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If ever we needed a reason as to why Test cricket is "king", it was provided in Chittagong this arvo.
Kyles Mayers' unbeaten 210 on debut on a turning Day 5 pitch to win the game for the Windies was absolutely sensational.
Yes, Bangladesh aren't exactly world-beaters (yet), but they're still a pretty fair team at home.
In the context of the game, Mayers' innings would arguably be the greatest by a bloke in his first Test.

Great effort by the WI and the debutant.....scored a pair apparently the game before, averages 29 in 34 FC games and comes out with a bang to lead the WI to a fantastic win....geez most cricketing fans would love to see a renaissance of WI cricket and success....wouldn't be great if this effort kick started some WI belief and self confidence....plus some of that Sir Viv swagger....never ever seen a team as good and exciting to watch then that 80s WI side....

Indeed, Freez, the West Indies were pretty handy from the mid-70s to the mid-90s.
I reckon their 1975-76 tour of Australia - when Lillee and Thomson were at their peak - was the catalyst.
Starting with their 1976 tour of England, they pretty much took four quicks into every Test match.
It also helped that Viv Richards scored over 800 runs in four Tests (missed one thru' injury) against the To and Froms.

I think World Series Cricket was good for the West Indies. Playing Australia + the World X1.The Windies batsmen learnt not to burn there innings. Greenich+Fredricts than Haynes.Held there innings together early. And Sir Viv at no3.We did change the rules to curd there domince. With 90 overs in a days play.
Well done to the Barbadon , an amazing debut.In conditions not suited to him.

I am not sure what happened to my previous post on this topic but yes what a superb performance by young(ish) Kyle Mayers on debut to score 210* in the 4th Innings chasing nearly 400 to get the victory.

Wouldnt it be good to see the Caribbean boys return to somewhere near that form of the incredible team that played in that 1975-1995 era where the list of names where just a who's who of cricket back then-
Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Richardson, Lloyd, Lara, Kallicharran, Rowe, Gomes, Logie, Hooper, Dujon, Murray, Roberts, Marshall, Holding, Garner, Croft, Clarke, Daniel, Walsh, Ambrose, Patterson, Bishop, Benjamin, Fredericks.......

Don't forget Roy Fredericks mate, I watched him smash Lillee, Thommo etc around the lightening fast WACA pitch back in that 75/76 series...first ever test match I saw....geez he was a feisty opener...loved to hook and pull....scored 150 odd

Some interesting stats on Roy Fredricks.Was a South American from Guyana like Clive Lloyd.
Test debut 1968-69 in Australia. In the second test in 1975-76 at the waca.169 off 135 balls.In 8 ball overs the West Indies brought up there 200 off 20 overs.
59 tests + 12 ODI's..Test Runs 4359 average 42.75.Pretty good in that era of good fast Bowling .
Lived in New York City after retirement from cricket.Died young aged 57 in 2000.

gtrxuone wrote: Some interesting stats on Roy Fredricks.Was a South American from Guyana like Clive Lloyd.
Test debut 1968-69 in Australia. In the second test in 1975-76 at the waca.169 off 135 balls.In 8 ball overs the West Indies brought up there 200 off 20 overs.
59 tests + 12 ODI's..Test Runs 4359 average 42.75.Pretty good in that era of good fast Bowling .
Lived in New York City after retirement from cricket.Died young aged 57 in 2000.

I was at the ground and watched that innings, it was just incredible hitting against a pretty decent attack in Lillee, Thomson, Walker and Gilmour. Also this test was significant as the first time that Michael Holding gained attention on the world stage

I was sitting under the scoreboard mikeh that day, where were you mate?....first test match I ever saw....Fredericks was on fire that day....smoked Lillee, Thommo et al all over the park....

Freezin wrote: I was sitting under the scoreboard mikeh that day, where were you mate?....first test match I ever saw....Fredericks was on fire that day....smoked Lillee, Thommo et al all over the park....

I was in the tin shed at the Hay St end of the ground in front of the police building. That was a T20 innings in 1975 for sure, very entertaining. From memory Clive Lloyd and Alvin Kallicharan also scored tons for the Windies as well in a total of around 600 although they faded in the memory compared with Fredricks. Also Ian Chappell hit a nice century for Australia in their first innings before Andy Roberts destroyed the Aussies in the 2nd. Funny to think that that was the only victory for the Caribbean boys in a 5 - 1 drubbing but the foundations were there for a truly great team for years to come.