Says Tony Cozier
IT was nothing more than to be expected against opponents whose record of 69 defeats in their 84 Tests includes 36 by an innings.
Bangladesh’s confidence had been crushed by heavy losses in the three preceding ODIs. Their best player, Shakib-Al-Hassan, was under suspension and they chose two promising young spinners for their debut in the team’s first Test since February.
For all that, West Indies’ victory by 10 wickets in the first of the two Tests in St.Vincent was in spite of themselves. Success has been a rarity for some time but interim head coach Sir Richie Richardson and those around him could hardly be satisfied at the manner of this result. Captain Denesh Ramdin conceded as much afterwards.
Apart from Darren Bravo’s record-equalling five snapped up in slips and short-leg in the first innings, the catching was atrocious, the slothful batting of the fourth wicket pair on the second afternoon thoroughly bizarre, the field setting as incomprehensible