Ecstatic
moment for WI Cricket fans .. .. at Christchurch,
a heroic rearguard effort from Greaves, Roach, and Hope ensured West
Indies salvaged a thrilling draw after slipping to 72 for 4. An epic stonewall from Justin Greaves had him face more than half the
deliveries of his 12-Test career in this one innings alone, as West Indies
pocketed their first points in their sixth Test of the 2025-27 World Test Championship
cycle in Christchurch. The 163.3 overs they eventually faced is the longest
fourth-innings in Tests for West Indies in 95 years.
A
bowling all rounder, Justin Greaves brought up a stunning maiden Test double
ton in the penultimate over when he sliced Jacob Duffy over backward point to
pocket what was to be only his second boundary in all of the final session as
his colleagues stood up to give him a standing ovation. He
finished 202 not out, having faced 388 deliveries, turning an innings that
began with the typical artistic flair and flamboyance into a steely knock full
of purpose and grit. Greaves wore more blows on the body than he could count,
batted more deliveries than he had in his career, and reined in his natural
instincts with single-minded purpose and determination.
A Q to the WI fans
can you recognize this WI Cricketer standing with his idol Brian Lara, who played just two tests
and was involved in a serious incident this day in 2014 – in that WICB league
match between Barbados and Windward Islands. Barbados won by 11 runs. The Captain of the present side, Roston Chase
did well with the bat and ball and the present centurion Shai Hope was involved
in that accident.
Years later in Adelaide 2022, Nathan Lyon claimed his 450th Test wicket as Australia completed a 419-run thrashing over a dispirited West Indies early on day four of the second Test in Adelaide. Lyon became the third Australian bowler after Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath to reach the landmark by clean bowling Alzarri Joseph to cap Australia's convincing 2-0 series triumph in the Frank Worrell Trophy. Not many would have read or remember about Omar Phillips who was called up as an emergency fielder !! Philips was playing club cricket in Australia and the decision was made ahead of the Test as some members of the West Indies squad were unavailable for selection due to injury. Additionally, Nkrumah Bonner had been ruled out due to concussion protocols after he was struck on the helmet in the 1st Test match.
Phillips played two Test matches for the West Indies against Bangladesh in 2009 as a left-handed opening batter. He scored 160 runs including a best of 94 on debut at the Arnos Vale in St Vincent. Omar Jamel Phillips (born 12 October 1986) is a West Indian former cricketer who played domestically for the Combined Campuses and Colleges and Barbados as well as appearing in two Test matches for the West Indies. A left-handed opening batsman, he got his Test opportunity following a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the Players' Association. On his debut against Bangladesh he scored 94.
In 2014, in a series of posts, I was pouring my thoughts on Cricket injuries, the unfortunate death of Phil Hughes, the eye injuries ending the career of players and the strange incident of Alan Read who lost sight in left eye when he was 36 and regaining it after 48 years ! – I also posted about Omar Phillips, a left-handed opener who was among seven Test debutants in the St Vincent Test against Bangladesh in 2009 when the seniors went on strike over contracts. He made an impression in his first match for West Indies, falling six short of a debut century in St Vincent.
The untimely death of Phil Hughes prompted a debate about the use of the bouncer, but at Adelaide in the 1st Test Indian pacer Varun Aaron bowled the first in the fourth over, a sizzling 145 kph delivery that drew applause from the crowd and that Warner did well to avoid. Away, the left handed Omar Phillips was in news for wrong reasons.
The Barbados Pride was beset with an injury on the first day of Round 4 against Windwards Islands Volcanoes at the Arnos Vale ground in St. Vincent on 5th Dec 14. The injury occurred when Barbadian batsman Omar Phillips was accidentally struck unconscious by a shotl from fellow batsman Shai Hope and had to be taken to hospital where he received a CAT scan. Goodness, he was cleared of serious injury. Reports suggested that a CT scan was done on Phillips after he had lost consciousness as a result of being hit on the back of his head, despite wearing a helmet. The scan, according to a statement on the WICB website, "came up negative for any damage". Phillips, 28, was batting on 38 when a shot from Barbados' No. 3 Shai Hope struck him. Phillips became unconscious on the field before a doctor rushed to the scene. He was then taken to hospital in an ambulance, accompanied by the team physio.
"Thank God" was the WhatsApp message posted by Omar Phillips, the Barbados and West Indies opener, once he had regained consciousness at the Milton Kato Memorial Hospital, in Kingstown in St Vincent. "It has been a difficult situation for me in terms of having a seen a cricketer die of a similar injury." Phillips was quoted as saying. Phillips had no immediate recollection of the sequence of events once he lost consciousness. Till late on Friday, Phillips was not even aware how long he was unconscious. Six minutes it was, he was told later. "I don't really remember what happened after I got struck. All I remember was waking up at the hospital. At that time I kept thinking about the whole Phil Hughes stuff. And I was kind of scared because you never know with a head injury how serious it could be." The family too was naturally worried as many people kept calling the house.
That was not the first time Phillips was hit on the head. Five years prior to that, in a first division match in the domestic league in Barbados, he got a "nasty blow" on the front of the helmet while fielding at short leg after the batsman pulled a short delivery straight into him. But Phillips stood up immediately and never was bothered. Incidentally, in previous round of the Professional League against Guyana, Phillips was once again at shortleg and had his right hand injured trying to fend off a straight hit into his body. On that day as Hope's bullet-like stroke came his way, Phillips raised his right hand as the first line of defence. But, a fraction later, he withdrew the hand.
This time the lofted powerful shot was different striking him at the bottom right of the rear of the helmet. The scans came out clear and Phillips was "a lot more relieved" even if he was far away from "fully back being my normal self". As he woke up in the hospital Phillips still had blurred vision and saw two doctors over him. He admitted he was rattled.
The striker Hope 21
was certainly happier seeing Phillips
back and reportedly kept telling 'sorry' all the time. I told him he did
nothing wrong.
5.12.2025
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