The first Test match between India and the West Indies at Sabina Park was a thriller and filled with competitiveness as the bowlers on both sides capitalized on a wicket that played very unusal with lots of occasional bounce and exceptional balls keeping very low dragging on the wicket. India took honors by winning by 63 runs.
It was a low scoring game with the Indian team scoring 246 runs in its first innings. Suresh Raina scored 81, Harbhajan Singh 70 and Rahul Dravid 40. India at one stage was 69 for 5 but Raina and Singh boosted their team with a valuable partnership.
The West Indies bowlers did well overall to restrict India to 261. Fidel Edwards returning to the Test match arena picked up 4 for 56, Ravi Rampaul 3 for 59 and Devendra Bishoo 3 for 75.
Bishoo took the wickets of Rahul Dravid, Vvx Laxman and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni but after picking up these wickets Bishoo came in for some heavy hitting from Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina. West Indies were shuttled out in the first innings for 173 with opener Adrian Barath scoring 64.
Indian Bowlers Very Penetrative
Praveen Kumar 3 for 38 and Ishant Sharma 3 for 29 destroyed the West Indies batting giving India 73 runs lead in the first innings.
Rahul Dravid’s 112 Give India Full Advantage
Rahul Dravid’s 112 runs in the second innings after India already gained 73 runs lead in the first innings, boosted them psychologically to win the Test match. West Indies Captain Darren Sammy dropped a slip catch when Rahul Dravid had scored only six in the second innings.
Sammy Must Move From The Slip Region
It will be fully justified for calls to remove West Indies Captain Darren Sammy from the slips. He dropped many catches during the series with Pakistan and now again, the misery continues. Sammy please remove yourself from the slips and find another fielding position where you can perform better.
India scored 352 runs in their second innings and with their lead of 73 runs they left the West Indies 326 for victory.
The West Indies team was bowled out for 262 runs. A. Barath scored 38, L. Simmoms 27, D. Bravo 41, S. Chanderpaul 30, D. Sammy 25, D. Bishoo 26, F. Edwards 15 not out and Ravi Rampaul 34.
For India, Praveen Kumar 3 for 42, Ishanj Sharma 3 for 62 did the damage tot the West Indies Simmoms and Barath gave West Indies a 68 partnership start but after Sarwan fell Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul failed to hold up to the accuracy of Praveen Kumar. West Indies lost by 63 runs.
Kemar Roach Should Have Played First Test
Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach are the quick bowlers that should be in the Test matches. This combination is vital to put presure on the opposition. Devendra Bishoo came into the team and immediately created an impact but captain Darren Sammy must step up and use him for short spells on a continuous basis. Bishoo is a wicket taker and he is much more penetrative with short continuous spells.
Marlon Sammuels surely deserves his Test spot back in the middle and the selectors, after this series, should bring back wicket keeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin. Ramdin’s return would strengthen the batting in the middle. Wicket keeper Carlton Baugh seems not bent on spending much time at the crease and he seems to lack the concentration that Test cricket calls for. He got his opportunity.
