After a 159-run loss to Australia in Barbados, the West Indies face a crucial second Test at St George’s. Despite good fast bowling, their batting will be key to the result.
Data from the last ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, 2023-25, shows the West Indies struggled with the bat.
ESPNCricinfo reports the West Indies had the lowest collective batting average (20.96) and run rate (3.13) in the 2023-25 WTC. Alick Athanaze (627 runs in 13 Tests, average 25.08), Kraigg Braithwaite (586 runs in 13 Tests, average 22.52), and Kavem Hodge (556 runs in 11 Tests, average 25.27) were their top scorers. No one averaged above 40 and only these three passed 500 runs.
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They finished eighth with three wins, eight losses and two draws.
In the 2021-23 cycle, the West Indies were second-worst in average (24.28) and slowest in run rate (2.66). Braithwaite led with 994 runs in 13 Tests (average 43.21). Jermaine Blackwood averaged 31.39 with 722 runs and Joshua de Silva scored 484 runs at 26.88. Only Braithwaite and Blackwood surpassed 500 runs.
Again they finished eighth with four wins, seven losses and two draws.
After the first Test loss to Australia, where they were bowled out for 141 chasing 301 and scored 190 in the first innings (Shai Hope top-scored with 48), captain Roston Chase said batting was a problem. He said getting to 250 or 300 would make them competitive given their bowling.
Coach Daren Sammy had earlier warned against praising low averages and expressed concerns about the weak first-class cricket system. This was in response to Kavem and Alick being left out of the Test side for Australia.
Sammy said they compared their top order’s performance with the top three teams in the world in different batting positions through data collected from analysts. Kavem in the last Test World Championship cycle scored 500 runs at 25. He wants the players to perform well but people must not get emotional.He clarified neither player has been dropped but warned against celebrating averages of 25 as it won’t lead to team success.
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Sammy said they just played in the ‘A’ team series; it’s not the end of the road for them. The direction the team is going is that roles need to be played but they just don’t fit the role at this moment.
Sammy thinks people are doing Hodge and Alick a disservice by praising the average of 25 in Test cricket. They are trying to create an atmosphere for achievement and that shows where cricket is when players averaging below 35 are undroppable in their system. Their system is not good for them to really talk about the average of 25 which won’t bring them success.
