Hodge defies chilly day to warm up with sterling hundred

BECKENHAM, England (CMC):

KAVEM HODGE helped the West Indies Test squad make a confident start to their Tour of England with a purposeful hundred against a First-Class Counties Select XI yesterday.

The 31-year-old Dominican slammed 112 and three others gathered half-centuries before the Caribbean side were dismissed for 339 in their first innings after they won the toss and decided to bat on a chilly first day of a three-day match at the Kent County Cricket Ground.

Alick Athanaze and fellow left-hander Kirk McKenzie – both on their first Test tour to England like Hodge – and lanky opener Mikyle Louis – on the first Test tour of his career – supported with contrasting half-centuries to get the visitors off to a strong start.

The FCC Select XI were 15 without loss at the close with their captain Ben McKinney, not out on 11, and fellow opener Harry Singh, not out on two.

Earlier, Hodge practically guaranteed himself a spot in the side to play against England in the first Test, starting at Lord’s this coming Wednesday, when he led the West Indies batting with a three-hour innings that included 14 fours and two sixes from 128 balls.

“It was pretty good, but it was cold,” Hodge told reporters after play.

“I enjoyed it because it’s my first time playing in England, and it’s always good coming out here, regardless of whether it’s your first time, and make a good impression and make the most of the opportunity, so it was good to spend some time in the middle.

“It’s just getting accustomed to the conditions because it’s much colder than the Caribbean and the ball swings a lot more, and when the ball hits you, it stings a lot. We were lucky enough to come a week before the first Test, so I think it’s just a matter of taking in the environment, enjoying each other’s company and working hard to achieve our goals.”

Hodge added it will be a thrill to play at Lord’s if given the chance.

“It’s always a dream to play at Lord’s,” he said. “Something growing up as a kid that you sit and dream about, you watch a lot of cricket at Lord’s. It’s something I am looking forward to – getting the opportunity to sit and watch the game, playing there with the crowd, the prestige, the home of cricket, it’s something that every cricketer aspires to do.”

He reached his hundred from 119 balls when he charged down the pitch to off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of teenage England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, and lofted a delivery over long-on for his second six.

Athanaze supported with 74, McKenzie made 73, and Louis equipped himself well with an even 50 in between the Caribbean side losing the opening pair of their captain Kraigg Brathwaite and fellow Barbadian Zachary McCaskie cheaply and the bottom half of the batting crumbling.

Ahmed ended with four for 48 from 12 overs, and South Africa-born pacer John Turner finished with four for 60 from 12.1 overs.

West Indies started the match without left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and fellow Guyanese Shamar Joseph because their flight out of Georgetown was cancelled because of the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Media reports indicated that Motie arrived on Wednesday, and fast bowler Joseph is scheduled to arrive on Friday.