West Indies plays outstanding Test Series to beat England regaining Wisden Trophy

BY: KAYLA KARIM

West Indies 306 (Bravo 50, Brathwaite 49, Broad 3-53) and 17 for 0 (Campbell 11*, Brathwaite 5*).

England 187 and 132 (Buttler 24, Holder 4-43, Roach 4-52).

Over the past two decades with seven series wins, England has dominated over West Indies. This past Test Series, West Indies came out stronger winning the three-Test Series 2-0. They won the first Test by 381 runs in Barbados.

West Indies outplayed England for the second time in a row for the win. Kemar Roach and Captain Jason Holder took four wickets each and West Indies were victorious over England by 10 wickets. As this was in the second Test in Antigua, England did hot have a chance to beat the 2-0 series lead from Saturday.

The hosts bowled out England for 132 in the second innings. West Indies needed only 14 runs, which were executed as they beat England with more than two days to spare.

West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell had 13 balls, which led to Campbell bringing up the winning runs with a six off Anderson. Brathwaite also helped in the first innings with 49 adding to Darren Bravo’s half-century building a 199-run lead.

Jason Holder’s first ball on the other side of lunch had England’s opener, Rory Burns out to a miscued shot that flew straight to Campbell. Holder then struck again to remove Jonny Baristow.

West Indies played with passion and composure in this Test Series and Alzarri Joseph is a prime example of the strength that athletes must have when involved in a professional sport.

Alazarri Joseph is the youngest fast bowler to play on the team who assisted in the 10-wicket victory. His mother who was suffering from a brain tumor passed away the night before the match. Teammate Jason Holder described the feelings that the team were collectively experiencing, however, they unified and evidently, pushed through.

“It’s difficult to describe the feelings,” said Holder. “We started the day with a daunting task, trying to push on our lead, and then we got the news about Alzarri’s mum, so we all wanted to rally around one another and we wanted to do it for her.”

Alzarri Joseph was a crucial part in the win, taking a diving catch off Holder to get England’s last man out, James Anderson.

Joseph also showed no emotion when he bowled out England’s opener, Joe Denly with a neat delivery.

Darren Bravo, who was returning to Test matches after not playing in more than two years before Barbados, had scores of 2 and 1. However, he proved in Antigua that the value of his 50 was immeasurable being the slowest half-century by a West Indies batsman. This took 342 minutes but Bravo was composed, after displaying difficult batting conditions, displaying patience and intelligence.

On the second day, Bravo withstood some searching England bowling bringing up his fifty off 214 deliveries late in the morning session on day three.

Darren Bravo was the only West Indies batsman to reach 50, as his first innings combined with the 40s from Brathwaite, Campbell and Shai Hope. England’s batsmen had a difficult time on the pitch and could not step up in time.