Although 420 for 5 on the face of it is a healthy score in any Test match, West Indies would have been a bit disappointed that they are not further along after just over 8 hours of batting at the end of Day 2 of this 3rd Test match, on a good pitch at the spanking new, spectacularly upgraded Warner Park Stadium on the charming little island of St. Kitts. India meanwhile would be pleased if not satisfied with their performance thus far, having essentially pegged the Windies back after they threatened to run rampant as they went to bed at the end of a truncated 1st day’s play at 207 for 1.
The extended morning session today — compensatory for yesterday’s rain-ruined first session — undoubtedly belonged to the West Indies, as resurgent and resolute opener Darren Ganga, and a scintillating Ramnaresh Sarwan completed contrasting centuries to push the homesters to 346 for 1 before they were separated. And though the flood gates were not thrown wide open as often happens after a lengthy partnership, certainly crevices appeared as they went from that ominous position to a more mundane 371 for 4.
Much to their credit skipper Rahul Dravid and his men never wilted under the early onslaught and for all intents and purposes, wrested the initiative from the West Indies in the post-lunch period. With a pep in their step, having removed Brian Lara and Sarwan on her side of lunch, through a nagging line and length from spinners Anil Kumble and Harbajan Singh, and even part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag and an attacking field, the Indians restricted West Indies to just 58 runs in 2 hours. Dwayne Bravo tried to break the shackles until an injudicious stroke brought about his demise for 21. Thereafter Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels struggled and batting appeared extremely difficult.
My own view is that West Indies with Shiv’s experience in the middle should have counter-attacked to remove the close fielders, and pushed the bowling around for singles and two’s and kept the scoring rate up. This would have allowed the Windies to be much closer to 500 by the close and a possible declaration, giving a tired India team strike in the fading light. But the weatherman had the final say and like Day 1, an entire session was lost. With the probability of further interruptions from inclement weather over the next 3 days, this inaugural Test match here at Warner Park in Basseterre is beginning to look like a draw. Never-the-less Lara must instruct his men to get quick runs on Day 3 to hasten a declaration with 500 to 550 just before lunch or soon after. And so Dravid and Company would need to score at least 300 to save the follow-on.
I have become quite enamored with the consistent performance of Chris Gayle who has turned in yet another stunning innings - this time 83 peppered with the usual powerfully struck boundaries. I rather like the way he started deliberately and built to a crescendo, and with Ganga as the perfect foil, gave West Indies a dream start of 143 for the first wicket. And it was refreshing to see stylish Sarwan on his 26th birthday no less, come back from a disastrous 2nd Test to celebrate with his 9th Test ton. Long will he remember that Munaf Patel over in which he struck 6 successive fours as he rushed from 75 to 99.
Lara’s fears about the pitch for this first ever Test match here at Warner Park must have been allayed as he won the toss and took first strike on what appears to be not only an excellent batting wicket in the early going, but a good 5 day track, which essentially completes a thorough make-over of this stadium and renders it worthy of Test match status. Back in the 60’s when I was a mere fledgling representing Guyana in inter-territorial cricket competition, St. Kitts had always been one of my favorite islands to visit.
In those halcyon days Guyana would play against St. Kitts or Dominica and other islands. Later the Leeward Islands including Antigua, and the Windward Islands which comprised Dominica, Grenada and so on were organized as one team called Combined Islands, which would compete against Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
Since the 70’s the caribbean’s regional cricket tournament has seen the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands entered separately as quite formidable teams. The Leewards include Antigua and Barbuda which has produced such stalwarts as Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose, while the Windwards boasted talented players like Michael Findlay, Winston Davis, and Junior Murray.
I am however disappointed at the poor turnout for this historic Test so far. One would have thought that Kittitians would have shown greater appreciation with a large attendance as Warner Park is introduced to the world as Test cricket’s newest venue. It is easily one of the most scenic cricket grounds on the ICC’s Test circuit and the government and people of St. Kitts must be commended for a job well done. Now the St. Kitts & Nevis community must come out in greater numbers so that this fine facility could retain its Test status.
