‘You represent the people of West Indies, play every game with pride’ – Ian Bishop’s message to players before inconsequential third Test

Ian Bishop & West Indies. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

The West Indies produced one of their finest results on Australian soil when they defeated Pat Cummins and Co. in Brisbane to level a two-match Test series earlier this year. Some fans had expected the Caribbean side to spring few surprises during their ongoing tour of England. However, they were beaten comprehensively in the first two Tests to relinquish the Richards-Botham Trophy and will want to restore some pride when they face the Three Lions in the third Test in Birmingham, starting Friday, July 26.

Legendary commentator Ian Bishop gave an important message to Kraigg Brathwaite and Co. as he urged the visitors to play with passion in the inconsequential third game and learn as much as they can ahead of next month’s home series against South Africa.

“If the guys could hear me now, they have to pick themselves up. I know it’s hard and I know maybe a lot of the mental energy was drained by their application with the bat in that first innings’ (in second Test) magnificent score and they saw the capitulation in the second innings but Edgbaston is important to continue learning,” Bishop said in his crucial message to the team posted by Windies Cricket on ‘X’.

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“The Richards-Botham Trophy goes to England, but then there’s a South African series on the back end. So you, one to one, know you represent the people of the West Indies. In every game, you play with pride. And that should be enough to energise you and if that’s not enough, you’re coming up against South Africa lin less than a week or about a week’s time later on. And you want to go there with confidence. So there’s still a lot to play for a team that’s learning,” he added.

England made light work of the West Indies in the first Test in London as they recorded a win by an innings and 114 runs. However, the tourists put on a spirited show with the bat in their first innings after conceding 416 earlier on. In reply, the Windies were eventually bowled out for 457 to take a 41-run lead.

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England needed a strong effort in their second innings and they scored 425 to set a daunting target of 385. Brathwaite and Louis got them off to a 61-run opening partnership. However, 10 wickets fell for just 82 runs as the West Indies lost by a massive 241-run margin.