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Bishoo key as West Indies look to draw level
ESPNcricinfo – After three days of Test cricket, this series is half over. Australia retained
Devendra Bishoo prepares to deliver the ball, West Indies v Australia, 1st Test, 1st day, Roseau, June 3, 2015 ©Getty Images
the Frank Worrell Trophy in Dominica, where the highlight was an unbeaten hundred on debut from Adam Voges. Their fielding was sharp and their bowling solid, but it was still far from their most clinical performance. The reliance on the lower order to bail them out of a batting slump was again notable, as has often been the case over the past few years, and a little more steel from the West Indian batsmen could have made a real contest of it. Again Australia will be without opener Chris Rogers, who is still feeling the effects of concussion after being struck on the helmet during training ahead of the first Test.
The best West Indies can now hope for is to level the series 1-1, but that would require their first victory against Australia in a Test for 12 years. The second-innings 70 scored by debutant Shane Dowrich was encouraging for West Indies, as was the six-wicket haul from Devendra Bishoo, but overall it was an inconsistent and dissatisfying performance. They were sloppy in the field and the shot selection of several batsmen frustrated the coach Phil Simmons. Now they move on to Sabina Park in Jamaica, where spin has been an effective weapon in first-class cricket this year and they will hope Bishoo again troubles the Australians.
In the spotlight
It is common to see Steven Smith dance down the pitch to spinners, but very rare to see him deceived in doing so. When Devendra Bishoo turned one past Smith’s bat in the first innings in Roseau, it was just the second time in a 125-innings first-class career that Smith had been out stumped. Equally impressive was Bishoo’s legbreak that clipped the top of Brad Haddin’s off stump. They were the two highlights of
With Chris Rogers ruled out, Shaun Marsh will have another opportunity to boost his chances of retaining his place in the side for the Ashes © WICB Media/Adriel Richard
Bishoo’s 6 for 80, and given Australia’s susceptibility to quality spin, he will again be a key man in Jamaica. “He’s getting back to where he was when he became ICC Young Player of the Year,” coach Phil Simmons said of Bishoo, who in April returned to Test cricket after a three-year absence.
A second Test without Chris Rogers will lead to a second opening chance for Shaun Marsh, who would otherwise have expected to bat at No.5 in this series. But the success of Adam Voges on debut might also mean Marsh is also playing for his place in the side come the first Ashes Test next month, for it is hard to see Rogers being left out in the familiar English conditions. Marsh’s best scores during the home Test summer were 99 and 73 and although he has been a useful contributor, he may need a big score to encourage the selectors to stick with him.
Team news
Kemar Roach, Rajindra Chandrika and Veerasammy Permaul are the three men in the squad who missed out in the first Test. Despite losing in three days, West Indies might retain the same XI.
With Rogers still unavailable, Australia are unlikely to make any changes unless the pitch looks like a raging turner.
Pitch and conditions
Sabina Park has provided plenty of wickets for the spinners in first-class cricket this year, including an eight-wicket haul from Barbados left-armer Jomel Warrican. However, the teams will wait to see what they are faced with come the morning of the Test.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons said, “The next step is … making sure that our shot selection is a lot better and our catching is a lot better. I think those are the two areas we need to make sure we get better.”
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