In the first ODI of the India Women's tour of West Indies, the visitors needed two to win from the final ball with Poonam Yadav on strike. However, it's the penultimate ball which has drawn conversation all around. At this crucial phase, she was run out with her bat well outside the crease when the bails were taken off.

Although she and the West Indies players knew it, the on-field umpire failed to agree. Surely the third umpire could have altered the decision. But alas, there is no third umpire for this series! That Poonam went on to be dismissed next ball meant the match result wasn't compromised but it could well have been.

West Indies should have won the match two balls earlier, but the umpire adjudged that Mohammed hadn't run out Yadav, whose bat got caught as she tried to slide it in.#IWC #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/Ix2epP1K0w

�?hypocaust (@_hypocaust) November 2, 2019

In the third ODI at Antigua, Taniya Bhatia's gloves removed the bails even as the ball slipped out of her hands. The batswoman, Hayley Mathews, was well outside the crease and was promptly sent on her way but the replays showed that Bhatia had no ball in her hands when the stumps were removed.

TROUBLE & BAD LUCK

Poonam's direct throw from short third man sees @MyNameIs_Hayley's run-out.

Hey, wait

It looks like the stumps have broken by @IamTaniyaBhatia's gloves instead of the ball.

Unlucky @MyNameIs_Hayley as no third umpire is available!

WI: 40-3 (13.2)#WIvIND

�?Women's CricInsight (@WCI_Official) November 6, 2019

With no third umpire, another howler, despite getting noticed, could not be altered. The lack of a third umpire in a series where multiple replays are available and streaming is also on is difficult to understand.

Even in the very first women’s global event, 10 matches were televised and also had DRS, but a few of the other matches were only live-streamed and those had no third umpire. Another howler in a match between Australia Women and West Indies Women in the 2017 Women's World Cup became a talking point then.

It's two years since then but little has changed in this area despite the leaps and bounds by which women's cricket has grown. A sample of this is here - news agencies put out a piece of news stating that the Rajkot T20I between India Men's team and Bangladesh would be Rohit Sharma's 100th, making him the first Indian to the landmark.

Factually, this is wrong as Harmanpreet Kaur has already achieved this feat for India. Women's cricket remains underrated and overlooked despite the interest growing around it. 

This is also a case of financial concern given that the home board is required to have six sets of stationary cameras for the third umpire to be provided.

The tour is not televised anywhere although the live streaming is available in several channels. Incidentally, the one West Indies Cricket has on YouTube is geo-blocked in India which means that there is a very negligible chance that you can catch live action of this series. Even the live stream setup placed do not meet ICC’s requirements for third umpires.

While BCCI always adheres to ICC rules and has six cameras for all games, not all boards are that financially stable. Despite the crowds growing in women's games and stunning athletic catches being taken, women's cricket continues to get a step-motherly treatment and this series has further emphasized the need to have better structure and norms in place to avoid damp squibs.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / BCCIWomen

Ishant Sharma made a maiden first-class half-century last year when playing for Sussex in the County Championship. Battling with Michael Burgess, Ishant made 66 in a 153-run partnership that lasted more than three hours. If anything, it's a testimony to how good a tail-ender the lanky Indian seamer is.

While his 2010 heroics alongside VVS Laxman at Mohali to win India a Test match by one wicket is widely acknowledged, Ishant the batsman has often come in behind the likes of Mohammed Shami. Ishant has always been a resilient batsman down the order. In that Mohali innings, India were in trouble chasing 216. At 124/8 with only Laxman in, India seemed to be losing their way until Ishant faced 92 balls for 31 to help Laxman move on from the other end. He was dismissed before India overhauled the target but the partnership set the stage for India's win.

Nine years later at Kingston, he recorded his maiden Test half-century but he had shown signs of form at Antigua too when he combined with Ravindra Jadeja to push India to a competitive total. Facing 62 balls for 19 runs, he allowed Jadeja to handle his end efficiently and get a half-century.

He has faced over 60 balls in an innings in his career seven times. Two of those came in this series against the West Indies where he found his groove with the bat.

Overall, Ishant made 76 runs in the series at an average of 38. It's the best Ishant has averaged in a Test series in his career. Some of his shots during the half-century at Sabina Park were awe-inspiring. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were seen applauding Ishant's batting from the dressing room.

