51 all out in 2009.
7 all out in 2019
The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, remains a
haunting ground for England. Despite the decline of the Caribbean cricketing
empire, this venue seems to conjure the ghosts of West Indies’ glorious past
whenever England visits. The decline of the once-mighty Caribbean cricket has
been well-documented, yet Barbados continues to evoke memories of a time when
fast bowlers ruled with fire and fury.
Even in the post-Ambrose-and-Walsh era, a Jerome Taylor or a
Kemar Roach has occasionally risen to dismantle a strong English lineup,
reviving echoes of an era when Clive Lloyd’s juggernaut dominated world
cricket. The present may bring heartache to West Indies fans, but their
memories of the past remain a source of solace and pride.
A Venue of
Legends
Bridgetown has been a theatre of destruction for visiting
teams, with its pitch once famed for pace and bounce. The Malcolm Marshall and
Joel Garner ends carry the weight of history, where deliveries aimed at the
ribs and throats of batsmen became routine. Over time, however, the Caribbean
pitches have slowed, and spin has increasingly influenced domestic cricket.
Yet, Barbados remains an exception, with its pacers still finding ways to
dominate.
According to CricViz, spinners and quicks have averaged 25
runs per wicket in the Caribbean since 2015, but Barbados tells a different
story. With the highest spin-bowling average (41.55) in the region over the
last five years, it remains a haven for fast bowlers. And on one bright, sunny
day in 2019, Kemar Roach and his comrades summoned the spirit of their
forebears, unleashing a spellbinding exhibition of pace bowling that left
England shattered.
The Demon
Awakens
England began their reply to West Indies’ modest
first-innings total of 289 with cautious optimism. Rory Burns and Keaton
Jennings started solidly, surviving a disciplined opening spell from Roach and
Jason Holder. But just before lunch, Jennings’ loose drive off Holder handed
the hosts a breakthrough. At 30 for 1, England seemed unperturbed, confident
their deep batting lineup could secure a lead.
Then came the second session, and with it, the storm.
Kemar Roach switched ends and transformed into a demon. His
lengths shortened, his pace increased, and his accuracy was unerring. CricViz
noted the stark contrast: before lunch, his average length was 6.1 meters, with
no balls shorter than 8 meters. Post-lunch, his average length shortened to 7.9
meters, with nearly 40% of his deliveries pitched shorter than 8 meters.
It was a masterclass in hostile bowling. Roach’s second
spell demonstrated that hitting the stumps isn’t always necessary if a bowler
can combine precision with menace. His shorter lengths and relentless accuracy
suffocated the English batsmen, who found no escape.
A Spell for the
Ages
Burns and Jonny Bairstow were the first to fall, chopping
deliveries onto their stumps. Stokes, undone by a delivery that skidded low,
was trapped plumb in front. Then came Moeen Ali, caught off a hurried pull shot
as Roach’s fiery short ball climbed higher than anticipated. Jos Buttler
followed, nicking a sharp, rising delivery to the slips. Roach’s five-wicket
haul came at the cost of just 4 runs in 27 deliveries—a spell of destruction
that will be etched in the annals of Caribbean cricket.
At the other end, Holder, Alzarri Joseph, and Shannon
Gabriel joined the carnage. Holder, known for his metronomic line-and-length,
added guile to his game, moving the ball laterally and using subtle changes in
length to keep batsmen guessing. Gabriel and Joseph, meanwhile, brought raw
pace and aggression, exploiting England’s disarray.
Joe Root, the lynchpin of England’s batting, was undone by
Holder’s precision, while the tail offered little resistance. England’s innings
folded for a paltry 77 in just 30 overs, leaving the Barmy Army stunned and the
West Indian fans jubilant.
A Whiff of
Nostalgia
For a moment, the Kensington Oval was transported back in
time. The ferocity of Roach, the guile of Holder, and the collective hostility
of the West Indies attack evoked memories of the golden era. The present state
of Caribbean cricket may be far removed from its glory days, but this
performance was a poignant reminder of what once was—and what could still
be.
As England trudged off the field, the contrast was stark.
The touring side, heralded for its batting depth and resilience, had been laid
to waste by a West Indies team that dared to dream. The Kensington Oval, with
its storied history, had once again lived up to its reputation as a graveyard
for English hopes.
For the West Indies, this was more than just a victory. It was a rekindling of pride, a glimpse of the fire that once burned so brightly. For their fans, it was a fair old whiff of nostalgia—and a dream of resurgence.
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