Kid & Pensioner Save Test

Test cricket is still the best form of cricket, because unlike its short form offspring, it can still throw up surprises. At Windsor Park, Roseau over the last two days, the West Indies resisted a rampant India and forced them to leave the Caribbean with at least one result they had to fight for. For a change, West Indies batsmen were able to reach a total beyond 300, thanks to a rookie and an old timer.

At 2-10 and then 3-40, there was no reason to think anything except a standard response was coming from a West Indian batting line up which has been battered by bouncers and an India victory was likely. Kirk Edwards, a man who has waited until his chance came to grow beyond his appearances for Barbados, had only three first class centuries to provide him with the fore knowledge of what was needed. Batting at three in his first Test, despite his 26 years, he had looked out of his depth against the short stuff in the first innings and failed but on the 4th day, he joined with Shiv Chanderpaul to add 161 in a very classy five hour display. A late clatter of wickets, instigated by that boisterous portrayer of bowling bravado, Harbhajan Singh again had the West Indies were in trouble as 3-201 became 6-224, Samuels and Baugh again lazy in their shot selection.

On the last day, the stage was handed over to the little lefthander who has spent his Test career as the ugly duckling of batsmenship but has never the less succeeded so well to have only Brian Lara ahead of him on the ranks of run scorers from this loose collection of islands. He batted and batted and batted - eight hours in all - to see his side safe. Fidel Edwards was his most surprising comrade, making 30 in two and a half hours which finally put victory beyond India. It is remarkable that Chanderpaul was dropped at the start of the summer and only returned just before this series with India, after high level consultations with the West Indies Board. Perhaps the difference lies in his zeal to still play for the West Indies where as the likes of Chris Gayle and that other Bravo seem more interested in playing for themselves.

With the game safe, Ravi Rampaul gave an insight as to a possible different outcome when he finally made an appearance at the bowling crease after being ill for the first four days of the match. After Fidel Edwards surprised Munkind with a fullish first ball and sent him off lbw, it was Rampaul who took the late wickets of Vijay and Raina before the game was called off at the last drinks break. Vijay's 45 nearly tripled his series aggregate.

Dravid, with his 1st Test hundred, had the highest aggregate for the series (251) but Raina and Laxman were close behind. Chanderpaul and DJ Bravo were the only West Indians beyond 200 runs. Ishant Sharma (22) was the leading wicket taker, with Fidel Edwards (19) running a close second. Praveen, Bishoo, Harbhajan and Rampaul were all back around the twelve wicket mark. The stats show again what was obvious during the series: India's batting, though weakened, was a class above the West Indian top six whilst the bowling attacks were relatively even.

India win the series 1-0 with two drawn and head off to England, bolstered by returning players for the four Test series to be played out in the second half of the English summer. This should be a stunner.