ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Devendra Bishoo announced himself ready to play in next week’s opening Test match against England with a six-wicket haul on the opening day of the West Indies two-day warm-up match here Wednesday.
The leg-spinner took six for 56 of 32 overs in an impressive spell at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, to extend his outstanding run of form from the WICB Professional Cricket League when he took 61 wickets in 10 matches.
Playing for the Jason Holder XI, he sent down a marathon spell and troubled all the batsmen as Denesh Ramdin’s XI were bowled out for 209 off 95 overs.
Bishoo, 29, burst onto the international scene in 2011, and was that year named the ICC Emerging Player of the Year. He played in all three formats for the West Indies and took 40 wickets in 11 Test matches.
He, however, lost his place in 2012 but has worked his way back into the reckoning on the back of a strong season for Guyana Jaguars, who won the PCL four-day tournament.
Jermaine Blackwood top-scored on Wednesday’s opening day with 49 off 95 balls, while opener Leon Johnson scored 42 off 123 balls.
Ramdin chipped in with 23 while opener Kraigg Brathwaite got 22 in a 46-run opening stand with Johnson.
Off-spinner Raheem Cornwall, the 22-year-old off-spinning all-rounder from Antigua invited to play in the match, ended with four for 50 runs off 21 overs.