West Indies can call on some great memories at Edgbaston but they will start as underdogs against an England side on the up
George Dobell16-Aug-20172:14
‘Pink-ball cricket is not new to us’ – Holder
It was here at Edgbaston, in 1984, that England were exposed to West Indies at their best.Here where Andy Lloyd, a local favourite and England’s top-scorer in two of the three ODIs that preceded the series, saw his Test career ended less than an hour after it started as he was struck a horrible blow just above the right eye by a Malcolm Marshall delivery.Here where England, stunned by the ferocity of an attack that also included Michael Holding and Joel Garner, succumbed to defeat by an innings and 180 runs. The decisive first blow in the “blackwash” series that ended 5-0.Maybe Test cricket has featured better sides, more fearsome bowlers and a stronger top order – Gordon Greenidge, Des Haynes and Viv Richards in the top four pretty much amounted to bullying – but it is not immediately obvious when. The word “awesome” is overused, but it seems apt to describe West Indies. England felt their full force that summer.Times have changed. This West Indies side is placed at No. 8 in the Test rankings and has not won an away series against opposition apart from Bangladesh or Zimbabwe this century. They have won three away Tests (with the same caveat) in that period. They didn’t quality for the Champions Trophy and they almost certainly won’t qualify automatically for the World Cup. So much have expectations fallen that their captain, Jason Holder, described a year which has featured two defeats and one victory as “pretty decent.”Holder wasn’t dealt a handful of aces when he inherited the captaincy of this side. Gone are the days when West Indies had so many options they could leave out players of the class of Sylvester Clarke (who played 11 Tests), Ezra Moseley (who played two), Collis King (nine) or many, many more. All would be viewed as exceptional if they played today. All would be millionaires.Holder also inherited a poisonous relationship between board and players and a jaded relationship between players and supporters. All too often he has been left to answer questions about board policy or selection about which he had no input. All too often he has been asked to explain a decline which he, as much as anyone, wants to reverse. All too often he has been the one left to lead a team against impossible odds. And every time he has responded with patience, diplomacy and gentle courtesy and good humour.
“We’re fortunate to have an experienced seam attack in Jimmy and Broady. It might be that plans change if the ball goes soft, or the wicket is flat. But they have a huge amount of experience to call on”Joe Root
They are, arguably, a team in his image. With his height – his top of his head practically brushes the floodlights at Edgbaston – he does evoke memories of the tall fast bowlers of the past. But his pace is frustratingly below that of his forebears and his team, while talented, lack both the genius and experience of those that went before.For that and other reasons, his era of captaincy won’t be remembered like Clive Lloyd’s. But, one day, lovers of Caribbean cricket might come to look back with gratitude at the role he played in guiding the team through some of the choppiest waters in their history. It used to be argued that anyone could lead that side of 1984 to success; it might equally be argued that nobody can do the same with this one.Things are improving. The new CEO, Johnny Grave, has taken a bit of toxicity out of the environment. With a combination of the “amnesty” offered to players and the introduction of white-ball contracts in a few weeks’ time, some of the better known players will once again be made available for West Indies. How much difference that will make to the Test side remains unclear, but it should improve both their limited-overs performances and their reputation in the eyes of the team’s supporters.Does all this offer hope of a return to the great days of the past? Not really. That’s not realistic. But it offers hope of improvement. Because as the success of West Indies sides in the men and women’s World T20 and the U-19 World Cup remind us, there is still talent in the Caribbean. With better management, with better incentives, with better structures there is realistic hope of better times ahead.They are, as Holder admits, “huge underdogs” in this series. But they have a chance. If their seamers can harness the new, pink ball and if their batsmen – which is more of a worry – can withstand England’s attack, they can exploit an opposition that is talented but has holes in the XI. It should not be forgotten that England lost the last Test between these sides, albeit on a turning wicket in Barbados.”We have to make life as uncomfortable as possible for their senior players and put some pressure on the junior guys who are coming in,” Holder said. It sounds a decent plan.Both Holder and the team’s coach, Stuart Law, have mentioned their confidence in the bowlers’ ability to generate lateral movement with the old pink ball. If so, this could offer some advantage. England will be seeking reverse swing but, once the shine has worn off – by around 20 overs – and outside the twilight period, this could prove an attritional format of the game.Joe Root and Jason Holder pose with the Investec series trophy and the Wisden Trophy•Getty ImagesJoe Root feels that playing in such conditions is one of England’s strengths. And it is true that, in Stuart Broad and James Anderson, he has a pair of bowlers as well-equipped to bowl dry as any. An inexperienced West Indies batting line-up will be tested mentally as much as technically if the runs evaporate.”We’re very fortunate to have quite an experienced seam attack, especially in Jimmy and Broady,” Root said. “They have had a lot of success playing attritional cricket, whether it be in the sub-continent or out in the West Indies on those wickets that don’t necessarily offer a lot.”It might be that certain plans change if the ball does go soft, or the wicket is flat. But they have a huge amount of experience to call on.”The England line-up is also green. With three men in the top five boasting four caps and one half-century between them, there is a fragility that the likes of Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach can target. If they are going to have any hope of winning the Ashes, England really need at least two of Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan and Tom Westley to use this series to find their feet in Test cricket.There might have been a temptation to omit Malan here. Had they done so, England could have included a second spinner in Mason Crane and perhaps substituted Toby Roland-Jones for Chris Woakes to rebalance the batting. But they were concerned that Woakes had not had enough cricket since returning from a significant injury and felt that Roland-Jones deserved another opportunity. They also believe there will be little assistance for spin bowlers.Root feels the secret of success in such conditions will be an ability to adapt. While the England team has, at times of late, seemed to only have a fifth gear, he will continue to instil a more controlled approach to ensure that, if the ball starts moving during the twilight period, they do not continue to bat as if the sun is blazing.”We’ve got to make sure that when the difficult periods crop up, we respond well and we respond quickly,” Root said. “Of course we want our team to be settled. You never want to go into a series with guys out of form or under pressure. But this is a great opportunity for players to cement their places.”It may also prove to be West Indies’ disadvantage that they come across England at a full-house Edgbaston. The novelty of the day-night scheduling has caught the public imagination and will mean that, for the first three days at least, England receive unstinting support. It will allow no room for complacency and might even make life a little intimidating for the opposition.A West Indies’ team intimidated at Edgbaston? It would have been unthinkable not so long ago. But times have changed and with England now led by a young, hungry man with points to prove and a reputation to establish, there is no doubt the hosts are the strong favourites for this series.