Quote:The West Indies could not have been taken by surprise by Warner’s methods. It has borne him significant success recently, catapulting him into the top 10 of the ICC rankings. Everybody knows it is his preferred way. But, spotting your adversary coming a mile away only helps if you have the artillery to repel them. If you don’t, then the best you can hope are for ways to delay their advance. Either way, you’ll be defeated in the end.
The West Indies batsmen are mostly young and inexperienced. The oldest of the top seven is opener Kieran Powell at 27, with 29 Tests to his name before this series. His partner and stand-in captain for the second Test, Kraigg Brathwaite had 42 Tests and is the only batsman to come out the series with reasonable returns, having scored 201 runs. Nobody else has more than Dowrich’s 18 games.
Shimron Hetmyer, placed — erroneously many feel — in the pivotal number three position, had one innings of note. His 66 in the second innings of the Wellington Test showcased a dashing batsman of rare shot-making ability. But the 20-year-old also showed impatience and injudiciousness in his choice of deliveries to attack. There is no mistaking his quality, however, and the West Indies would be well advised to provide special nurturing for the Guyanese left-hander.
Sunil Ambris made his debut in Wellington and had something of a nightmare series. The first ball he received at Wellington forced him so far back that he trod on his stumps. In the second innings, he got off the mark by pulling Trent Boult for six on his way to 18. At Hamilton, he again stepped on his wicket in the first inning, this time to Trent Boult. And in the second innings, he had his arm fractured by a short delivery from Wagner, meaning he will not be a part of the ODI series.
It was the first time he had been out hit wicket, reported coach Stuart Law after Wellington, offering that it would not happen again. But, then it happened again at Hamilton, revealing what must be a flaw. Test cricket can do that. It uncovers frailties previously hidden at the lower levels.
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