Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
West Indies vs England 1st Test Player Ratings
If England were “reinventing” the way Test cricket was to be played, then no side in world cricket will even want to look at the playbook. “Total cricket” turned into total rubbish, as England’s media now can’t wait till the next Test to try find ways to over-hype their players.
Spare a thought for the England fans.
Fights to Barbados might cost $600-$1,000. Accommodation? $70-$120 a night. Seeing England lose by 381 runs? Priceless.
Make no mistake, England were superb in Sri Lanka. They played good cricket, and deserved to win. However, England have come crashing down like a kid being driven past McDonald’s by his parents, then being told there is food at home. There seemed to be complacency, and perhaps blaming of the lack of quality cricket beforehand, but there is no doubt that England should be performing better than that. Total cricket not only turned into total rubbish, but also “parallel cricket”, where England were kind enough to allow a double century by a bowling all-rounder, then an eight wicket haul by a batting one.
However, no credit should be taken away from West Indies. This is a side decent at home, and is hellbent on keeping the misery going for England on these shores. When England last won a Test series in the Caribbean, Nokia was the top phone brand, Facebook had just started and Usher’s “Yeah” was the top song worldwide.
Now, the Windies have an absolute gem of a captain, Jason Holder, who continues to show why he is fast becoming the world’s best allrounder. Test cricket in the Windies is on life support at times, but he brings it to life. Couple that with a fighting Windies’ effort with the bat in the first innings, and Kemar Roach’s magnificent spell with the ball, and Jason Holder’s men have every reason to believe they can keep England’s waiting for another series win in the Caribbean.
Below are my player ratings for a match where West Indies won by their third biggest margin ever. Watch out, England!
West Indies
Kraigg Brathwaite: IPL franchises won’t be licking their lips, but as a Test enthusiast, it was great to see Brathwaite show some of his best fighting spirit. Enabled a strong start on day one. He is capable of delivering more, and the Windies will be hoping he does. 7
John Campbell: Held his own in his debut Test, delivering more in one match than Kieran Powell did in his last three. Would have been filthy to get out to a horrible ball in the second innings. But then again, any of the England batsmen might have got out to the same ball. 6
Shai Hope: First innings half century bringing back fond memories of his fine exploits against England in 2017. Again, the Windies will be happy with his fighting effort, and will be hoping for more in the next Test. 6
Darren Bravo: A performance not quite befitting of his surname. Darren might want to forget this comeback of his, and start again. It has been an underwhelming run of scores in all formats dating back to the India and Bangladesh tours, and it continued on his Test return. 1
Roston Chase: Below is an image of Roston Chase working as hard as he did to dismiss England’s batsmen. Scored a half century and took an eight-wicket haul. Schooled England on the Test’s final day, taking more wickets in one innings than he did in his previous 11. How nice of England to help him return to form. A brilliant performance. 9.5
Shimron Hetmyer: Hetmyer 81. England 77. Exciting strokeplay is something we have become accustomed to with Hetmyer, and he was excellent in this Test. Created more pain for England, which will win him fans in Australia, for sure. 8
Jason Holder: The all-rounder Ben Stokes wishes to be? What a cricketer this man is. Rally around the Holder! West Indies missed him badly when he was out injured, and it was easy to see why. He is arguably the world’s best Test allrounder right now, delivering with bat and ball time and time again. If Shimron Hetmyer is winning fans over in Australia, Holder is a man to be celebrated on Australia Day weekend. Magnificent double century that completely flattened England. Absolutely dominant. 10
Shane Dowrich: Followed up a duck with a century, part of the third-highest seventh wicket stand in Test history. Magnificent. 8.5
Kemar Roach: Kicked-off the massive onslaught. England were on track for a bit of “total cricket” at 35/1, before Kemar Roach put that term to bed. Superb performance that set up the match for his side. Was loose in the second innings, but who cares? 9
Alzarri Joseph: Asked questions, when required. Key words: when required. Joseph cursing England’s batsmen for not allowing him to bowl a little more than he did. 7
Shannon Gabriel: You might struggle to find a better love story than Shannon Gabriel and no balls. However, he constantly asked questions of England’s batsmen, and will be a key figure in this series. 6.5
England
Rory Burns: Exciting second innings half century, but you get the feeling bowlers will back themselves to target his front pad. Someone for the England media to focus on? 6.5
Keaton Jennings: Credit to Keaton Jennings. He manages to keep his job after failing most times than not. We would all love that luxury in our lives. If Jennings drives a car as he attempted to drive the cricket ball in this match, then everyone please get off the road. 2
Jonny Bairstow: Bairstow is a player whose technique has been compromised a little by he and England’s rise in ODI cricket. No doubt about it. Getting bowled more often than England’s media gets carried away. OK, not quite. 4
Joe Root: The England’s skipper’s front pad is a beautiful offering for any bowler. Jason Holder obliged in the first innings, as he completely outplayed his opposite number. Couldn’t make Shannon Gabriel pay for taking his wicket off a huge no ball in the second innings, delivering slip catching practice. Didn’t pick Stuart Broad, picked Adil Rashid over Jack Leach and surrendered meekly. A Test full of niceties by Root. 2
Ben Stokes: Four wickets in the first innings, and like England’s fans, that’s where the joy ended. 5
Jos Buttler: Caught in the eye of a huge storm in the first innings. Victim of a great catch at midwicket in the second. Jos will put this one behind him and try to get the better of the Windies in the next Test. 3
Moeen Ali: Pillows, marshmellows, Moeen Ali’s dismissals. Three of the softest things in 2019 so far. Bagged a pair. An ordinary outing. Moeen must hate Barbados. 2
Ben Foakes: Mighty impressive in Sri Lanka, but got a taste of what Test cricket can do to you. Should he bat a little higher? 2
Sam Curran: Of the belief that Sam Curran works well as a third frontline seamer, behind James Anderson and Stuart Broad. In the side for his lower order batting, but if the batting effort is as soft as pillows, then what’s the point? Will be hard to see him playing the next Test. 2
Adil Rashid: Pedestrians walking throughout Barbados had a bigger impact on this Test than Rashid. This was a disgraceful selection by England. Jack Leach was crucial to England’s success in Sri Lanka, so they pick an inconsistent legspinner who worked well off the back of Leach in Sri Lanka. There is no doubt that Jason Holder and his men will protest on the streets asking for Rashid to get another chance. 1
James Anderson: Broke his drought of 300 balls without a wicket in fine style. Excellent first innings effort. Slept well on the first evening, and then was hit by a storm along with his teammates. 7.5
So, one of the most incredible Tests has come to an end.
18 wickets fell on day two, with none on day three. It was as remarkable as the Windies’ performance, completely thrashing England which will make it interesting to see how the tourists respond.
Thanks for reading!
West Indies vs England 1st Test Player Ratings