What's even more amazing is that West Indies had only Jason Holder scoring more than a 100 runs in the series. The home skipper aside, none of the other batsmen made more runs than Ishant in the series!

Collapsing against a potent Indian bowling attack, West Indies had no batsman walking away with respectable numbers except Holder. They played 14 players in the series and the fact that 13 of them scored less than India's No.9 batsman reflects the state their batting is in.

Seven of the top eight run-scorers in the series are Indians and Ishant comes in at No.7 with his 76 run tally. Even Ravindra Jadeja scored one less than the tall Indian seamer. Ishant also shone with the ball this series and finished as the second highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets at an average of 12.27.

Watch: Virat Kohli’s thrilling reaction to Ishant Sharma’s maiden Test fifty

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

Virat Kohli recorded his ninth Test duck at Sabina Park in the second innings of the second Test against West Indies, something quite unheard of when it comes to the Indian cricket team captain. Though India went on to win the Test series 2-0, Kohli would be fuming at the miss.

However, even the best are allowed to have off days, and here we take a look at all the instances where he was dismissed on a duck and what led to it.

0(2) vs WEST INDIES

Venue: Bridgetown, 2011

Bowler: Ravi Rampaul

In the first innings of the second Test of the series, Kohli was undone by a sharp back of a length delivery from Ravi Rampaul. The middle-order batsman shuffled across but couldn't get his glove out of the way and lobbed a catch to the slips.

0(1) vs AUSTRALIA

Venue: Melbourne, 2011

Bowler: Ben Hilfenhaus

His first golden duck in Tests came at Melbourne in the first Test of the 2011 series. Having fallen to Hilfenhaus for 11 in the first innings, Kohli was caught in the middle of a sensational spell from the Aussie quicks in the second innings. Hilfenhaus nipped back a length delivery to trap Kohli in front for a first-ball duck.

0(1) vs ENGLAND

Venue: Lord's, 2014

Bowler: Liam Plunkett

A horrendous series for Kohli the batsman as James Anderson and Stuart Broad worked him over. In the first innings, he was dismissed for 25 by Anderson, but in the second he fell for a golden duck to England's third seamer - Liam Plunkett. Dismissing Pujara in the 44th over, Plunkett went on to clean up Kohli first ball with a delivery that nipped back in extravagantly. Kohli shouldered his arms only to watch the stumps take a beating.

0(2) vs ENGLAND

Venue: Manchester, 2014

Bowler: James Anderson

Anderson had a wood over Kohli the entire series and at Manchester, he teased him with an away swinger just outside off-stump, a channel that had troubled Kohli the entire series. The Indian batsman went for a defensive push and nicked to first slip for a two-ball duck as India plummeted to 8/3 in the first innings. They would go on to lose the Test by an innings and 54 runs.

0(2) vs AUSTRALIA

Venue: Pune, 2017

Bowler: Mitchell Starc

In the midst of a stupendous home season, Kohli had a rare blip at Pune as Mitchell Starc tempted him with a wide delivery outside off-stump in his second ball. Kohli went for an expansive drive only to edge to the cordon for a duck, his first in three years in Test cricket. He was dismissed for 13 in the second innings as Australia went on to win the Test by a whopping 333 runs.

0(11) vs SRI LANKA

Venue: Kolkata, 2017

Bowler: Suranga Lakmal

On a green top at Kolkata, Sri Lanka made India sweat in the first Test of the 2017 series. Having dismissed KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, Suranga Lakmal went on to trap Kohli in front with one that came into the batsman. Kohli reviewed the on-field decision which was out but replays showed umpire's call which meant that he had to walk back leaving India at 17/3.

0(1) vs ENGLAND

Venue: The Oval, 2018

Bowler: Stuart Broad

Chasing a massive fourth innings target, India were reduced to 2 for 3 as Anderson and Broad ripped through them. The third victim and Broad's first was Kohli who went for a golden duck, edging behind to Jonny Bairstow off a fourth stump line delivery. The match is remembered for India's outrageous comeback through KL Rahul's and Rishabh Pant's centuries later in the innings.

0(4) vs AUSTRALIA

Venue: Melbourne, 2018

Bowler: Pat Cummins

After making 82 in India's total of 443/7 (dec) in the first innings, Kohli was caught in the midst of a superb spell from the relentless Pat Cummins. Bowling with a predominantly leg-side field, Cummins had Kohli working the ball off his pads with a loose flick shot. The ball went to leg gully as Kohli was dismissed after four balls without troubling the scorers.  

