Following Sri Lanka’s very
comfortable 186 run December 21-
25, 2021 1st Test victory over the West
Indies, the following are assigned
grades for the visitors. The respective
grades have been assigned on a scale
of 1-10, with one as the lowest and ten
as the highest.
Kraigg Brathwaite: Led by example
in the West Indies first innings with a
defiant 115 ball 41. Failed to repeat his
efforts in the second, falling for a duck
trapped lbw off of Ramesh Mendis’
bowling. Some of his captaincy
decisions, such as his very limited
use of Chase’s off spin in Sri Lanka’s
second innings were also highly
questionable. Grade:4.
Jermaine Blackwood: Forced to
open as a result of Jeremy Solanzo
concussion injury influenced
withdrawal. Failed yet again to live
up to his responsibilities as the
team’s vice captain. His The shot he
played that led to his second innings
dismissal was simply inexcusable.
Grade:3
Nkrumah Bonner: Dismissed very
cheaply for just 1 in the first innings,
he completely redeemed himself with
a defiant 220 ball 68 not out in the
second. His 100 run seventh wicket
partnership with Joshua DaSilva was
extremely encouraging. Grade:7
Shai Hope: Brought in as a concussion
replacement for the injured Jeremy
Solanzo. Failed miserably in both
innings with scores of 10 and 3. A
hapless victim of his obviously flawed
technique. Grade:1
Roston Chase: Failed miserably
with the bat in both innings with
respective scores of 2 and 1. Made up
for his failures with an outstanding
spin bowling performance with
figures of 5/83-28.5 in Sri Lanka’s
first innings. Was surprisingly under
utilized when Sri Lanka batted a
second time. Grade:6
Kyle Mayers: Batted well for a
typically belligerent 62 ball 45 in
the West Indies first innings. Was
completely outfoxed by Mendis in
the second innings, electing not
to play a stroke to a delivery which
straightened to have him trapped
plumb in front to be out lbw for just
2. Grade: 5
Jason Holder: Batted well in the
first innings for a solid 36 from
which he should have kicked on to
a much larger score. Completely
deceived by yet another Mendis arm
ball straightener for his fifth first
ball dismissal in Tests. Bowled well
in both innings without receiving
the wicket taking returns he fully
deserved. Grade 5
Joshua DaSilva: The indisputable
star of the West Indies first Test
performance. His wicket-keeping
was sufficiently tidy in both innings.
His batting was simply outstanding.
His respective scores of 15 made
off of 94 balls in the first innings
and his 129 ball second innings fifty
were demonstrative of a superior
technique and application sadly
lacking in far too many of the team’s
more senior and higher order
batsman. Grade:8
Rhakeem Cornwall: Failed to live up
to the expectations that were held
of him as the team’s leading spinner.
Was wicketless in Sri Lanka’s
formidable first innings total of 386
and only managed to capture two
scalps in their quick runs oriented
second innings. Scored a typically
aggressive 39 in the first innings but
was dismissed very cheaply for just 13
in the second. Grade:4
Jommel Warrican: His three Sri Lankan
first innings victims were all lower order
batsmen. The two wickets he
took in the second were also a result
of faulty shot selections by batsmen
on the quest for quick runs. Sent in as
night watchman in the West Indies
first innings he failed to last out until
the close of play and needlessly wasted
a review when given out caught
behind. Failed to contribute in the
second innings having scored just 1.
Grade:3
Shannon Gabriel: Not nearly as
effective with his extreme pace as
would have been expected. Took two
wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings but
was wicketless in the second. Fairly
expensive in both innings. Was a
predictable non-contributor with the
bat with scores of just 2 and 0. Grade:2.