West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite bats during play on day two of the fi rst cricket test between the West Indies
and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP, fi le
Test ‘heroes’
WEST INDIES SWEEP TEST SERIES Edwards eyes
By Azad Ali
West Indies middle-order
batsman, Kyle Mayers has
jumped into the top 100 of
the International Cricket
Council’s (ICC) players rankings
following his historic
unbeaten double century
in the opening Test against
Bangladesh in Chattogram
recently..
Mayers, 21, has entered
the batting rankings with
448 rating points, which represents
the best ever rankings
debut by a West Indies
player and second best by
any player in more than 100
years.
Mayers struck 40 in the
first innings and then followed
up an amazing 201 not
out as West Indies chased
down 395 on the final day to
stun the hosts by three wickets
and take a 1-0 lead in the
two Test series.
Opener Kraigg Braithwaite,
leading the side in the
absence of regular captain
Jason Holder who declined
selection for the tour, also
found himself on the rise
in the rankings, moving up
eight places to 53rd.
The right-hander topscored
Caribbean Life, F 42 ebruary 19-25, 2021
with a fluent 76 off
111 balls in the West Indies
first innings of 259.
Another Test debutant,
Nkrumah Bonner, has
entered the rankings at 88th
following his 96 in the second
innings, in a 216-run
fourth wicket stand with
Mayers.
Jermaine Blackwood,
meanwhile, is the highest
ranked West Indies batsman
at 29, jumping two places
following his 68 in the first
innings in Chattogram.
He is the only two West
Indies player in the top 50,
with Holder in at 43rd despite
missing the first Test.
Continued from Page 41
Indies won), the highest credit needed
to be afforded the players for their
courage.
Braithwaite led an under-strength
side in the two Test series following
the decision by several first players to
decline selection over concerns about
the local COVID-19 pandemic.
Bishop, 53, said West Indies went
on to pull off the fifth highest successful
run chase in Test history by
overwhelming 395 to win by three
wickets.
“These guys are heroes. They’ve
chosen in a pandemic to come down
here and should be applauded, whatever
the shortcomings,” he said.
Ten players headed by Test captain,
Jason Holder and white-ball captain,
Kieron Pollard, opted out of the tour
to what Cricket West Indies labeled
“COVID-19 concerns and personal
reasons.
The selectors were then forced to
call up a plethora of debutants across
both one-day and Test squad, leaving
the team short of experience.
Four uncapped players were named
in the 15-man Test squad.
comeback
ment.
He told ESPNcricinfo “I have
spoken to Kieron Pollard and Head
Coach, Phil Simmons and let them
know that, if there’s an opportunity
I’m ready.”
“I still love the game and I’m still
doing what I do best; bowling quickly
and taking wickets,” he said.
the role of leading an inexperienced
15-man squad for the two Tests after
regular captain Jason Holder declined
over COVID-19 concerns.
When West Indies collapsed from 41
for three overnight to 117 in their second
innings on the fourth day and set
Bangladesh 231 for victory, a series win
seemed set to elude them.
However, Braithwaite proved inspirational
with field settings and the rotation
of bowlers, and his players responded
favorably to upset the hosts again.
He took three wickets with his offspin
taking the two openers when the
hosts were cruising at 59 without loss.
Cornwall was named Man-of-the
Match, while Nknruma Cornwall was
named Man-of-the series.
West Indies coach, Phil Simmons
was delighted with the performance of
his team saying, it’s unbelievable.” West
Indies waited for nine years for a Test
series win on Bangladesh soil.
Continued from Page 41
West Indies’ Fidel Edwards appeals
during the fi rst day of the
second cricket test match agains
Bangladesh, in Khulna, Bangladesh,
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012.
Associated Press/A.M.Ahad, fi le
Continued from Page 41
WI batsman Mayers makes record debut in ICC rankings
West Indies’ Jermaine Blackwood in action against England
during the third Test in England on July 28,2020.
Martin Rickett/Pool via REUTERS