England v West Indies 2007

As the clash between England and the West Indies approaches, recent history offers little to support the notion of a series success for Darren Sammy's side. For all the classic memories of Richards, Holding, Garner et al, the fact remains that the Caribbean tourists have not won a series in England since 1988. Indeed, since 2000, home or away, the Test win record stands at 15-2 for the latter. Everything seems to be going wrong, what with injuries, IPL commitments and visa delays. With the tour scheduled yonks ago, why can't the WICB organise such routine admin just a little earlier?! On top of that, the warm-up match against Sussex lasted barely 34 overs, and the weather forecast suggests the Lions game will hardly provide the badly needed practice. I recall something similar back in 2007 when the West Indies came to these shores in grotty May weather, with just one three-day county fixture to ready them for a four-Test rubber. It was at Taunton and I was there. I'd booked my ticket weeks in advance, anticipating a keen contest between Trescothick and Gayle, and some good old Caribbean style. What we got was the early announcement that the game would forego first-class status, Somerset would offer virtually their 2nd XI, skippered by Keith Parsons, and then the first dayme was marred by frequent heavy showers which turned to rain throughout days two and three. The top four batsmen were blitzed by the might of Steffan Jones, but at least Chanderpaul and the late Runako Morton earned some time at the crease, even if the latter wasn't a first choice for the international side. As for the bowlers, they had to make do with the indoor nets. From that foundation, it was little surprise that in the first two Tests England racked up first innings scores of over 500. At Lord's debutant Matt Prior was one of five centurions for the home side on the way to a rain-hit draw. The Headingley follow-up was a dreadful mismatch. Michael Vaughan returned to skipper England and made 103. However, Kevin Pietersen thumped 226 and they declared on 570-7 at almost five an over. Sidebottom, Harmison and Plunkett proceeded to bowl the opposition out twice inside 80 overs. Darren Ganga took charge at Old Trafford where the margin of defeat was somewhat narrower, but it was still a defeat. Darren Sammy made his Test debut for the Windies and produced their best performance of the summer, claiming 7-66 in the second innings. England passed 300 twice and the Windies were set a target of 455 to win. To their credit they came close to reaching 400. That was largely down to Shiv Chanderpaul - who else? - whose unbeaten century defied the efforts of Harmison and Monty Panesar. Only Morton and Dwayne Bravo provided any real support, and the series was lost already. The weather wiped out the first day's play at Chester-le-Street and half of the second, too, England having put the opposition into bat. Ganga was out to the very first ball and once again the indefatigable Chanderpaul anchored the innings with an unbeaten 136, a figure his team-mates could barely scrape together between them. He also hit a six. Collingwood and Prior set up another lead before Panesar devastated the tourists second time out. No prizes for guessing who top-scored for the West Indies! England duly won by seven wickets and wrapped up a 3-0 series victory. That may have been pretty decisive but three years earlier England had whitewashed them 4-0, Brian Lara and all. I'll hark back to 2009 another time but Darren Sammy's side will need a miracle to register a first innings lead let alone a Test victory in 2012. And Mr Chanderpaul will be needed more than ever.