Will West Indies play a Centenary Test at Lords?

By Dhanpaul Narine
There is no buzz, no hype, no excitement. In fact, there is nothing on the calendar to suggest that West Indies will play a Centenary Test against England. But there are compelling reasons why a Centenary Test should be played between the two countries. There is tradition. One recalls that a Centenary Test was played between England and Australia in 1977 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). That Test captured the imagination of the cricket world. Who would have thought that the margin of the Australian victory in 1977 would have been the same as it was a hundred years earlier, 45 runs? Who wrote that script? There was also a Centenary Test between Australia and England at the Oval in September 1980, to mark the first Test Match in England. It resulted in a draw. Both of these events were so popular that plans are underway to play a 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England from March 11 to March 15 2027 at the MCG. This begs the question: what is Cricket West Indies (CWI) doing to plan the Centenary Test between England and West Indies?

Apart from tradition and precedent, there is rich cricket history in the West Indies. In 1886, a team from the West Indies toured the United States and Canada. It was an all-white team in keeping with the policy at the time. During the years 1886 and 1900, various teams from England visited the Caribbean but cricket was played mainly among the aristocratic class. A team from the West Indies visited England for the first time in 1900. The results were mixed but one positive aspect was the inclusion of four Black players in the West Indies side. Another tour took place in 1906 and this time the games were accorded first-class status. The results were again moderate but it exposed the team to quality cricket.

West Indies cricket went into the doldrums in the next few years as England turned its attention to South Africa and Australia. The 1912 Triangular Tournament was arranged between the three Test playing nations. The games were played at Old Trafford, Lords, and Headingly. England won the series but a number of factors led to a disappointing season. The weather was one ‘of the wettest since records began in 1766.’ There were disputes between players and management which meant that some of the best players did not make the team. The crowds stayed away and the white only triangular tournament was a failed experiment.

The 1923 season saw West Indies back in England. They won six of the twenty first class games but the tour was notable for a sustained bowling attack. It was led by Learie Constantine, George Francis, Snuffy Browne and George John. In the batting department, George Challenor, Joe Small and Maurice Fernandes stood out. In 1926, a team from England toured West Indies and met with opposition. The English team won one of the three games and Wisden was generous in its comments. It commented on the ‘rapid progress’ of West Indies cricket, setting the stage for Test Status.

West Indies toured England in 1928 to play three Tests. The First Test was played at Lords from June 23 to June 26. West Indies lost by an innings and suffered the same fate in the Tests at Manchester and the Oval. There were problems with selection even before the tour started. Four players were selected from each of the colonies, Jamaica, Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad. This limit meant that some of the best players were omitted. In addition, there were questions as to the captaincy that was offered to Karl Nunes, and the lack of experience of the vice-captain Vibart Wight. In the Tests, the wicketkeeping was poor and so was the fielding in the slips. There were reports that Nunes could have conducted himself better. Wisden summed up the tour that, “the team of 1928 fell so much below it that everybody was compelled to realize that the playing of Test Matches between England and West Indies was a mistake.” Still, there were positives in the batting and bowling departments.

England did a tour of the West Indies in January 1930. The two sides played four Test Matches that ended in a 1-1 drawn series. But statistics do not tell the whole story. England was able to muster two teams. It sent one to the Caribbean and the other to New Zealand. This was the first time that two English teams were playing Test cricket in different parts of the world, at the same time. England argued that it was done to promote the game. The Third Test Match on February 26, 1930 will go down in history. The game was played at Bourda in Georgetown, in Guyana. The hosts were captained by Guyanese Maurice Fernandes. West Indies won the toss and chose to bat. Clifford Roach led the way with a scintillating double hundred, followed by a century from George Headley which led West Indies to a respectable 471. Constantine and Francis set about the English batters. England were bowled out for 145, with Patsy Hendren scoring 56.

Captain Fernandes did not enforce the follow on as West Indies compiled 290 in their second innings. This included another century from George Headley. England were asked to make 617 for victory. Patsy Hendren’s 129 was the only notable score. But there was drama on the afternoon of the final day. West Indies managed to snatch victory with time running out. The bowling of Constantine and Francis ensured victory. The Fourth Test at Jamaica was a timeless Test that ended in a draw after nine days. This was a high scoring match with England making 849 runs in the first innings and Andrew Sandham scoring 325 in the first innings. George Headley scored 223 in the second innings, and rain on days eight and nine ensured a draw.

