Caribbean classics
In our run-up to the 2000th Test, we look at some of West Indies' more memorable Tests - from George Headley's twin centuries to Taylor's decimation of England
Steven Lynch
13-Jun-2011
West Indian supporters are overjoyed as their side becomes the first to win a series 5-0 away from home • Getty Images
v England, Georgetown, 1929-30
West Indies lost their first three Tests, in England in 1928, by an innings - and things didn't look too good when their next series, at home to England early in 1930, started with a draw and another heavy defeat. And then things started to look up: they won their sixth match by a whopping 289 runs. Clifford Roach set up a big total with West Indies' first double-century, while George Headley - not quite 21 - made two hundreds in the match. England subsided for 145 and 327, with Learie Constantine taking nine wickets.
West Indies lost their first three Tests, in England in 1928, by an innings - and things didn't look too good when their next series, at home to England early in 1930, started with a draw and another heavy defeat. And then things started to look up: they won their sixth match by a whopping 289 runs. Clifford Roach set up a big total with West Indies' first double-century, while George Headley - not quite 21 - made two hundreds in the match. England subsided for 145 and 327, with Learie Constantine taking nine wickets.
v England, Lord's, 1950
West Indies' first great team contained the Three Ws - the scintillating trio of Barbadian batsmen Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell - and two mesmerising slow bowlers in Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. After losing the first Test they stormed the bastion of Lord's, winning by 326 runs. Walcott crunched 168 not out, and the spinners - soon to be immortalised in a calypso as "Those two little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine" - took 11 and seven wickets each respectively. West Indies had arrived: and to prove it they won the next two matches as well, to take the series 3-1.
West Indies' first great team contained the Three Ws - the scintillating trio of Barbadian batsmen Clyde Walcott, Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell - and two mesmerising slow bowlers in Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. After losing the first Test they stormed the bastion of Lord's, winning by 326 runs. Walcott crunched 168 not out, and the spinners - soon to be immortalised in a calypso as "Those two little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine" - took 11 and seven wickets each respectively. West Indies had arrived: and to prove it they won the next two matches as well, to take the series 3-1.
v Australia, Brisbane, 1960-61
This was the match that had just about everything: a fine innings from Garry Sobers, an equally robust one from Norm O'Neill, a superb all-round performance from Alan Davidson (the first man to make 100 runs and take 10 wickets in the same Test), and a heart-stopping climax: with the scores level and the fearsome Wes Hall sending down the last possible over of the match, Australia's last man was run out from side on. The first tied Test kicked off one of the great series - after the two sides traded victories Australia's last pair hung on for nearly two hours to draw the fourth match, then the Aussies squeaked home by two wickets in the final Test to pinch the series.
This was the match that had just about everything: a fine innings from Garry Sobers, an equally robust one from Norm O'Neill, a superb all-round performance from Alan Davidson (the first man to make 100 runs and take 10 wickets in the same Test), and a heart-stopping climax: with the scores level and the fearsome Wes Hall sending down the last possible over of the match, Australia's last man was run out from side on. The first tied Test kicked off one of the great series - after the two sides traded victories Australia's last pair hung on for nearly two hours to draw the fourth match, then the Aussies squeaked home by two wickets in the final Test to pinch the series.
v England, Lord's, 1963
Another match that came down to the last over, again bowled by Wes Hall, in gloomy conditions at Lord's. England needed only six to win, but a wicket meant their last batsman had to come out - Colin Cowdrey, who had had his arm broken earlier in the game. He had been practising batting one-handed in the mirror - but he wasn't actually required to face Hall, as the other batsman, David Allen, calmly played out the over to secure a hard-earned draw. Ted Dexter's thrilling 70 against Hall and Charlie Griffith earlier in the match has gone down as one of Test cricket's great cameo innings.
