Less growing, more pains for West Indies
Dropping Shivnarine Chanderpaul before the series provided opportunities for younger players, but the West Indies' lack of batting depth was ruthlessly exposed in his absence
Daniel Brettig
15-Jun-2015
8
Jason Holder
As impressive as Holder's bold batting and canny bowling was his attitude to the contest. He does not give up, and is not overly irked by aggression directed his way from opponents. On the evidence of this series he should be batting at No. 6 for West Indies, and probably leading the team in the next year or so. A source of optimism.
As impressive as Holder's bold batting and canny bowling was his attitude to the contest. He does not give up, and is not overly irked by aggression directed his way from opponents. On the evidence of this series he should be batting at No. 6 for West Indies, and probably leading the team in the next year or so. A source of optimism.
Jerome Taylor
Some truly brilliant spells in Jamaica maintained a formidable record at Sabina Park, as Taylor swung the ball at pace while also summoning a rare yorker to stop Steven Smith short of 200. He lacked enough support, but will be a worthy opponent in Australia later this year so long as the West Indies can find another paceman or two with enough discipline to help him.
Some truly brilliant spells in Jamaica maintained a formidable record at Sabina Park, as Taylor swung the ball at pace while also summoning a rare yorker to stop Steven Smith short of 200. He lacked enough support, but will be a worthy opponent in Australia later this year so long as the West Indies can find another paceman or two with enough discipline to help him.
Devendra Bishoo
Not many bowlers spin past Steven Smith, a fact that underlined the excellence of Bishoo's Dominica display. His absence from Sabina Park was a major blow to the hosts, and it can only be hoped that his poorly spinning finger can be effectively treated ahead of future assignments. Australian pitches, with their extra pace and bounce, should agree with him.
Not many bowlers spin past Steven Smith, a fact that underlined the excellence of Bishoo's Dominica display. His absence from Sabina Park was a major blow to the hosts, and it can only be hoped that his poorly spinning finger can be effectively treated ahead of future assignments. Australian pitches, with their extra pace and bounce, should agree with him.
6
Shane Dowrich
A sound temperament, a sturdy enough technique and a determination to stay at the crease marked Dowrich as one of the more promising young batsmen to enter the West Indies Test XI in recent times. Has plenty more to learn, but was at least able to "stick it out" for far longer than any other young batsman apart from Holder.
A sound temperament, a sturdy enough technique and a determination to stay at the crease marked Dowrich as one of the more promising young batsmen to enter the West Indies Test XI in recent times. Has plenty more to learn, but was at least able to "stick it out" for far longer than any other young batsman apart from Holder.
5
Shai Hope
Three starts in four innings suggested that Hope may have the right stuff provided he can build on his concentration, but the question for the West Indies is where he should bat. Having opened in Dominica he dropped down to No. 5 at Sabina Park, looking neither out of his depth nor quite ready to dominate. Watch this space.
Three starts in four innings suggested that Hope may have the right stuff provided he can build on his concentration, but the question for the West Indies is where he should bat. Having opened in Dominica he dropped down to No. 5 at Sabina Park, looking neither out of his depth nor quite ready to dominate. Watch this space.
Marlon Samuels
The longest West Indian innings of the series, yet was twice out hooking and then missed the second Test. Samuels is the most enigmatic of figures, but for now he is the only senior batsman the West Indies possess. The team knows who he is and what he provides, and must hope he can suppress the instincts that had him taking on the short ball in a most ungainly fashion at Windsor Park.
The longest West Indian innings of the series, yet was twice out hooking and then missed the second Test. Samuels is the most enigmatic of figures, but for now he is the only senior batsman the West Indies possess. The team knows who he is and what he provides, and must hope he can suppress the instincts that had him taking on the short ball in a most ungainly fashion at Windsor Park.
4
Jermaine Blackwood
Batted as though he had a bus to catch - a bus to a Twenty20 match. Despite making a strong start to the West Indies home season before this series against England, a few of his dismissals made one wonder if he really can become a successful Test player. Blackwood freely admitted he has plenty of work to do on his concentration. The talent is there, but how much does he want Test match success?
