West Indies has raised everyone eyebrows through their phenomenal performance in 2nd Test against England. The West Indies cricketers have gone from being embarrassed and berated one week to being hailed as warriors just a few days later.
It was an amazing turnaround from the West Indies players. The team which was humiliated by England in the first test, loosing by an inning and 209 runs inside three days has shown a great resilience in the second test and giving a taste to defeat to their arch-rival in grand style.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite of the West Indies touch gloves during day five of the 2nd Investec Test between England and the West Indies at Headingley on August 29, 2017 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Joe Root’s side are considered as heavy favourites and a side who hadn’t won in England since Jimmy Adams touring side of 2000. The Jason Holder’s side was under tremendous pressure after a defeat in the first historical test under lights at Edgbaston.
The remarkable turnaround was initiated by some great bowling performance from West Indian bowlers who bold out England for just 285 which include an astounding knock of 100 from Ben Stokes. Then it was time for West Indian batsmen to show their temperaments which they did and scored 427 runs which includes two great knocks of 134 and 147 from K Brathwaite and Shai Hope respectively.
322 was the target for West Indies to revive cricket in Caribbean Island. In the process of reviving West Indies K Brathwaite and Shai Hope have revived the Test Cricket itself. West Indies is lethal in T-20 format as they won the World T20 final in 2016, but with the red ball they have been sliding down to the 8th position in current ICC ranking. But Shai Hope has taken West Indies back to their day of full brotherhood of test playing nation.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Shai Hope of the West Indies celebrates winning the 2nd Investec Test between England and the West Indies at Headingley on August 29, 2017 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Hope was having no idea that he has become first batsman to century in each innings of a first class match. The likes of Herbert Sutcliffe, Sir Leonard Hutton and Geoffrey Boycott has never achieved this mark, but the young lad from Barbados has cracked it only in his 12th test.
It was presumably the greatest, most unforeseen, setback for England since they lost their first Test against New Zealand in England in 1983. In any case, Shai Hope appropriately triumphed at last.