0(1) vs WEST INDIES

Venue: Sabina Park, 2019

Bowler: Kemar Roach 

Roach had troubled Kohli earlier in the series too and in the second Test at Sabina Park, he sent the Indian skipper back for a golden duck. Out of the game after Jasprit Bumrah's hat-trick and searing spell, Roach turned up and delivered a menacing spell where he almost took the second hat-trick of the game. After having KL Rahul caught behind off the first ball of the over, Roach bowled a full ball at Kohli that straightened enough to catch an edge.

Read: 68 international centuries, 11 years, 1 Virat Kohli

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

India completed another crushing victory over the West Indies, demolishing the home side by 257 runs on the fourth afternoon of the second and final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Monday.

Set the improbable target of 468 late on day three, the home side tumbled in the post-lunch session, losing their last six wickets for 51 runs as they were dismissed for 210 to hand Virat Kohli's side a clean sweep of a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time ever.

This result also completed a 100 percent record for the tourists in all completed matches played on this tour. The 2-0 Test series triumph followed a 3-0 success in the T20 Internationals and a 2-0 victory in the One-Day Internationals, with one match ruined by rain.

Pacer Mohammed Shami and spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as the Indians once again had too many varied weapons for the home side.

Shamarh Brooks completed a maiden Test half-century but it was little consolation for West Indies captain Jason Holder who was last out, bowled by Jadeja for 39 to trigger the Indian celebrations.

Read | Bumrah becomes third Indian to take Test hat-trick

"This was pretty comprehensive again for us," said Kohli in assessing his team's dominant performance yet again. "We played good cricket and getting the result in the manner you want is crucial as a team. This is a real collective effort."

Amid the jubilation there was concern for the welfare of key West Indies batsman Darren Bravo, who retired hurt on 23 just 15 minutes into the day's play. He was eventually replaced by Jermaine Blackwood in the team according to the game's new concussion protocol.

Resuming his innings in partnership with Brooks with the score at 45 for two, Bravo appeared to be feeling unwell and was attended to and subsequently led off the field on his own steam.

He was struck on the back of the helmet by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during the final over of the third day's play and continued batting for the remaining three deliveries of the day after receiving treatment.

Australian Marnus Labuschagne was the first concussion replacement in the history of the game last month when he replaced Steve Smith during the second innings of the second Test against England at Lord's after Smith was struck on the neck by fast bowler Jofra Archer.

Blackwood was called into duty within minutes of being drafted into the team after Shimron Hetmyer fell to yet another poor shot, caught at extra-cover to give fast bowler Ishant Sharma his second wicket of the innings.

With Bravo and Blackwood both batting in the same innings, it gave West Indies the first 12-batsman Test scorecard under the protocol.

Earlier Roston Chase was the first wicket to fall in the day after coming to the crease when Bravo went off, being trapped leg-before by Jadeja.

Blackwood dominated a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership with Brooks but when the attacking right-hander became Bumrah's only wicket of the innings via a catch at the wicket, it signalled the beginning of the end of the West Indies resistance with Brooks' own carelessness contributing to his demise as he was run out by a direct hit from the effervescent Kohli.

"We've got lots of problems with the batting," said a despondent Holder. "It's a tough question as to how we fix this situation. There is quite a bit of time before our next Test so it's up to the players to take ownership of the situation."

Despite the dominance of the Indian bowlers, it was batsman Hanuma Vihari who earned the "Man of the Match" award for his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, which he followed with an unbeaten half-century in the second to help hasten Kohli's declaration on the third afternoon.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

Since his debut for India in Tests in 2018, Jasprit Bumrah has notched up five five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. That's the joint-most by any bowler in Test cricket within this period. Added to this, Bumrah has picked up five-wicket hauls in each of the four countries he has played in so far.

In 12 Tests, Bumrah has 61 wickets at an average of 18.86 and a strike rate of 43. In matches India has won, that average drops to a stunning 14.17. As he chipped through the West Indian batting line-up at Sabina Park, picking up a hat-trick in the process, Virat Kohli swooned from the slips.

"What a bowler, man! What a bowler!"

Kohli could be heard saying over the stump mics. Bumrah had indeed been spectacular in the series against West Indies. A lethal bowler across different phases in an innings, Bumrah has been Kohli's go-to-man in Tests since his debut.

