After
that humbling 381-run reverse, the consensus back home was that England had
messed up by dropping Stuart Broad to fit in an extra spinner. For a side
ranked in the top three, that hardly excuses such a dreadful batting display.
Furthermore, since the tourists obviously learnt their lesson by reinstating
Jimmy Anderson’s old partner for North Sound, how on earth did Joe Root’s team capitulate
so meekly once more, this time inside three days?
Eighteen
months ago, Holder’s men surprised everyone, myself included, by achieving a
hefty run chase at Headingley. Hmm, maybe this lot aren’t so bad after all. And
yet still the West Indies came into this home rubber without a series success
against a top eight nation for seven years, and it’s only a matter of weeks
since they lost to Bangladesh.
While
the West Indies have resisted England at home for many years – and in 2009 they
actually achieved a 1-0 victory – it’s not since 1988 that they inflicted a
ten-wicket drubbing. That was the era of Viv Richards, Haynes, Hooper, Dujon, Marshall,
Walsh and Ambrose, giants of the global game. With the best will in the world, the
current crop don’t match up to the Eighties generation. However, with a series
win already secured, Holder’s team should take a huge confidence boost. I
feared that the T20 World Cup triumph would harm first-class cricket in the
islands but the powers-that-be are gradually turning things around.
But
what about England? They may well be licking their lips in anticipation of the ODI
World Cup and Ashes, but they seem to have forgotten how to drop anchor when
required. On most pitches, Root, Bairstow, Stokes and Buttler have managed to hit
their way out of trouble and rely on Anderson and Broad to bowl out the
opposition. Apart from Burns in the second innings at Bridgetown and Moeen Ali in
the first at St John’s, nobody has lasted very long in the face of Kemar Roach
and co. Compare and contrast with Kraigg Brathwaite, Shannon Gabriel and the
recalled Darren Bravo, who toiled for almost six hours over his half-century
last week. As Mr Punch would exclaim, that’s the way to do it! Respect, too, to
Alzarri Joseph who persevered with the ball despite losing his mother the day
before.
In
the past few weeks England have been outplayed in every department and
desperately need to grab a consolation victory in St Lucia to restore some
pride. No doubt Australia at home will be a much easier prospect and for most
cricket-aware people here, that’s the only contest which counts. However, all
the best to the Windies: I really hope they can kick on and charge up the Test rankings.
Roach is no Curtly Ambrose, Campbell no Gordon Greenidge and Holder no Richards,
but if they inspire youngsters to follow in their footsteps, they can hold
their heads high for the rest of their lives. Very ordinary and average? No
longer.
