India Carry on their Path to Redemption

India was the number one test team when they set foot in England. But what followed was nothing less than a debacle. They faced a total white wash in both the Tests and ODIs. They seemed to have gained their lost form in ODIs by whitewashing the Englishmen at home. But the Test series against West Indies was the first after their English debacle. So the stakes were high for this test series. Two teams having huge potential locked horns.

FIRST TEST

Pragyan Ojha Picked up 6 wickets in First innings

Shivnarine Chanderpaul Scored a century

First test went under way in Delhi. West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first on a track that would slow down and assist spinners in the final two days. Kraigg Braithwaite (63) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (118) held the innings together. In spite of not many significant contributions except the couple West Indies reached 304. Pragyan Ojha took 6 for 72 for India. India got off to a good start in the first innings with Gautam Gambhir (41), Virender Sehwag (55) and Rahul Dravid (54) getting out when they looked set for a big score. But the middle and lower order batsmen failed to deliver slumping India to 209 runs all out. So West Indies had a formidable lead considering the state of the track in the first innings.

Ravichandran Ashwin had an impressive debut picking up nine wickets 

Stand between Sachin & Laxman took India to victory

But there was a turn in fortunes as West Indies folded for a meagre total of 180 in second innings. Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47) and Kirk Edwards (33) offered some resistance. Ravichandran Ashwin making a debut for India ran through the West Indies line-up with his figures of 6 for 47. India fared much better in the second innings and got to the winning target of 276 for 5 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar (76), Virender Sehwag (55) and VVS Laxman (58) helped the winning cause with their half centuries. India went one up in the series with their 5 wicket win. Ravichandran Ashwin got the man of the match with his match scalp of 9 wickets.

SECOND TEST

The great Eden Gardens in Kolkata was the venue for second test. India won the toss and elected to bat. What followed was a total Indian dominance. Having got off to a good start with a opening stand between Gautam Gambhir (65) and Virender Sehwag (38), India made the most of it. There were three centurions in the innings with Rahul Dravid (119), VVS Laxman (176 not out) and MS Dhoni (144). India reached a great total of 631 for 7 before declaring.

Laxman & Dravid scored centuries each to Power Indian first innings

MS Dhoni made a stroke filled Century

This was a stiff challenge for West Indies and they managed only 153 runs in their first innings. Darren Bravo (30) and Marlon Samuels (25) were the only mention worthy contributors. Pragyan Ojha picked up 4 for 64 and Umesh Yadav had 3 for 23 for the home team. Made to follow-on West Indies had their backs against the wall. But they provided an improved show in the second innings. Darren Bravo (136) got a century and Adrain Barath (62), Kirk Edwards (60) and Marlon Samuels (84) all got to their half centuries. West Indies ended at a total of 463 which was 15 runs short of India’s total. Thus India won the second test by an innings and 15 runs. India clinch the series 2-0 with a match to go. VVS Laxman was the man of the match.  

Darren Bravo got two back to back centuries in second and third tests

THIRD TEST

Ravichandran Ashwin got his maiden test century in the third test

Sachin Tendulkar narrowly missed his 100th Century

With the series already gone it was time for West Indies to salvage some pride. Third test was played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. West Indies won the toss and elected to bat. They made merry of the flat track with nothing in it for the bowlers. Darren Bravo (166) helped himself to yet another century. Adrain Barath (62), Kraigg Braithwaite (68), Kirk Edwards (86), Kieran Powell (81) and Marlon Samuels (61) all got half centuries to power the West Indies total to 590. Facing an imposing total India made a competitive reply. Sachin Tendulkar who is awaiting his hundredth century missed a golden opportunity when he got out for 94, thus falling in the nineties again. Ravichandran Ashwin (103) though cracked his maiden century during this innings. Other significant contributions from Indian team were Rahul Dravid (82), Gautam Gambhir (55) and Virat Kohli (52). India ended on 482 in their first innings.

Indian team celebrates after the fall of Darren Bravo's wicket on final day

Twist in the tale when West Indies batting had a dramatic collapse in the second innings on the final day.  West Indies were all out for 134 and Pragyan Ojha again proved the wrecker-in-chief with his 6 wickets for 47 runs. Darren Bravo (48) and Kraigg Braithwaite (35) had held the innings together for sometime, but their exit sounded the collapse. India were set a winning target of 243 of 64 overs. They looked well on track with an attacking innings by Virender Sehwag (60 off 65 balls). But Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman could not put up big scores. Virat Kohli (63) scored an impressive half century under the circumstances to ensure India did not lose the test. But India fell short by just one run in the ultimate over of the test. So the match was drawn.

Indian Team after winning the series 2-0

Ravichandran Ashwin was named the man of the series for his impressive debut series in which he took many wickets and scored a century too.

Shivnarine Chaderpaul: The West Indian Dam

If Rahul Dravid is the “wall” for India, then Shivnarine Chanderpaul can definitely be considered as a West Indian dam. He is one of the most reputed West Indian batsmen and his bat has shielded West Indies against many fierce attacks. Many a times Shiv has won the matches lone-handedly for his team. He is known for dogged style of batting but he can switch gears too. He has to his credit the achievement of being the fourth fastest test hundred getter, which he achieved in just 67 balls against Australia in the 2002-03 series at Bourda, Guyana. When there is wide spread criticism of the fading batting and bowling prowess of the West Indian side Chanderpaul has stood up tall. He has been the anchor man for the West Indies batting for many years now.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his Unusual Batting Stance

Shivnarine Chanderpaul made his test debut in 1994 against England. He was alongside Brian Lara during his highest score in an innings knock against England. From the very first series there was no doubt about his skill and commitment. But a problem in his feet barred him from playing long innings. He got his first test century in his 19^th test match having scored 15 half-centuries in the preceding 18 test matches. His first century came against India at Bridgetown, Barbados. He was since then found a special liking for the Indian attack. He has 6 test and 2 ODI hundreds against India. He averages a staggering 67.48 against the Men in Blue. In the latest test series against India he has already scored a hundred and a fifty in the two innings batted.

Chanderpaul & Sarwan During the Highest Run Chase by West Indies

He was also alongside Ramnaresh Sarwan and scored a century to the winning cause to chase down the record total set by Australia in 2002-03. It has to be said in this regard that he had an operation to his leg to fix the problems in early 2000s and since then he was in rich vein of form. He achieved many feats during this time. Shivnarine Chanderpaul became the only player in test history to have gone 1000 test minutes without getting out more than once. He also achieved the feat of facing 1000 balls without getting out.

In terms of his ODI record he has 11 hundreds and has an average of 41.60. One of his most memorable contributions to West Indies cricket in the last few years has been his knocks in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004. His consistent scores helped West Indies to clinch this trophy. The Champions Trophy was the first major ICC trophy won by West Indies after their fall from ascendancy.

Chanderpaul During 2004 ICC Champions Trophy

He became the captain of the West Indies national team in 2005 against West Indies. He captained West Indies in 14 tests and 16 ODIs. He became the second player to make a double century on debut as test captain. He was also included in the ICC twenty member test squad that would face the world champions Australia. He resigned from captaincy in 2006 to concentrate on his batting after having a lean patch with the bat.

He is the most experienced player by a fair margin in the present West Indies team and is the only Indo West Indies player to reach 100 test caps. He is also the second highest run getter in test matches for West Indies. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has an unusual batting stance which is often termed as “back to the wall” yet he manages to cope with all pitch conditions. It proves that class can outbeat the coaching manuals.