You mock them, insult them and try your level best to criticize the men from the Caribbean, but every time, they will come up with something remarkable in reply. Once again, the game’s most mercurial outfit was right in the centre of attraction after the side created history at Headingly by chasing down 322 on the last day of the Test to stun England.
Yes, we are talking about West Indies, and yes, we are talking of the very side which got beaten within three days in the pink ball Test at Birmingham. Shai Hope, going into the game with a Test average of just 18, played two of the most defining knocks in recent times for the Calypso Kings, as on the back of his twin tons, the side got home in a tense run chase.
One also has to laud the heroics of opener Kraigg Brathwaite, as his century in the first innings to go with a knock of 95 in the second innings was instrumental in setting up the base for the West Indies.
Post the win, several legends of the game showered praises on West Indies for the historic performance, including the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar. Below, are some of the tweets made by legends, and fans alike.
I was speaking to @BrianLara about the test result and I said it was much needed for @westindies and world cricket! Well done @wiplayers ??
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2017
Remarkable victory by @westindies .Magical twin centuries by @ShaiDHope .West Indies should be mighty proud of this mammoth effort.#ENGvWI
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 29, 2017
"Cannot think of a more astonishing victory since we've been watching test cricket", Messieurs Atherton & Holding. @westindies gr8 win??????
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) August 29, 2017
Excellent Test match. ? We gave everything. Exhausted. Credit to the Windies brilliant chase. On to Lords for the decider!
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 29, 2017
The West Indies had whitewashed England 5-0 in England in 1984 and now has a Test win in England after 17 years!#ENGvWI
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 29, 2017
Quite remarkable performance by the West Indies.I don't remember a more incredible turnaround in Test Cricket from one week till the next !!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 29, 2017
Last week the worst test team ever… this week..? What a comeback
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/benstokes38/status/902605494912724992
No. 8 ranked Pakistan won Champions Trophy. No. 8 Windies win a Test in Eng. Rankings are like CGPA, it doesn't tell how strong one can be.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 29, 2017
For this very reason. For these kind of games. Test cricket will survive. Thank You, WI for proving me wrong. There is HOPE ? #EngvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 29, 2017
Buzzing after that #EngvWI Test. Let's enjoy it but remember WI structural problems highlighted after Edgbaston loss are still there too!
— Brian Murgatroyd (@murgersb) August 29, 2017
Congrats to the Windies on a magnificent test match victory. What wonderful character the team showed to bounce back & level the series !!
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) August 29, 2017
England's last 4 Test series:
1st matches of the series – Won, Draw, Won, Won
2nd matches of the series – Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost#ENGvWI— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 29, 2017
I can't immediately think of a more astonishing Test win in recent years. And a more heart-warming one. #ENGvWI
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) August 29, 2017
Hope gone going for glory… this is my favourite ever Test… #ENGvWI
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) August 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/SpiceBoxofEarth/status/902586631219101696
Alastair Cook never lost a Test where he declared. Defensive winning > Aggressive losing.
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) August 29, 2017
Yeah Death of Test Cricket, talk nah #ENGvsWI
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) August 29, 2017
Remarkable feat by Shai Hope. Twin hundreds in a test at Headingley. More importantly,West Indies on the verge of an incredible win.#ENGvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 29, 2017
Last man to score two 100s v Eng in a Test – Peter Fulton. Who had never made a Test 100 before. And never did again. #badcareermove
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) August 29, 2017
Anderson and Broad being put to their stiffest test in years by a rookie West Indies side…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 29, 2017