Another match that came down to the last over, again bowled by Wes Hall, in gloomy conditions at Lord's. England needed only six to win, but a wicket meant their last batsman had to come out - Colin Cowdrey, who had had his arm broken earlier in the game. He had been practising batting one-handed in the mirror - but he wasn't actually required to face Hall, as the other batsman, David Allen, calmly played out the over to secure a hard-earned draw. Ted Dexter's thrilling 70 against Hall and Charlie Griffith earlier in the match has gone down as one of Test cricket's great cameo innings.
v India, Port-of-Spain, 1975-76
It might seem odd to include a chastening defeat here, but this one - in which India, set 403 to win, knocked them off with six wickets to spare - is significant in that it persuaded Clive Lloyd, not long installed as West Indies' captain, that spinners were a luxury he could do without. He had three in this game - and they took 2 for 220 between them, as centuries from the brothers-in-law Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath helped India reach their lofty target with some ease. Lloyd reckoned that fast bowling was the way to go... and the pace-heavy West Indian side proceeded to dominate Test cricket for the best part of two decades.
It might seem odd to include a chastening defeat here, but this one - in which India, set 403 to win, knocked them off with six wickets to spare - is significant in that it persuaded Clive Lloyd, not long installed as West Indies' captain, that spinners were a luxury he could do without. He had three in this game - and they took 2 for 220 between them, as centuries from the brothers-in-law Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath helped India reach their lofty target with some ease. Lloyd reckoned that fast bowling was the way to go... and the pace-heavy West Indian side proceeded to dominate Test cricket for the best part of two decades.
v England, Old Trafford, 1976
Lloyd's new system had its first trial in England in 1976, and after two draws the machine really got going in the third Test, which was won by the giant margin of 425 runs. The Windies actually made a poor start - three quick wickets for the debutant Mike Selvey - and a total of 211 (of which Gordon Greenidge made 134) did not look anything special... until England crashed for 71. Another Greenidge century, and one from Viv Richards in his greatest summer (829 runs in four Tests), set England an unlikely target of 552: they were all out for 126 as Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel got to work again. England's biggest contributor over the two innings was Extras (44).
Lloyd's new system had its first trial in England in 1976, and after two draws the machine really got going in the third Test, which was won by the giant margin of 425 runs. The Windies actually made a poor start - three quick wickets for the debutant Mike Selvey - and a total of 211 (of which Gordon Greenidge made 134) did not look anything special... until England crashed for 71. Another Greenidge century, and one from Viv Richards in his greatest summer (829 runs in four Tests), set England an unlikely target of 552: they were all out for 126 as Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel got to work again. England's biggest contributor over the two innings was Extras (44).
v England, Lord's, 1984
West Indies won the 1984 series 5-0 - their first "blackwash", and the only one by any country away from home - and this match summed up their dominance. England bounced back from a thumping defeat in the first Test by taking a first-innings lead of 41 in this second one, and a century from Allan Lamb emboldened David Gower into declaring early on the final day and setting a target of 342. It looked testing. It wasn't. Led by Gordon Greenidge, who soon started limping (an ominous sign for bowlers everywhere), the Windies zoomed past their target with nine wickets and the best part of an hour to spare.
West Indies won the 1984 series 5-0 - their first "blackwash", and the only one by any country away from home - and this match summed up their dominance. England bounced back from a thumping defeat in the first Test by taking a first-innings lead of 41 in this second one, and a century from Allan Lamb emboldened David Gower into declaring early on the final day and setting a target of 342. It looked testing. It wasn't. Led by Gordon Greenidge, who soon started limping (an ominous sign for bowlers everywhere), the Windies zoomed past their target with nine wickets and the best part of an hour to spare.
v Australia, Adelaide, 1992-93
By the start of 1993, Australia were beginning to challenge West Indies' supremacy in Tests, and had they scored a couple more runs in this match they would have taken this series, after winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. But Courtney Walsh came up trumps, dismissing Craig McDermott with just one run to spare, with a disputed gloved catch to the wicketkeeper. It was the closest decisive result by runs in Test history. The Aussies had missed their chance: in the final Test, in Perth, a spell of 7 for 1 from Curtly Ambrose ensured another West Indian victory, which gave them the series.
