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Poor planning cost Windies – Sir Andy

Published:Thursday | August 6, 2020 | 12:24 AM
Roberts
Roberts

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Pace bowling legend Sir Andy Roberts believes a lack of proper planning by West Indies following their win in the opening Test at Southampton led to their poor form in the remaining matches and their eventual series defeat to England.

West Indies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a four-wicket victory but then collapsed to heavy defeats, losing the second Test by 113 runs and the third by 269 runs, to further extend their 32-year wait for a series win on English soil.

“Considering the way they played in the first Test match, I think after that they didn’t sit down and plan for the remainder of the series,” Sir Andy said.

“I think we went to England not to win the series but to defend the Wisden Trophy, and it showed in the planning.”

GABRIEL’S PERFORMANCE

Pointing to the use of fast bowler Shannon Gabriel as an example, Sir Andy said the Trinidadian should have been better managed, considering he had just recovered from an ankle operation last December.

Gabriel snatched a nine-wicket haul in the first Test but appeared jaded and struggling with his fitness in the remaining games and picked up only two wickets.

“One must remember that Shannon Gabriel last played cricket in September, October last year, and apart from that he had an ankle operation which ruled him out of the original touring party,” the legendary Antiguan explained.

“I thought after performing so well in the first Test, they should have left him out for the second Test because England would have to win consecutive matches to win the series.

“But all of us could see how Shannon bowled in the second Test, and then you continued with him again in the third Test match, so we didn’t plan very well.”

He continued: “They played literally the same team every game. I would have liked to see both Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder play together in a Test match. You have some young firepower and I think they should have used them in one of the Test matches.”

Sir Andy also criticised the strategy by the West Indies seamers, contending they were too predictable and too often allowed the English batsmen to dictate matters.