Jermaine Blackwood makes the future of West Indies batting seem bright

The upcoming Tests against Australia will be a huge test for Jermaine Blackwood.

Jermaine Blackwood is coming off of an excellent Test series against England, where he scored 311 runs at an average of 77.75. He was easily West Indies’ most consistent batsman in the series. Although he is still at the cradle of his international career, he averages over 50 in Tests, which are encouraging signs for his team. Pramod Ananth feels that the future of West Indies cricket is bright with players like Blackwood among their ranks.

Jermaine Blackwood finished on top of the charts in the recently concluded Test series against England. Coming in at No.6, after Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Blackwood has on more than one occasion dug his team out of trouble. His unbeaten knock of 112 in the first Test at Antigua was classy and was one that saved West Indies from conceding a huge first innings lead. Jermaine Blackwood scores maiden Test century in West Indies vs England 1st Test at Antigua

He also scored a 88-ball 85 in the first innings of the third Test, when wickets were falling all around him. His excellent counter-attacking gameplay, saved his side from registering an embarrassing first innings total. He was unbeaten on 47 in the second innings and his 108-run stand with Darren Bravo for the fifth wicket, helped West Indies win convincingly. West Indies vs England, 3rd Test at Barbados: Darren Bravo-Jermaine Blackwood partnership, Jos Buttler’s missed stumping and other highlights

Blackwood made his debut against New Zealand in June 2014 and scored 64 on his debut innings batting at No.8. He burst into the international scene after a good First-Class season, being a leading run-scorer in the 2013-14 season with 611 runs.

He has played just a couple of Tests away from home, that against South Africa, where he scored 106 runs in four innings, including one half-century. Blackwood was up against bowlers like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander in that series and one can argue that even some of the top batsmen around the world have struggled in the past. But he was by no means a pushover.

However, Blackwood has made that No.6 position his own since he has arrived and he adds more depth in West Indies batting, which consists the likes of Marlon Samuels and Chanderpaul. Skipper Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder follow Blackwood in the batting line-up. Holder with his performances in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and after scoring his maiden international ton in the first Test against England in a match-saving cause has proved that he is no mug with the bat either.

With 40-year old Chanderpaul staring at retirement, Blackwood could be the ideal candidate to replace him at No.5, which gives West Indies an opportunity to get in a new player. Devon Smith is sure to be at the opening position for the West Indies. His record does not read particularly well with just one century in one century in 38 matches. Read: Shivnarine Chanderpaul should call it a day

The likes of Kirk Edwards and Assad Fuaddin can be given a look in at the No.6 position, in case Chanderpaul retires and Blackwood is promoted to No.5. They should be considered for West Indies’ upcoming home series against Australia. If West Indies continue to produce talents like Blackwood, their cricket is surely heading in the right direction, after recently going through some turbulent time in the recent past. The upcoming Tests against Australia will no doubt be a huge test for Blackwood as well. One can only hope that he comes out with flying colours.

(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)