Published: Aug 10, 2016, 04:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 11, 2016, 12:45 AM (IST)
West Indies rattled India with exceptional bowling performance right from the beginning of the third Test. Jason Holder’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid off. Virat Kohli had mentioned he would have liked to bat first as well, but he would not have expected to lose half his side by tea. West Indies troubled India with short deliveries and kept a tight line outside off. They made India toil hard for runs and made them work hard on the field. They have certainly carried their momentum from the last game into this match as well. One wonders, if they have turned a corner. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs West Indies, 3rd Test match
KL Rahul looked to be in good touch once again, but he threw his wicket away right at the stroke of lunch. Ajinkya Rahane stuck it out, but he missed a full toss from Roston Chase and was clean bowled. But Alzarri Joseph, making his debut, had a magnificent game. He first got rid of Kohli with a well directed short delivery and then dismissed Rohit Sharma, luring him forward from a delivery pitched outside off. His inclusion seems to have given West Indies an extra boost. Getting him in place of leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo might have been baffling at the start, but as it stands, it seems to be the right call as West Indies exposed India’s age old problem of facing the short deliveries. India vs West Indies 3rd Test, Day 1 Full Updates
West Indies did not even allow India to counter-attack. They were determined not to give away boundaries and also create pressure by cutting down the ones and twos. That seemed to have paid off as India are not only five wickets down, they have also scored at a very menacing rate.
They clearly seem to have a game plan in this match and their execution was superb. Looking at their performances in the previous two Tests, they have certainly seemed to learn from their mistakes. But should we be surprised by this effort from West Indies? Looking at India’s batting line-up, one might say no, but they had laid the foundation in the second innings of the previous Test. Needing over 300 to make India bat again, West Indies had their backs against the walls. Chase scored his maiden ton, the middle and the lower-order made some valuable contributions to ensure West Indies salvaged a draw – something India would have not expected after getting 500 on the board.
It was nice to see a team that was crushed by an innings and 92 runs at Antigua, come back from a difficult situation and earn a draw. It might have felt like a win for the West Indies. If West Indies manage to win this, it will all come down to the fourth and final Test at Port-of-Spain, which will then set up an exciting finale to the series.
West Indies, having won the ICC World Twenty20 2016 (T20I) and Under-19 World Cup, at the start of the year, are surely on the rise. If there was one format they lagged behind, it was while playing in whites. Led by a young captain, with a fairly inexperienced players is never going to be easy. But West Indies have shown some good fight and have perhaps started believing in their abilities.
West Indies will have to repeat similar performances day in and day out to be successful. Their bowlers leaked over 500 runs in the two innings India had batted ahead of this match. They seem set to restrict India well under that in this match, but it is their batsmen, who will now have to take responsibility and consolidate. The top-order has not been consistent and it will be pleasing to see them fire and put the Indian bowlers under pressure, which they have not done so far in this series.
Yes, this West Indies team is a young and inexperienced side, but they have come a long way already since their drubbing in the first Test at Antigua. They have clearly signaled that they are in the series not just to compete, but win it.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry.com. He is a sport enthusiast and a keen observer of cricket, the contests, and its personalities. When not tracking cricket, he follows the world’s soccer leagues and is somewhat partial towards Liverpool. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