The two have also created a fabulous on-field camaraderie that is reflected in the trust both have in each other. In the World Cup, as Bumrah went through a fantastic spell in India's first game against South Africa, Kohli backed him up with a third slip for Quinton de Kock and Bumrah had the left-hander edging to that very fielder soon enough.

Off his hat-trick ball in the Caribbean, Bumrah had Roston Chase trapped in front but did not appeal assuming the West Indian had inside-edged. But Kohli was adamant in taking the review and in the end he proved to be right as the batsman did not have any bat on the ball. Bumrah later credited his hat-trick to his skipper.

Read: The rise and rise of Jasprit Bumrah in Tests

After the Sabina Park Test, Bumrah has shot up to the third rank - a progress that saw him go from 85th to third in just 12 Tests. But amidst his Antigua spell of five for seven and his hat-trick at Sabina Park, what was missed was a period where he had Test bowling purists in absolute awe.

At the end of his five-wicket haul in the second Test, Bumrah had bowled his last 14 overs for just 19 runs while picking up 10 wickets!

In this fabulous period of play, he swung the ball either way - mostly inswingers to left-handers at Antigua and inswingers to right-handers at Sabina Park. The versatility is evident from his rhythm and incredible skill to bowl two different deliveries with complete ease.

After he had concussion substitute Jermaine Blackwood caught behind in the second innings at Kingston, Bumrah was seen pointing to long-off with a finger on his lips. Kohli followed him in a familiar animated fashion with the same gesture. There were a few comments raised regarding his action after the incredible phase where he picked 10 wickets in 14 overs. Perhaps, he was silencing them. For certain is that he will keep silencing them throughout his career.

Read: Bumrah becomes third Indian to take Test hat-trick

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

Jasprit Bumrah became the third Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket on the second day of the second Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park on Saturday.

Coming on for a second spell in the home side's reply to India's first-innings total of 416, the 25-year-old fast bowler dismissed Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase off successive deliveries in his fourth over to join seamer Irfan Pathan and spinner Harbhajan Singh as the only Indian cricketers to have taken Test hat-tricks.

Bumrah's achievement was unusual in that it necessitated a review of the third decision to confirm the dismissal.

Bravo was caught by K.L. Rahul at second slip, Brooks trapped leg-before -- a decision he reviewed but was shown to be correct -- and then Indian captain Virat Kohli reviewed a not out verdict by standing umpire Paul Reiffel to an appeal against new batsman Chase.

That review via television replays and ball-tracking technology showed the ball to striking leg-stump, resulting in a reversal of the decision and triggering celebrations among the Indian players at Bumrah's historic achievement which reduced the West Indies to 13 for four.

His hat-trick was the 44th in Test history and the first since England spinner Moeen Ali against South Africa in 2017.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

Jasprit Bumrah claimed just the third hat-trick by an Indian in Test cricket as the West Indies were left in ruins at 87 for seven on the second day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park on Saturday.

India had earlier racked up 416 all out in their first innings in Jamaica.

Bowling with sustained pace and moving the ball through the air and off the seam, the 25-year-old fast bowler continued his devastating form of the last day of the first Test in Antigua a week earlier, when he took five wickets for just seven runs, snaring six for 16 off 9.1 overs.

It was a phenomenal effort interrupted by cramp in his right leg which forced him to leave the field briefly.

However, all the real discomfort was felt by the home side's batsmen, and especially the trio of Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase, who were dismissed off successive deliveries for Bumrah to join spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan as the only Indians to take Test hat-tricks.

Bravo was caught at second slip and Brooks palpably leg-before.

However it required a television review from Indian captain Virat Kohli to confirm Chase's dismissal after on-field umpire Paul Reiffel had turned down the lbw appeal.

Bumrah had already dismissed John Campbell and then added the other opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, after the hat-trick accomplishment.

He also returned after treatment for cramp and with his very first delivery back into the attack removed West Indies captain Jason Holder, leaving debutants Jahmar Hamilton and Rahkeem Cornwall to survive to the close of play.

Any hope of Bumrah taking all ten wickets in the innings had ended when Mohammed Shami terminated the streaky innings of Shimron Hetmyer by bowling the left-hander for 34.

