… Gabriel wraps up year as leading WI Test bowler

By Clifton Ross traumatic

JERMAINE Blackwood capped off a COVID-19 stricken year as the most successful West Indies Test batsman, while pacer Shannon Gabriel ended 2020 as the Test team’s leading wicket-taker; – good signs for a team with much to prove in 2021.
Most of the cricket activities of 2020 were either put on immediate hold, or pushed forward to another date following February’s initial stages of the outbreak. Thanks to dedication and an intangible, parameterised concept known as the ‘bubble’ which was birthed by the National Basketball Association (NBA). It has since allowed live sports to be played within a specific bio-secure area with mostly no fans allowed.
After England and West Indies were the first two teams to brave playing cricket amidst the pandemic back in July, it was Blackwood who, for the first time since his return to form in the Regional 4-Dayers; managed to overcome the first-time jitters to emerge as the leading run-getter with 211 runs at an average of 58 with two fifties including a 95.

West Indies would lose that series to the English, who maintained a good Test record on home soil. However, Blackwood would then take his form into the New Zealand series, where again his gutsy demeanour took centre-stage. The 2-Test series saw the touring Windies lose out at ending 2020 with some positives but Blackwood’s performance overseas this latter half of the year is undoubtedly one of the biggest pluses the Caribbean side will take into 2021.
The Jamaican ended with the second most runs in the series behind Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, finishing the series with 216 runs, again averaging +50 (54). This time the stroke-maker didn’t let his foot off the gas as he chalked up a brilliant 104 in the first match. He then scored 69 in the last game to go along with scores of 20 and 23. Overall, Blackwood has notched up 427 runs from the 5 Tests played this year, making him arguably the best batsman in the West Indies Test team over the two away series played, following the resumption of action.

Another West Indian will be entering 2021 with much confidence and momentum, as the bustling speedster Gabriel has made a brilliant return to action since recovering from injury ahead of the England Test series. The Trinidadian pacer ended third on the list of wicket-takers (behind Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes). He snapped up 11 wickets from the 3 matches played against England and claimed a best of 5-57 with an overall match-haul of 137-9 – exceptional performance in a match dominated by the England fast-bowlers.

New Zealand proved to be a bit more of a test for the right-arm quick, but managed to end the 2-match series as the Caribbean side’s most successful bowler ; coming in 4th in the wickets column with 6 scalps.
The departure of his partner Kemar Roach in the 2nd Test following the passing of his father was also a huge setback, as Gabriel and his partner worked better when used in tandem. Still, despite the few hurdles including the ever-existing threat of the virus looming, West Indies and their two star performers will definitely be looking to vastly improve their game, whether it be from an individual or team basis. Their next assignment is set for January 2021 against Bangladesh.