3rd Test: West Indies v India at Gros Islet

Last 26 Innings according to Comm 

Over the last 2 years, the only higher opening partnerships are:

Brathwaite/Johnson 143 v Bangladesh
Brathwaite/Gayle 116 v Bangladesh
Brathwaite/Johnson 76 v Bangladesh
Brathwaite/Smith 72 v South Africa
Brathwaite/Smith 55 v South Africa

Brathwaite and Johnson have 3 out of the top 6 highest opening wicket partnerships over the last 2 years.

50 up.

Johnson and Brathwaite have opened the batting on 3 occasions together. They have accumulated a fifty partnership in all 3 innings.

By comparison, Brathwaite and Chandrika average opening partnership was 13.10 in their 10 innings together.

Leon bat 3 in South Africa ?

Yes. Leon batted 3 and then never seen from again. Until now. He is deserving of an extended run in the side. This is a very solid foundation. Something that has been lacking over the last 2 years.

59 - 1

Leon run out on a direct hit attempting to steal a run

**sigh**

83 - 1 after 38 overs

Paint 40*

50 to Braff ....with a 444444444 after 3 hours of crease occupation

107 - 1 after 47 overs

Braff 53* Btavo 18*

Stumps day 2

You can't measure Holder to other bowlers though. You need to measure him to Kallis.

After 16 matches, Holder has more runs and wickets than Kallis had at the same point in his career. Kallis then moved from batting at 7 to bat at 3...and the rest is history.

Of course Kallis started at about 21 years old and averaged 50 with the bat domestically.

Holder is 24 and has no real reputation as a batsman.

But that's how you make a containment bowler like Holder (Kallis' test strike rate with the ball is 70, compared to Holder's 100) earn his keep. You make him shoulder the weight of batting, or you kick him off the team.

I am willing to put holder at 3. I see nutten wrong with that. make him bat indeed or get lost