By Ravi Madholall in Toronto
In one of his twenty-four test matches for West Indies, Tino Best did not make a huge impression with the ball as a speedster, but made headline and history with the bat by churning out an outstanding performance.
Tino Best who is Canada as a TV commentator. Photo courtesy of WICB Media Photo/Philip Spooner
At Edgbaston against host-team England in 2012, Best, the Barbadian fast-bowler, inked his name in the record book by scoring 95 runs, the highest by a number 11 batsman since the five-day version was inaugurated in 1866.
Best is currently in Toronto, Canada, as a Television Commentator at the Global T20 six-team tournament, and expressed deep confidence of the regional side dominating in three formats against Bangladesh.
West Indies already with a comprehensive innings and 219-run win when the test series began recently at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda.
It was the seamers that did the damage versus the tourists on a pitch that appeared very responsive. Best’s compatriot Kemar Roach had a memorable bowling figure in the first innings by snaring 5-8 off five overs to help dismantle Bangladesh for a record-breaking 43 while Trinidadian quickie Shannon Gabriel claimed 5-77 from 12 overs to assist in cleaning-up things in the second innings when Bangladesh were skittled out for 144.
“I think they started the series well and will continue to dominate the series in all three formats; the pitches are good for fast-bowling and with these men in good form, they will do good against Bangladesh,” the 36-year-old Best revealed.
Bangladesh’s tour of the Caribbean consists of two tests, three one-day internationals and a similar number of T20s in the same sequence.
“Look, we have quality fast-bowlers over the decades and we will still continue to produce them; Kemar and Shannon were outstanding and that would certainly put the Bangladeshis under tremendous pressure for the entire series whether the test or the limited-overs,” Best, who also featured in 26 one-days for the West Indies spanning from 2003-2013, stated.
The second test is currently playing at Sabina Park, Jamaica, and West Indies are impressive again with both bat and ball; that pitch is also expected to produce a result, according to the right-arm bowler.
“The pitch in Jamaica is known to be very quick as well; bowlers will dominate there too especially our (West Indies) quickies plus they have the psychological advantage against them after bowling out them very cheaply in the opening test,” Best related.
Prior to the start of the test series, Bangladesh warmed-up against a President’s X1 in which the three-day match was drawn. They will play a 50-over match against a West Indies Vice-Challengers X1 before they get cracking in the one-day segment.