West Indies will have a lot to think about when it comes to their batting line up heading into the third and final Test against England on Friday.
The top order for the Caribbean unit has not represented adequately. In the first Test where they won, their second innings chase began shakily having been reduced to 27 for three. The second Test saw a similar pattern with the visitors reduced to 37 for four, eventually leading to a series leveling loss.
Head coach Phil Simmons and skipper, Jason Holder have both expressed their concerns with the batting order.
Following the loss, Holder voiced his opinion and called for the batsmen to show a bit more “grit” and “determination.”
Simmons, on the other hand was critical of the conversion rate with eight half centuries scored but none carrying on to triple figures.
He explained “It’s very critical, we have five maybe six half centuries and no conversions, it is something that we have been talking about a lot and no one is taken up this opportunity in this game yet again so it is disappointing.”
Simmons went on to reveal that there are changes to be made. He said, “I think we have to do something different, we just lost a Test match, and we have to add to the things done in the first Test match and subtract some of the things we done in this Test match. And I think it is critical our batsmen carry on and make big hundreds… our bowlers have been doing their job and now the batsmen need to stand up and do what they have to do for West Indies cricket.”
Simmons confirmed that during the team’s discussions over the next few days a decision will be made on adding players from the reserve since “some people have not fired.”
During a recent press conference, when Simmons was asked about the openers’ form, he responded “it is something that we have to discuss over the next couple of days and make a decision as to which direction we go there, I think you’re right they haven’t fired and we have to take that into consideration over the next couple of days.”
Opener John Campbell is yet to produce having scored 28, 8, 12 and 4. His position could come under threat with 22-year-old Joshua Da Silva looking to be the suitable candidate having scored the lone century for the Caribbean boys in a warm up match. Campbell was also struck on his toes in the first Test and that could present a further case for his omission.
Shai Hope has also come under scrutiny with 57 runs coming in his four innings. According to Simmons, his form is a cause for concern.
“Yes I am concerned, he has gone four innings without a score and that is (a) contrast to how he played over the last four or five-six months in the other formats and I am concerned about his form and believe we will be sitting down and chatting about that over the next couple of days,” Simmons stated.
Like Hope, Shane Dowrich is another batsman who could potentially face sitting out the next Test, paving the way for Da Silva who has proven himself as a capable wicketkeeper.
Dowrich made 61 in the first innings of the first Test but went on to make 20 in the second innings and a pair of ducks in the second Test.
Meanwhile, the captain has also not come off well this series with the bat scoring 56 runs in his four innings.
On the other hand, a few players have had scores but have been inconsistent or failed to carry on to make big scores.
Kraigg Brathwaite is yet to reach triple figures despite getting starts with scores of 65, 4, 75 and 12 while Roston Chase has had starts but failed to carry on, scoring 47, 37, 51 and six in his four innings.
The bright spots in the batting line up come from middle order pair, Shamarh Brooks and Jermaine Blackwood.
Brooks, 31, is the leading batsman in the side with 169 runs. Like Brathwaite, he also has two fifties but has shown improvement having scored 39 and 0 in the first Test. Blackwood fell five runs short of his century and was dismissed for 55 at a crucial point in the second Test. He has also been on a roller coaster with his other two scores being 12 and 0.
Holder stressed on the importance of battling through tough situations and understanding scenarios.
He stated, “I think in the short term we just got to understand the scenarios a bit better… we fight through the decent periods but maybe a little bit more grit, maybe a little bit more determination to get through one and two challenging spells…I think when we found ourselves in challenging spells we succumbed to it more or less in the back end of a really good challenging spell so it’s more or less sticking to the game plan, trusting your defence a little bit longer and getting through your those tough spells.”