- Vihari hits maiden ton -

Hanuma Vihari had earlier completed his maiden Test hundred as India extended their first innings to the tea interval.

On an afternoon of milestones, Vihari was last out for 111 to Holder, giving the home skipper his 100th Test victim and also allowing the fast-medium bowler to achieve his third five-wicket haul in as many Test innings at the ground.

Yet as well as Vihari played through five hours at the crease in which he faced 225 deliveries, striking 16 boundaries, he was actually overshadowed in an eighth-wicket partnership of 112 by Ishant Sharma who reached his first Test half-century.

He was eventually dismissed for 57 as the home side laboured for most of their time in the field on another blistering afternoon.

Dismissed for 93 on the last day of the first Test a week earlier in Antigua, Vihari would not be denied on this occasion as the hosts wilted in the middle passage of the day's play.

However as assured as he was for most of his time in the middle, the 25-year-old right-hander still needed more than just a little luck to survive on a challenging pitch in a testing morning session.

Once again it was Holder who led the bowling effort for the West Indies with figures of five for 77 off 32.1 overs.

He received good support from Cornwall, the burly off-spinner claiming three for 107 off 41 consistent overs.

Cornwall should have also had the all-important wicket of Vihari but Campbell could not hold on to the opportunity diving full-length to his right at slip.

On 68 when he benefited from that let-off, Vihari was then thankful to be reprieved by technology ten runs later as an lbw verdict against him off Holder was reversed.

West Indies were made to pay dearly for those opportunities lost as Vihari and Sharma piled on the runs after lunch. They were eventually separated with the tea interval beckoning as Sharma miscued an attempt to heave part-time bowler Brathwaite over the midwicket fence.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

Indian pacer Ishant Sharma smashed his maiden Test ton on the second day of the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday. Taking 126 innings to score a half-century, the towering seamer guided India to a respectable total by putting a century stand for the eighth wicket with Hanuma Vihari.

Maiden Test Fifty for Ishant Sharma #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/AhKmVBOUjp

�?Anupam (@Anupam381) August 31, 2019

Sharma did something extremely vague after reaching the landmark, and his celebration was duly supported by the skipper Virat Kohli, who scored 76 during India’s innings.

Posting 416 on board, India began their bowling attack in absolute style, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah dismantling the West Indies batting unit in no time. His 16/16, which includes a sensational hat-trick, put West Indies at 87 for seven at stumps.

And with that being done, Bumrah joined spinner Harbhajan Singh and left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan as the only Indians to take Test hat-tricks. He had already dismissed John Campbell and then added the other opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, after the hat-trick accomplishment.

He also returned after treatment for cramp and with his very first delivery back into the attack removed West Indies captain Jason Holder, leaving debutants Jahmar Hamilton and Rahkeem Cornwall to survive to the close of play.

Any hope of Bumrah taking all ten wickets in the innings had ended when Mohammed Shami terminated the streaky innings of Shimron Hetmyer by bowling the left-hander for 34.

Feature image courtesy; AFP / Randy Brooks

West Indies captain Jason Holder eventually won the battle with Indian counterpart Virat Kohli but the tourists were still well-placed at 264 for five at stumps on the opening day of the second and final Test of the series at Sabina Park on Friday.

Pursuing a victory which would lift him ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as his country's most successful Test captain ever with 28 wins, apart from sweeping the two-match series of course, Kohli led a workmanlike effort from India's top order with a carefully crafted innings of 76.

His dismissal by Holder in the day's final session, caught at the wicket after four hours at the crease during which he faced 163 deliveries and struck ten fours, appeared to give the West Indies an opening to limit their opponents' progress in Jamaica.

However, Hanuma Vihari (42 not out) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (27 not out) stayed together to the close to leave the home side with considerable work still to do in India's first innings as they seek a series-levelling victory following a humiliating 318-run defeat in the first Test in Antigua a week earlier.

Vihari and Pant resume on the second morning with their sixth-wicket partnership already worth 62 runs.

Holder's vital dismissal of Kohli gave the seam-bowling all-rounder his third wicket of the innings.

Carrying an additional burden with strike bowler Shannon Gabriel less than fully fit, the home captain ended the day with impressive figures of three for 39 off 20 disciplined overs.

On a green-tinged pitch, it was Holder who gave his side the breakthrough after he put India in at the start of the day. He brought himself into the attack after half an hour and removed K.L. Rahul in his first over via a straightforward catch by debutant Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip.

