Reckless West Indies making it too easy for India

A first-innings lead of 219 is certainly sizeable, but it does not typically lead to victory by an innings and 51 runs in three days. That Sachin Tendulkar’s 199th Test match produced just about 18 hours of cricket was down to some strange batting by the West Indies. There is talent in this West Indies side and on paper at least, some steel. Shivnarine Chanderpaul will happily bat for longer than anyone else in the game; Chris Gayle has a Test triple-century and Marlon Samuels was the ICC’s 2012 player of the year. Yet on the field of play, you get the impression the team plays like it is constantly teetering on the edge of a collapse. On the first day, West Indies looked comfortable at 138 for 2, with Samuels and Darren Bravo neutralising India’s bowlers. Then Shami found reverse swing and West Indies lost their last 8 wickets for 96 runs. [caption id=“attachment_1219373” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  As Shami said after the first day, “they just didn’t care about Test cricket.” BCCI[/caption] On Day three, it was worse. West Indies were battling to stay in the Test. Chris Gayle had started with intent, getting to 33 from 34 balls with seven fours. But he was tempted by a Bhuvneshwar Kumar bouncer that seamed away and forced a mistimed pull shot. Bravo and Kieron Powell then weathered the new ball, adding 68 together. At 101 for 1, it looked like West Indies might erase the deficit before the end of the day. Then Powell got one that kept a little low and trapped him on the back foot. Still, at 101 for 2, West Indies were in a decent position, with Samuels and Chanderpaul still to bat. Instead, they proceeded to lose their next 8 wickets for 67 runs (and nine in all for 67 runs). Only Chanderpaul appeared to have the technique to cope, waiting for the ball and playing it late. As Shami said after the first day, “they just didn’t care about Test cricket. In my view, they played their strokes continuously. So it becomes easy for me, that I’d get them if they play strokes against me.” This was India’s fifth Test win in a row, which is a new record. But despite fantastic performances from India’s two debutants (Shami and Rohit Sharma), the Test was like a three-course meal where only the main course was delicious. It gives you something to remember, but doesn’t leave you satisfied. India, of course, will be happy to win in whatever fashion they can. The team can only beat the opposition they are given. But let’s hope the West Indies show more determination in Mumbai than they did in Kolkata. For only if that happens will Tendulkar’s final Test have a chance of remaining in the memory for the cricket as well as the man.