Batted as though he had a bus to catch - a bus to a Twenty20 match. Despite making a strong start to the West Indies home season before this series against England, a few of his dismissals made one wonder if he really can become a successful Test player. Blackwood freely admitted he has plenty of work to do on his concentration. The talent is there, but how much does he want Test match success?
Veerasammy Permaul
Suffered by comparison to Bishoo, and made little impact at Sabina Park. Permaul is steady, but clearly needs the pitch to do much of the work for him. Batted passably in the second innings as the last rites were being given.
Suffered by comparison to Bishoo, and made little impact at Sabina Park. Permaul is steady, but clearly needs the pitch to do much of the work for him. Batted passably in the second innings as the last rites were being given.
Denesh Ramdin
Much more was expected of Ramdin this series. His wooden captaincy and mediocre batting left plenty to wonder whether he is the right man to lead the team to Australia at the end of the year. Like several other members of the team he fell back from his efforts against England, and it will be a question of resolve as to how much he works on that after the Caribbean Premier League.
Much more was expected of Ramdin this series. His wooden captaincy and mediocre batting left plenty to wonder whether he is the right man to lead the team to Australia at the end of the year. Like several other members of the team he fell back from his efforts against England, and it will be a question of resolve as to how much he works on that after the Caribbean Premier League.
Shannon Gabriel
Fast but erratic, Gabriel may be the right man to share the new ball with Taylor, but must close the gap between his best and worst. Missing out on the Jamaica Test through illness was a blow, for he would doubtless have made the ball jump on a lively first morning.
Fast but erratic, Gabriel may be the right man to share the new ball with Taylor, but must close the gap between his best and worst. Missing out on the Jamaica Test through illness was a blow, for he would doubtless have made the ball jump on a lively first morning.
3
Kraigg Brathwaite
Devoid of footwork and hurried by the Australians' pace, Brathwaite looked worryingly out of his depth for someone who has been installed as a long-term opening batsman. On swifter Australian pitches, such problems may well be exacerbated further.
Devoid of footwork and hurried by the Australians' pace, Brathwaite looked worryingly out of his depth for someone who has been installed as a long-term opening batsman. On swifter Australian pitches, such problems may well be exacerbated further.
Darren Bravo
The biggest disappointment of the series. Despite his obvious talent, Bravo was hemmed in and made to look ponderous by the Australian bowlers and their disciplined lines. Unlike his mentor and hero Brian Lara, Bravo was unable to get through the tough periods and make the bowlers come back for more spells. Without Shivnarine Chanderpaul around anymore, Bravo must do more than this.
The biggest disappointment of the series. Despite his obvious talent, Bravo was hemmed in and made to look ponderous by the Australian bowlers and their disciplined lines. Unlike his mentor and hero Brian Lara, Bravo was unable to get through the tough periods and make the bowlers come back for more spells. Without Shivnarine Chanderpaul around anymore, Bravo must do more than this.
Kemar Roach
Three years ago Roach was a constant threat to Australia, but this time looked a bowler much diminished. Lacking his former pace, he was also less accurate, and failed completely to support the excellent Taylor on day one in Jamaica. Capable of so much better than he showed here.
Three years ago Roach was a constant threat to Australia, but this time looked a bowler much diminished. Lacking his former pace, he was also less accurate, and failed completely to support the excellent Taylor on day one in Jamaica. Capable of so much better than he showed here.
Rajendra Chandrika
A first-class average of 26 does not inspire much confidence in an opening batsman, and Chandrika was set a most difficult task to step up. A pair on debut will make for painful reading, but plenty of other batsmen have dealt with that ignominy before improving. It remains to be seen whether Chandrika will get that chance.
A first-class average of 26 does not inspire much confidence in an opening batsman, and Chandrika was set a most difficult task to step up. A pair on debut will make for painful reading, but plenty of other batsmen have dealt with that ignominy before improving. It remains to be seen whether Chandrika will get that chance.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig