Thank you, Brendan Nash

Tony Becca - FROM THE BOUNDARY

When it all started, back in early February, no one, or rather, hardly anyone, probably but for Daren Powell, expected the West Indies to draw much less win the Test series against England and, in so doing, steal the Wisden Trophy.

When it was over, a few days ago, however, the West Indies, the team whose last victory, anywhere in the whole wide world, was against lowly Bangladesh in 2004, the team whose last victory against a team of any class was against Sri Lanka in 2003, the team whose last victory against England was in 1998, and the team to which victory in a Test match much less in a series was something like an impossible dream, were the winners.

In a glorious, unforgettable performance, in 155 minutes and 33.2 overs, the West Indies dismissed England for a near-record low 51 in the second innings of the first Test at Sabina Park and won the Test match by an innings and 23 runs.

Then after the abandoned second Test match, after hanging on to draw the third with one wicket in hand, after drawing the fourth, after hanging again to draw the fifth and final Test match with two wickets to spare, went on to celebrate a victory which came out of the blue.

nervous moments

In spite of the nervous moments in Antigua and in Trinidad and Tobago, in spite of the bitten finger nails all around the West Indies and every where that West Indians reside, it was a wonderful performance. A performance of which captain Chris Gayle, coach John Dyson, assistant coach David Williams, manager Omar Khan, and every player should be proud.

None more so, however, than pacer Jerome Taylor and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn - the heroes of Sabina Park, Gayle himself - the usually aggressive opening batsman who batted like a man on a mission, Ramnaresh Sarwan - the number three who finally delivered in a manner in which his talent suggested he should have done long ago, Shivnarine Chanderpaul - the number five who has been looking for such support for some time now, and Fidel Edwards - the fast bowler whose figures did not reflect his pace, his skill, and the fear he drove, on so many occasions and despite the many dropped catches, into England's batsmen.

The West Indies, however, hung on to win the series because of the fight of the lower order, and, lest it be forgotten, praise must go to the likes of Denesh Ramdin and Powell, Taylor and Edwards at the end - especially when it is remembered the many times in the past that the team has started well and then crashed like sitting ducks. Especially so when it is remembered that just last year against Australia the West Indies lower order, batting as if their brains had been scrambled, batting as if they had never ever seen a bat in their lives, dropped once from 260 for four to 312, another time from 314 for four to 352, and yet another time from 168 for four to 216.

That is why, although Gayle scored 292 runs in six innings with two centuries at an average of 48.66, Sarwan scored 626 runs in six innings with three centuries at an average of 104.33, and Chanderpaul scored 299 runs in six innings with one century at an average of 59.80, I believe that the man who deserve the biggest "thank you" from the fans is Brendan Nash.

For years, probably ever since the exit of Larry Gomes in 1987 and definitely since Jimmy Adams was removed as the captain in 2001, the West Indies have been missing a number six batsman, and that was the reason for the many, many collapses.

Since the coming of Nash, the Australian born and groomed, the matured left-hander, however, things have changed. The West Indies, for example, and probably because of his grit and determination to succeed, have not lost a match in seven Test matches.

performances

In his seven Test matches - two against New Zealand and five against England, in nine innings - three against New Zealand and six against England, Nash has scored 23, 74 and 65, 55, 18 and 23, 33, 109 and 1 after going to bat at 134 for four and leaving at 162 for five, 74 for four and leaving at 237 for five, 106 for four and leaving at 230 for five, 235 for four and leaving at 376 for nine, 201 for five and leaving at 278 for eight, 244 for four and leaving at 287 for six, 281 for four and leaving at 334 for five, and before falling cheaply in the last innings of the England series, 203 for four facing 546 before leaving at 437 for five.

In those partnerships Nash batted for 68 minutes and 60 deliveries, 211 minutes and 162 deliveries, 200 minutes and 172 deliveries, 257 minutes and 164 deliveries, 113 minutes and 81 deliveries, 68 minutes and 49 deliveries, 54 minutes and 43 deliveries, and apart from his low of 15 minutes and 12 deliveries in his last innings to date, apart from the one time he failed to stand in the breach, to bat with his senior partner in the interest of the team, 360 minutes and 257 deliveries.

Based on the results in the second match in Antigua and the one in Trinidad and Tobago. Based on the performance of batsmen like Devon Smith and Xavier Marshall, Ryan Hinds and Lendl Simmons, their bowlers in general, based on their catching, and based on the selection of their team for the final Test and their attitude at the start of the match, the West Indies were somewhat lucky to have escaped with a victory.

Based on the performances of their three senior players, Gayle, Sarwan, and Chanderpaul, however, based on the deadly bowling of Taylor and Benn at Sabina Park, and based on the fighting spirit of the team when the chips were down, it was a victory well deserved.

When they were staring defeat in the face, the West Indies tail, Ramdin and company, led by the inspiration of Nash at number six and fuelled by a welcome never-say-die approach, batted like they valued their wickets.

It was a victory which, hopefully, but for Taylor and Dwayne Bravo, to an extent Edwards and Ramdin, despite the absence of any outstanding home-grown talent in the last 10 years, will see the West Indies, still ranked at number seven, turning the corner in a short time.