- Ground-breaking Hamilton -

One of two newcomers to senior international cricket in the home side, the burly 26-year-old off-spinning all-rounder then enjoyed his first success with the ball when he extended Chesteshwar Pujara's run of low scores in the series, the batsman being caught by Shamarh Brooks at backward-point off a miscued cut in Cornwall's third over.

Kohli joined Mayank Agarwal with the third-wicket pair gradually taking control of the situation either side of the lunch interval in a stand worth 69 runs.

Agarwal reached the third half-century of his fledgling international career before becoming Holder's second wicket for 55 via another first slip catch by the alert Cornwall.

Cornwall had replaced medium-pacer Miguel Cummins from the first Test.

Shai Hope, who was drafted into wicketkeeping duties in that match due to injury to regular gloveman Shane Dowrich, failed a late fitness test on a damaged hand, allowing Jahmar Hamilton to become the first cricketer from the U.S. Virgin Islands to play at senior level for the West Indies.

India unsurprisingly retained the same team as they seek a clean sweep of all the completed international matches of this campaign and also a first-ever clean sweep of a Test series in the Caribbean.

There was a worrying moment before the start of play when former West Indies captain Vivian Richards had to be helped off the field and taken away for medical treatment when he seemed to fall ill.

Working as a commentator in the television coverage of the series, Richards appeared to be affected by the intense heat of the morning while involved in the pre-match coverage.

Medical officials confirmed the situation as a case of heatstroke for the legendary batsmen and it is understood that he was recovering well.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

At 6 feet 6 inches and 145 kilograms, Rahkeem Cornwall packs a punch. Nicknamed 'Jimbo', Cornwall has fought his way through to the International side with compelling performances in first-class cricket. On his debut day at Sabina Park, Cornwall came into the attack after the 12th over and bowled 13 successive overs from one end.

After taking a fine catch at first slip to send back KL Rahul, Cornwall had Cheteshwar Pujara edging to backward point. He went on to snaffle another catch at first slip to send back Mayank Agarwal, once again off Jason Holder. The off-spinner also notably troubled Virat Kohli with his high release point and sharp dip.

Fair to say Cornwall has tied the batsmen in knots with a four step run up and orthodox offspin.

At the other end, Holder has figures of 1/2 in 7.#WIvIND #INDvsWI

�?Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) August 30, 2019

While Ian Bishop in the commentary box was all praise for Cornwall's abilities and analysed his bowling, Sunil Gavaskar, in a rather condescending comment, wondered how a proper jersey was found for Cornwall's size.

Bish: Says all cricket related stuff related to Cornwall.

Sunny G: Wonders how WICB found a shirt that size.

One of the major reasons why Indian commentators are generally awful. They have come up listening to Gavaskar.

�?Alagappan V (@IndianMourinho) August 30, 2019

A medium pacer at the initial stages of his career, Cornwall's transformation into a spinner came after he showcased an ability to turn the ball sharply. Given his huge frame and high release, Cornwall could extract extra bounce from most surfaces. More of a conventional off-break bowler, Cornwall relies on consistent channels and a persistent line of attack to evoke errors.

So far, his methods have been quite successful with him enjoying a fine first-class career. Cornwall has taken 260 wickets at first-class level, averaging 23.90 aside from piling up 2,224 runs from down the order in 55 matches.

Since 2014, Cornwall is one of the most consistent bowlers in the Caribbean domestic tournament. He has 197 wickets in this time frame and the performances have peaked in the last three seasons.

In 2018-19, Cornwall topped the wicket-taking chart with 54 wickets in the season at 17.68. This, though, isn't his first encounter with Pujara or Kohli. Playing for the Board President's XI in 2016 against a visiting Indian side, Cornwall top-scored with 41 in the first innings and went on to pick up a five-wicket haul including the wickets of Pujara (bowled), Kohli (lbw), Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane (all caught out).

Last year, as West Indies ‘A�?beat the England Lions side 3-0 at home, Cornwall starred with 19 wickets at an average of 18.42. In the recent India A series against West Indies A, Cornwall made two half-centuries and picked up four wickets. Idolizing Jacques Kallis, Cornwall has silenced comments like the one Gavaskar made with his on-field performances.

Read: Everything you need to know about Windies�?140 kg beast Rahkeem Cornwall

Featured image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks