Chanderpaul stands alone
Andrew McGlashan delivers a damning verdict on West Indies' showing during their Test series in England
Andrew McGlashan
20-Jun-2007
It was a largely forgettable series for West Indies who, at times,
sank as low as any touring side in England. There were occasional
glimpses of something more promising, but there is a tough road ahead.
Cricinfo looks at how the battered and beaten tourists rated.
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Shivnarine Chanderpaul - 9
One man can't make a team, but it can stop them from being humiliated. The one match Chanderpaul missed West Indies were bowled out twice in the equivalent of less than a day. He then proceeded to bat nearly three days' worth of time before being dismissed. His concentration and application was unbelievable (even though it was the third time he batted more than 1000 minutes without being dismissed) against, at times, some very testing bowling and on lively surfaces. Brian Lara has gone, but it could be the best thing to happen to Chanderpaul. He can come out of the shadows and be acclaimed as the wonderful batsman he is. Only loses a mark for exposing the tail at Old Trafford ... and even that feels harsh.
One man can't make a team, but it can stop them from being humiliated. The one match Chanderpaul missed West Indies were bowled out twice in the equivalent of less than a day. He then proceeded to bat nearly three days' worth of time before being dismissed. His concentration and application was unbelievable (even though it was the third time he batted more than 1000 minutes without being dismissed) against, at times, some very testing bowling and on lively surfaces. Brian Lara has gone, but it could be the best thing to happen to Chanderpaul. He can come out of the shadows and be acclaimed as the wonderful batsman he is. Only loses a mark for exposing the tail at Old Trafford ... and even that feels harsh.
Darren Sammy - 8
Something of a surprise selection at Old Trafford but responded with 7 for 66, the second-best figures by a West Indian on Test debut, and showed a glimpses of some batting talent, too. His enthusiasm lifted a side that hit rock bottom following Headingley and he didn't shirk the hard work, sending down an 11-over spell to rip out England's lower order. He would have been a handful at Chester-le-Street but a groin injury kept him out.
Something of a surprise selection at Old Trafford but responded with 7 for 66, the second-best figures by a West Indian on Test debut, and showed a glimpses of some batting talent, too. His enthusiasm lifted a side that hit rock bottom following Headingley and he didn't shirk the hard work, sending down an 11-over spell to rip out England's lower order. He would have been a handful at Chester-le-Street but a groin injury kept him out.
Dwayne Bravo - 7
A constant heartbeat in a side that threatened to flat line. Technically he is as proficient as any of the top order and has the shots to match. Played Monty Panesar better than anyone except Chanderpaul and had the skill to survive in bowler-friendly conditions. His bowling didn't offer a cutting edge, but he never stopped trying and was sorely missed at Chester-le-Street when injury limited him to two overs. During that match he sought out Ian Botham for advice and is a player constantly trying to improve his game.
A constant heartbeat in a side that threatened to flat line. Technically he is as proficient as any of the top order and has the shots to match. Played Monty Panesar better than anyone except Chanderpaul and had the skill to survive in bowler-friendly conditions. His bowling didn't offer a cutting edge, but he never stopped trying and was sorely missed at Chester-le-Street when injury limited him to two overs. During that match he sought out Ian Botham for advice and is a player constantly trying to improve his game.
Fidel Edwards - 6
It's no coincidence that the best passages of play during the series involved Edwards. As in West Indies during 2004, England's batsmen were kept on their toes by his mixture of yorkers and bouncers. Deserved his five-wicket haul at Chester-le-Street, but can only be used in five-over bursts and is a dangerous liability in a wayward attack. Despite being considerably shorter than the previous generation of West Indian quicks, he provides occasional reminders of a time long since past.
It's no coincidence that the best passages of play during the series involved Edwards. As in West Indies during 2004, England's batsmen were kept on their toes by his mixture of yorkers and bouncers. Deserved his five-wicket haul at Chester-le-Street, but can only be used in five-over bursts and is a dangerous liability in a wayward attack. Despite being considerably shorter than the previous generation of West Indian quicks, he provides occasional reminders of a time long since past.
Runako Morton - 5
Exasperating at every turn. He clearly has the shots, perhaps too many of them, and showed in the second innings at Old Trafford that he can add the application. But it was one innings in eight. The others ended with a mixture of poor footwork and poor shot selection. Took a couple of sharp catches and his pounding of the ground when a chance went down was one of the images of the series.
Exasperating at every turn. He clearly has the shots, perhaps too many of them, and showed in the second innings at Old Trafford that he can add the application. But it was one innings in eight. The others ended with a mixture of poor footwork and poor shot selection. Took a couple of sharp catches and his pounding of the ground when a chance went down was one of the images of the series.
Denesh Ramdin - 5
His batting went downhill after a bright 60 in the first innings at Lord's and he was soon found out by the moving ball. However, many better players than Ramdin would have fallen to Panesar's delivery in the second innings in Durham. While he caught the chances that came his way, his glovework didn't instill confidence and he's another young player who'd benefit from wise words.
His batting went downhill after a bright 60 in the first innings at Lord's and he was soon found out by the moving ball. However, many better players than Ramdin would have fallen to Panesar's delivery in the second innings in Durham. While he caught the chances that came his way, his glovework didn't instill confidence and he's another young player who'd benefit from wise words.
