linkin the latter part of the articleHalf an hour before Warne takes the field for the last time, and on the other side of the world, a young wrist-spinner will be starting his second five-day test. Devendra Bishoo, one of the growing number of players drawn from Trinidad’s ethnically Indian population, will play for the West Indies against Pakistan in Basseterre, St Kitts.
Bishoo is 25 and came to notice when the West Indies called him up to the recent World Cup as an injury replacement. He bowled well there, and even better in the one-day internationals against Pakistan that preceded the current series of two five-day tests. The West Indies’ victory in the first of the two tests, in Guyana last week, owed a huge amount to Bishoo, who was making his test debut. He took four first-innings wickets and batted with skill and resolution at the bottom of the West Indies order.
The 39 runs he scored, taking part in last-wicket stands worth a total of 76 runs, were almost exactly the difference between the two teams in a low-scoring match that the West Indies won by 40 runs.
“He showed he has the ability to handle himself when he’s put under pressure, and that’s a very good sign,” West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said, adding that Bishoo “varied his pace and demonstrated he knows exactly what he’s doing.” Jimmy Adams, a former West Indies captain speaking on Sky Sports, contrasted Bishoo’s determination with other low-order West Indies batsmen who in recent years have been prone to give up their wickets.
A legend departs, a bright young hopeful arrives. Cricket’s cycle of life has rarely been better or more vividly represented.
Bish from Trinidad?
