Wickham reveals surprise call-up for Test debut

WEST Indies Test debutant Kevin Wickham has revealed that his place in the team was only confirmed just before play on Thursday’s opening day of the second Test against hosts Bangladesh in the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

“The coach actually told me to stay ready because a few guys weren’t feeling well last night,” the 23-year-old Barbadian recalled when describing how he found out he might play.

Speaking at the end of play on Thursday’s opening day Wickham said the surprise call came on the morning of the match. “This morning when I came to the ground, I was sitting in the dressing room and coach came to me and told me congratulations, I’d be making my debut,” he said.

Batters John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who both scored half centuries in the opening Test, were ruled out due to a viral fever.

Walking out to the crease with early wickets down and the ball moving around, the debutant admitted, “Obviously, it was my first Test innings, so there were a few nerves. We lost some wickets early, but my aim was simply to bat as long as possible.”

He credited partner Amir Jangoo (Django) with helping him navigate the tricky conditions. He said, “I think that Amir batted very well. For most of my innings he was guiding me and telling me what Test cricket is all about, just staying patient. The bowling is a lot more consistent, so just trust the defence.”

Jangoo notched his second Test ton, while Wickham (61) scored a half century to put West Indies in a strong position at the close of play.

With their team perilously placed at 27 for three following Taskin Ahmed’s fiery opening spell, Jangoo and Wickham led a recovery that saw the visitors end on 235 for four on a day shortened by bad light.

Playing in just his seventh Test, Jangoo’s unbeaten 111 off 171 balls spanned just over four hours and defied the home side’s bowlers.

Wickham, who survived some nervous moments early on, together with Jangoo steadied the ship for the West Indies during a partnership of 131.

Jangoo was positive from the get-go, driving through the offside for two spanking boundaries at the start of his innings.

However, he rode his luck at times, with his first close call coming when he survived an appeal for a caught behind off Ahmed on 15 off a no-ball.

Wickham eventually began to find his groove, and he picked up his first boundary by hooking a short ball from Hasan Mahmud to deep midwicket.

They navigated the remainder of the morning session and carried the Windies to 86 for three at lunch, although Bangladesh still held a slight advantage.

The pair continued where they left off on resumption, with Bangladesh’s pacers choosing to pepper them with short deliveries.

Jangoo was the first to his half-century, cutting a delivery from spinner Nayeem Hasan to deep backward point for single.

Wickham spent some time in the 40s, but he too got to his 50 with a single off Hasan that carried the West Indies to 142 for three.

Jangoo should have been dismissed when he was 68, but Mahmud failed to hold on to a return catch after he mistimed his hook shot.

After hitting Wickham on the glove with another short ball, Mahmud finally got the breakthrough by bowling the batter through the gate for a well-played 61 off 145 balls, inclusive of five fours.

Jangoo and Justin Greaves took the West Indies to tea at 180 for four, with the match evenly poised.

It didn’t take long for Jangoo to reach three figures once play resumed, with the Trinidadian bringing up his century in spectacular fashion by hitting spinner Taijul Islam over extra cover for a six.