Corey Collymore - 5
The years have not been kind to Collymore, who now doesn't lift his pace above the mid-70s. At least he can put two balls in the same area and when the ball swings he still causes problems. But it's a sad indictment of West Indies cricket when they are relying so heavily on a medium-pacer to carry their attack. Gains a point for his gutsy display with the bat at Durham when others didn't show the nous to support Chanderpaul.
The years have not been kind to Collymore, who now doesn't lift his pace above the mid-70s. At least he can put two balls in the same area and when the ball swings he still causes problems. But it's a sad indictment of West Indies cricket when they are relying so heavily on a medium-pacer to carry their attack. Gains a point for his gutsy display with the bat at Durham when others didn't show the nous to support Chanderpaul.
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Chris Gayle - 4
With an inexperienced side, Gayle needed to take responsibility at the top but never found his feet. In early season conditions his static footwork was always going to cause problems and loose drives were a common form of dismissal. His only half-century, in the second innings at Chester-le-Street, was more a warm-up for the one-day series - where he will be captain - than an effort to save a Test. His offspin was useful, but isn't the answer to West Indies' slow bowling options.
With an inexperienced side, Gayle needed to take responsibility at the top but never found his feet. In early season conditions his static footwork was always going to cause problems and loose drives were a common form of dismissal. His only half-century, in the second innings at Chester-le-Street, was more a warm-up for the one-day series - where he will be captain - than an effort to save a Test. His offspin was useful, but isn't the answer to West Indies' slow bowling options.
Devon Smith - 4
Possesses one of the most powerful cover-drives in the West Indies team and occasionally hinted at being able to replicate his debut century, against England, at Sabina Park in 2004. Again, though, the moving ball was a foreign concept and when the swing didn't get him Panesar caused problems out of the rough.
Possesses one of the most powerful cover-drives in the West Indies team and occasionally hinted at being able to replicate his debut century, against England, at Sabina Park in 2004. Again, though, the moving ball was a foreign concept and when the swing didn't get him Panesar caused problems out of the rough.
Ramnaresh Sarwan - 4
A chance to stamp his mark on the post-Lara era ended after little more than a Test. Chasing the ball to the boundary at Headingley he fell awkwardly and damaged his shoulder. Without him, West Indies folded in Leeds and continued to suffer without his experience. The series has shown Sarwan, if he didn't know before, that the task ahead is daunting.
A chance to stamp his mark on the post-Lara era ended after little more than a Test. Chasing the ball to the boundary at Headingley he fell awkwardly and damaged his shoulder. Without him, West Indies folded in Leeds and continued to suffer without his experience. The series has shown Sarwan, if he didn't know before, that the task ahead is daunting.
Daren Powell - 4
Had led the attack strongly during the World Cup and began promisingly at Lord's when the rest wasted overcast conditions on the first day. His commitment couldn't be doubted, however consistency was a major issue and he paid with his place at Old Trafford, although that was an error on a surface with pace and bounce. His return for the final Test was a typically mixed performance
Had led the attack strongly during the World Cup and began promisingly at Lord's when the rest wasted overcast conditions on the first day. His commitment couldn't be doubted, however consistency was a major issue and he paid with his place at Old Trafford, although that was an error on a surface with pace and bounce. His return for the final Test was a typically mixed performance
Jerome Taylor - 3
Promised much but delivered little. He was slower than what he is capable of and, as with his fellow pacemen, couldn't build pressure on the batsmen. At times both Sarwan and Daren Ganga appeared reluctant to use him and when he did produce a wicket-taking ball it only increased the frustration. Fielding started poorly - with a crucial drop off Paul Collingwood at Lord's - and got worse.
Promised much but delivered little. He was slower than what he is capable of and, as with his fellow pacemen, couldn't build pressure on the batsmen. At times both Sarwan and Daren Ganga appeared reluctant to use him and when he did produce a wicket-taking ball it only increased the frustration. Fielding started poorly - with a crucial drop off Paul Collingwood at Lord's - and got worse.
Daren Ganga - 3
Lost out in a close race to be captain before the tour but was thrust into the role when Sarwan injured himself at Headingley. It had a disastrous effect on his batting as he failed to reach double figures after Lord's. He couldn't cope against the swinging ball, trapped leg-before five times in the series (once to Panesar), and was hampered in the field by an attack that failed to offer him any control. Overlooked for the one-day side, his future is doubtful.
Lost out in a close race to be captain before the tour but was thrust into the role when Sarwan injured himself at Headingley. It had a disastrous effect on his batting as he failed to reach double figures after Lord's. He couldn't cope against the swinging ball, trapped leg-before five times in the series (once to Panesar), and was hampered in the field by an attack that failed to offer him any control. Overlooked for the one-day side, his future is doubtful.
Marlon Samuels - 2
Threw his toys out of the pram when he wasn't allowed more time in the nets after arriving as Sarwan's replacement. Had to wait until Durham for his chance and supported Chanderpaul briefly in the first innings, but was spun out by Panesar second time around. His offspin was friendly, and that's being friendly.
Threw his toys out of the pram when he wasn't allowed more time in the nets after arriving as Sarwan's replacement. Had to wait until Durham for his chance and supported Chanderpaul briefly in the first innings, but was spun out by Panesar second time around. His offspin was friendly, and that's being friendly.
Sylvester Joseph - 1
Thrown in at the deep end when Chanderpaul was ruled out at Headingley and was completely out of his depth.
Thrown in at the deep end when Chanderpaul was ruled out at Headingley and was completely out of his depth.
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer on Cricinfo