Both West Indies and England boast quality fast-bowling attacks and according to Test batsman, Shamarh Brooks, the team that bats best could possibly come out on the right side of the results in the three-Test series.
Though England on paper have a stronger batting unit, they have shown to be extremely susceptible to an aggressive tactic. Moreso, they too are in search for a settled top-order.
Albeit conditions are different from the Caribbean where West Indies pacemen were ultra-aggressive with great effect against Englishman in 2019, they still fancy their chances of ruffling the hosts, judging from the pre-series talks.
Brooks made 66* on the final day of the three-day warm-up match at Old Trafford on Thursday and indicated consistent batting will be extremely invaluable.
“I personally believe the team who bats the best will come out trumps. When you look at the bowling on both sides, it is very strong. So it was good to get out in the middle in this practice game and spend some time in the middle, we have been putting in some hard work in the nets, but nothing beats match practice,” Brooks said at the post-match brief.
“We need to spend some time at the crease, the ball is always moving around, sometimes the conditions play a big part so spending time at the crease is going to be vital.”
Despite no centuries by none of the first-choice Test players in the fixture, Brooks said the main objective in this first match after months of no match practice was spending time in the middle and it was achieved by most.
“Majority of the top order spent some time in the middle; Roston [Chase] would have probably been the only person wouldn’t have gotten close to 100 balls, but the other guys had some time in the middle and that was the main thing going forward.”
Overall, Brooks felt it was a good game for the squad in assessing their level of preparedness.
The Barbadian, who scored 111 in his last Test innings, said he is confident the team will manage with the absence of seasoned campaigner Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer.
Additionally, the performance of Shayne Moseley, who made 40 and an unbeaten 83, along with Raymon Reifer, who took six wickets in the match, is welcomed by Brooks as healthy competition for spots.
West Indies will play their next warm-up fixture- a Four-Day match – from June 29.
