On the first day of the second Test match West Indies against New Zealand played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. West Indies bowlers proved their worth by causing all sorts of trouble for the New Zealand batsmen. West Indies made three changes to the team, which played in the first Test match. Shane Shillingford, Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels were dropped while debutant Jermaine Blackwood, Shannon Gabriel and Kraig Brathwaite were brought in as replacements.
Variation of spin and pace worked
Jerome Taylor again induced some spectacular bowling in the first inning of the second Test match in Trinidad. He picked up 4 wickets for 34 runs, Kemar Roach 1 for 61, Shannon Gabriels 2 for 43 and spinners Sulieman Benn, 3 for 73 in some fine quality left arm bowling. Roach is not back to his full speed of 145 mph as yet but he is moving slowly to that point after coming off an injury. Roach and Taylor are experienced fast bowlers and if they get into their rhythm, it will be good sign that the West Indies have worked out a bowling strategy for Test cricket.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite fits the job
Barbados cricket captain Kraigg Braithwaite has the correct approach as one of the West Indies openers. Braithwaite is patient and he will develop into a faster scorer as his career goes forward. In Test cricket, batsmen ought to settle down before going for faster stroke plays. West Indies are losing too many early wickets. Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo ought to work harder on their approach and technique in Test cricket. These are young players on whom the team heavily depends. West Indies batsmen must perform better and produce better statistics.
Windies bowlers making strides
After the West Indies team was badly beaten by New Zealand in the first Test match at Sabina Park in Jamaica, their bowlers struck back in the second Test at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad on the first day, bowling out New Zealand for 221 runs with opening batsman Tomla Than top-scoring with 82, Kane Williamson 42 and Ross Taylor 45 not out. From 110 runs for 1 wicket, the New Zealand team was bowled out for 221 runs.