By the start of 1993, Australia were beginning to challenge West Indies' supremacy in Tests, and had they scored a couple more runs in this match they would have taken this series, after winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. But Courtney Walsh came up trumps, dismissing Craig McDermott with just one run to spare, with a disputed gloved catch to the wicketkeeper. It was the closest decisive result by runs in Test history. The Aussies had missed their chance: in the final Test, in Perth, a spell of 7 for 1 from Curtly Ambrose ensured another West Indian victory, which gave them the series.
v Australia, Bridgetown, 1998-99
He may have scored 375 and 400 against England, but Brian Lara's greatest innings was arguably his 153 not out in this match, which spirited his side to an unlikely victory that gave them a 2-1 lead in the series. Steve Waugh's 199 had set up an Australian lead of 161, and although Courtney Walsh (5 for 39) helped keep his side's target down to 308, a West Indian win looked impossible at 105 for 5 and, later, 248 for 8. But Curtly Ambrose helped his captain put on 54, and when he was out with just six needed, Walsh hung in there while Lara did the needful. Wisden was fulsome in its praise: "Irrefutably, [Lara's] undefeated 153 was the hand of a genius… He brilliantly orchestrated the conclusion to an unforgettable match. He guided his men to victory as though leading the infirm through a maze." There was no happy postscript for Lara, though: Australia won the final Test to square the rubber.
He may have scored 375 and 400 against England, but Brian Lara's greatest innings was arguably his 153 not out in this match, which spirited his side to an unlikely victory that gave them a 2-1 lead in the series. Steve Waugh's 199 had set up an Australian lead of 161, and although Courtney Walsh (5 for 39) helped keep his side's target down to 308, a West Indian win looked impossible at 105 for 5 and, later, 248 for 8. But Curtly Ambrose helped his captain put on 54, and when he was out with just six needed, Walsh hung in there while Lara did the needful. Wisden was fulsome in its praise: "Irrefutably, [Lara's] undefeated 153 was the hand of a genius… He brilliantly orchestrated the conclusion to an unforgettable match. He guided his men to victory as though leading the infirm through a maze." There was no happy postscript for Lara, though: Australia won the final Test to square the rubber.
v Australia, St John's, 2003
By the start of the 21st century West Indian dominance was over, but there was still life in the old dog yet. The new champions, Australia, had won the first three Tests of the 2002-03 series, and looked likely to make it 4-0 when an opening stand of 242 between Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden set up a target of 418 in the final Test in Antigua, after, unusually, the two teams had tied on first innings (240 each). West Indies looked gone when Brian Lara's dismissal made it 165 for 4, but centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan gave them hope, and amid rising tension the eighth-wicket pair of Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes added 46 to spirit their side to the highest winning fourth-innings total in Test history.
By the start of the 21st century West Indian dominance was over, but there was still life in the old dog yet. The new champions, Australia, had won the first three Tests of the 2002-03 series, and looked likely to make it 4-0 when an opening stand of 242 between Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden set up a target of 418 in the final Test in Antigua, after, unusually, the two teams had tied on first innings (240 each). West Indies looked gone when Brian Lara's dismissal made it 165 for 4, but centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan gave them hope, and amid rising tension the eighth-wicket pair of Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes added 46 to spirit their side to the highest winning fourth-innings total in Test history.
v England, Kingston, 2008-09
Among many chastening results in recent years, this one temporarily suggested a return to the good old days. Centuries from Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan gave West Indies a lead of 74 in the first Test - handy, but not decisive. Or so we thought. Jerome Taylor roared in to take 5 for 11, the tall spinner Sulieman Benn took four wickets, and England collapsed in a heap for 51 to lose by an innings. The tourists dominated the rest of the series, but were twice denied what seemed likely victories by stubborn West Indian tailenders. The Wisden Trophy sailed back to the Caribbean.
Among many chastening results in recent years, this one temporarily suggested a return to the good old days. Centuries from Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan gave West Indies a lead of 74 in the first Test - handy, but not decisive. Or so we thought. Jerome Taylor roared in to take 5 for 11, the tall spinner Sulieman Benn took four wickets, and England collapsed in a heap for 51 to lose by an innings. The tourists dominated the rest of the series, but were twice denied what seemed likely victories by stubborn West Indian tailenders. The Wisden Trophy sailed back to the Caribbean.
This is a selective list and not meant to be a comprehensive one of all the great Tests featuring West Indies
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011.