Following a match winning 95 against England in the first Test on Sunday, West Indies middle-order batsman, Jermaine Blackwood marked his return to the longest format with a performance he describes as testimony to hard work.
The 28-year-old was dropped from the Test side back in 2017 and returned in 2019 as a concussion sub where he scored 38. This season Blackwood went on to finish the Regional First-Class season as the leading run-getter before earning a spot back in the Test side.
During a virtual press conference yesterday, Blackwood said “Yeah for sure, over the past year or so I have been working pretty hard with Andre, Andre Russell is like my mentor so we work every single day, seven days a week so I am pleased to come down and score some runs and that shows once you put in the work you are certain to get some runs,” when asked about the innings reflecting the hard work since his last international appearance.
The Jamaican went on to reveal that Russell has been in contact with him every day and disclosed he had mixed feelings following the right-hander’s eleventh half century.
“Every single day [we talk], he was very proud, he said he had mixed feelings, he was happy and sad at the same time because he really wanted me to score that 100 but he was happy I scored some runs and the team won,” Blackwood said.
Despite leading his team to victory, Blackwood said the most pleasing aspect of the performance was the confidence given to him by his captain Jason Holder and head coach, Phil Simmons.
“What was really pleasing for me the coach and captain approach me and said Jermaine just play your natural game, just pick the right ball and just go out there and get in. Once I’m out there I am always going to get in once I’m at the crease batting so that was the most pleasing thing to me to get the full support and commitment from the captain,” he stated.
Blackwood reckoned, “I think I put in a lot of hard work to score some runs in the Regional four-day and you can see it in my whole body language and approach to test cricket now, so it has changed me to become the player I am right now and you can see the growth in my batting.”
Blackwood compared his first go at international cricket and highlighted his transition into the player he is today.
“Looking back from when I first started playing for West Indies I normally go after the bowling from ball one and I wasn’t really giving myself a chance so this year I told myself I am going to give myself more chance at the wicket and try to bat as long as possible and once I did that I wasn’t thinking about scoring to be honest I was just thinking about batting as long as possible because once I’m there the runs are going to come naturally because once I’m there I’m going to score so that was my plan for the four-day season,” he noted.
On a personal note, Blackwood explained that the performance was “right up there” in terms of special innings but was saddened to not score his second Test ton.
“It is certainly up there, I haven’t played international cricket for almost three years now and coming back and perform like that is certainly pleasing but it was pretty disappointing the way I got out because I wasn’t eyeing the century or anything like that, I was mostly worried about getting the team across the line so when I got out I was very disappointed but I was very pleased with my innings,” he opined.
