeat, saying: ‘We’re bitterly disappointed. We’re a far better side than we showed this week.
‘We have to take responsibility and make sure we turn up in Antigua and perform better.’
Predictably, Keaton Jennings had again become the first man to fall with a carbon-copy dismissal to the pace of Alzarri Joseph that leaves his place hanging by a thread when England attempt to repair the damage caused here in next week’s second Test.
Jonny Bairstow fell edging Gabriel down the off-side into the safe hands of deputy wicket-keeper Shai Hope, standing in for Shane Dowrich.
Ben Stokes was lbw playing for non-existent turn; Moeen Ali, completely gone with the bat after only one half-century in 24 innings, completed one of the most miserable pairs in recent history when he fell in even worse fashion than Root; Jos Buttler also meekly found a fielder on the on-side.
Only Ben Foakes was slightly unlucky in his dismissal when he feathered a Chase ball to short leg that was very well caught.
It was all over when Sam Curran was stumped to give Chase figures that he could only have dreamt of.
England had gone down like a pack of cards.