West Indies’ first Test victory at Bourda did wonders for the team’s morale. It instilled confidence in the players and placed them in the arena of the big leagues. West Indies played Australia in five Tests in 1930-31 and lost 4-1, but their victory in the Sydney Test proved to be a turning point in their cricket history. It showed them what was possible with determination and a positive attitude. The series was notable for the bowling of Constantine and Herman Griffith. It was Griffith who dismissed Don Bradman for his first duck in Test cricket.

During the period 1930 to 1940 West Indies played Australia and England. West Indies won their first Test series against England at Sabina Park on England’s 1930-31 tour. The 1939 tour to England saw two Test Matches being played before the tour was cancelled because of the War. Play resumed in 1948 with a West Indies tour to India which West Indies won 1-0. The 1950 tour to England was West Indies first series win in England with a famous victory at Lords. West Indies won the series 3-1 with the spin twins, Ramadhin and Valentine immortalized in local folklore. The 1950’s saw tours to Australia, West Indies hosting India and Australia and a tour to New Zealand.

In 1960, West Indies toured Australia and grabbed the attention of the cricket world. West Indies was led by a Black captain in Frank Worrell. He moulded the team into a cohesive unit, where playing for country took precedence over self-interest. The Tied Test at Brisbane was the first ever in Test cricket and the Australian public responded in large numbers to two evenly matched teams. Over a million fans lined the streets to bid the West Indies team farewell. Victories against India at home and England away showed that West Indies cricket was in the ascendency.

Rohan Kanhai, as captain, led the revival with a series victory in England in 1973. It set the stage for dominance under Clive Lloyd that included World Cup victories in 1975 and 1979. The 1976 tour of England saw the emergence of Viv Richards as a world-class batsman. In fact, West Indies cricket was so strong that the Kerry Packer affair, and rebel tours to South Africa, did little to diminish its dominance. Under Lloyd, and later Richards, West Indies ruled the roost for over fifteen years, producing some of the finest players to grace the game. But all good things must come to an end. Contractual disputes, the impact of other sports, the lack of proper planning, inadequate facilities, insularity, and other reasons, led to the drying up of the cricket factory. There are still occasional glimpses of greatness, and the sweet feeling of victory, but they are too few to shout from the rooftops.

West Indies cricket is now a shadow of the halcyon days when the three W’s, Headley, Sobers, Kanhai and Lloyd, and others, walked like gladiators on the field. In the old days, fans lined up in the early hours of the morning to get into the grounds to watch Test cricket. Today, Test cricket is played to empty stadiums in the Caribbean. Cricket West Indies (CWI), is the organization that runs cricket, but it seems to be out of touch with the fans. There are times when CWI would promise a report, or guidelines to improve the game, but these have proven to be empty and without substance.

It has been argued that West Indies cricket is more suited to the shortened T20 format. The team won the 2012 and 2016 editions but it has struggled to maintain consistency in the ensuing years. A low point occurred in 2026 when Nepal beat West Indies in the T20 International of the Unity Cup. This victory shows the rapid improvement other nations have made since they were granted first-class status. There are no more minnows in world cricket.

In the old days, not so long ago, playing Test cricket for West Indies was the dream of many players. They would walk many a mile to get to the practice facilities and represented the country with pride. But the dream these days is to play T20 cricket. The logic is: why play five days of Test cricket when one can earn more money in the five-hour T20 version? The open market means that players in the West Indies are able to pick and choose their formats and franchise. In the 2026 T20 World Cup some of the best players stayed away from representing West Indies, preferring instead to focus on their own franchise. West Indies lost in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.

Why does any of this matter? There is no question that Test cricket holds the key to the fortunes and the revival of West Indies cricket. The year 2028 presents Cricket West Indies with a golden opportunity to focus on Test cricket, as it would be 100 years since Test cricket was played between England and West Indies. The Centenary Test should be played at Lords where West Indies and England first met. Every player who represented West Indies in Test cricket should be mentioned, and honoured, and Centennial Medals should be presented to living Test cricketers. There should also be an Anniversary Test Match in Guyana, in 2030, to mark West Indies’ first victory in Test cricket.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) needs to get to work to make the Centenary Test at Lords happen. Later, there will be the opportunity to plan other anniversaries with Australia, India, New Zealand, and other nations. But for now, June 2028 is of tremendous significance to West Indies cricket. Fans are looking forward to the Centenary Test at Lords.