The West Indies cricketers gave viewers and ardent supporters of the team a glimpse of their sheer potential and evoked nostalgic memories of their glory days by completely dominating their English opponents and practically demolishing them well inside four days – with one day to spare! The first game in a four-match series between the two old rivals was played at Sabina Park, Jamaica. England won the toss and decided to bat first on a surface that is historically known to deteriorate as time went by and make batting in the fourth innings difficult. A brilliant combination of raw pace and delicate spin bowling by Jamaican pacer Jerome Taylor and Barbadian spinner Suleiman Benn contained the Englishmen to a modest total of 318 runs in their first inning. Only Kevin Pietersen (97), Matt Prior (64) and Andrew Flintoff (47) seemed to amass scores of significance against what can be described as a disciplined West Indian bowling attack. Jerome Taylor was able to grab 3 wickets for 74 runs in his 20 overs, while ‘Big Ben’ (Suleiman Benn), with a sensational display of spin bowling - the likes that the region has not seen in years – was able to return the stupendous figures of 4 wickets for 77 runs in 44.2 overs, giving him an economy rate of 1.73 runs per over. After losing Devon Smith for 6 runs, when the score was only 18, the Windies, led by Captain Chris Gayle, was able to make a diligent comeback, losing their second wicket when the score was 220. There were two centurions in the West Indies inning, with Chris Gayle hitting a polished 104 and Ramnaresh Sarwan hitting a stylish 107 runs. Brendan Nash was able to hold the middle order and tail together for a while before he lost his wicket after scoring 55 runs. The Windies were able to muster a fighting total of 392 runs – a lead of 74 runs. Stuart Broad was the most impressive English bowler with figures of 5 wickets for 85 runs in his 29 overs. Most viewers expected the Englishmen to come out on the penultimate day of the test match and occupy the crease for lengthy periods so as to play for a tame drawer, but that was not the case. The Englishmen came out in a rather disheveled manner and seemed to have absolutely no answer to the quick, accurate and controlled deliveries of Jerome Taylor bowling in tandem with Sulieman Benn, who had fantastic bounce and turn. England began losing quick wickets and when Jerome Taylor had Kevin Pietersen’s off stump gymnastically cart-wheeling towards wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin for 1 run, the writing was on the wall for the Englishmen; the concern harbored by many at the time was whether they were going to clear off the Windies first inning lead. This was not the case. The Englishmen were bundled out for a dismal 51 runs - one of the lowest totals in international test cricket in recent times. The ignominy of the English defeat was met with sheer joy, jubilation and open pandemonium among West Indian players and supporters. Windies pacer, Jerome Taylor, who had match figures of 8 wickets for 85 runs in 29 overs, was given the ‘Man of the Match’ award. Suleiman Benn also had a match hall of 8 wickets for 108 runs in 58.4 overs. The questions on the minds of West Indian fans all over the world are: * Can the West Indies replicate the disciplined performance, demonstrated in their first game, in the games ahead? * Will the Windies team players start believing in themselves? * Will they learn the all important lesson that hard work and dedication can reap rich, positive results? * Are we standing on the threshold of a bright, new and golden era of West Indies cricket? In recent times, the West Indies team has been able to evoke passionate sentiments emanating from both ends of the emotional scale, and like me, most fans are keeping their fingers crossed and are hoping for the best. By Wallace J.A INSIDE GRENADA NEWS