Stuart Broad, England celebrate on Test cricket’s return, but the honour goes to the West Indies

West Indies’ cavalier odyssey in COVID-cursed England revived cricket’s faltering heartbeat and saved the hosts millions. It was a journey they didn’t have to make. Their courage and selflessness demands world cricket treat them better in future.

West Indies' Jason Holder plays a stroke to lose his wicket off the bowling of England's Ben Stokes on the third day of the first Test cricket match between England and the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

Stuart Broad got his 500th Test wicket, England got the silverware but the true heroes were the team bowled out for just 129 in their second innings.

The West Indies’ cavalier odyssey in COVID-cursed England has revived cricket’s faltering heartbeat but it was one they could easily not have made before going down 2-1 in the series.

Cricketers, as much as any sportsmen, are aware of the power of numbers and the numbers that truly mattered in the West Indies journey were haunting in every way.

West Indies captain Jason Holder and England’s Ben Stokes conduct COVID-safe media duties.

While Barbados has had 110 cases and seven COVID deaths and Trinidad 153 cases and eight deaths, the United Kingdom has had more than 45,000 fatalities.

It’s no wonder Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo and Keemo Paul pulled out before a tour which had no parachute clause.

The West Indian cricketers were aware should any of them withdraw during the tour there would be no road back. No international light home. And even if they did get back to the Caribbean they may not get to their home port because there was no flight between the islands.

It made their anxiety more acute yet still they pulled a rousing first Test victory before almost savaging a draw in the second. Their third Test collapse was almost inevitable.

England's Stuart Broad became only the seventh bowler to claim 500 Test wickets.

By taking part in the first international sporting contest in the COVID era the West Indies saved a massive broadcast deal for England and rescued their own administration from an ongoing financial crisis.

Their presence was celebrated by the English media whose doyen Scyld Berry wrote a touching tribute to them, pointing out that West Indian soldiers had come to England’s aid in both World Wars and it was happening again.

The West Indies may have got progressively worse as the tour wore on but they have the central pillars of a competitive team with the likes of the world’s most underrated allrounder Jason Holder as captain and a string of serviceable Test match scrappers.

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The Windies play the game in a great spirit. There have been flashpoints but generally speaking they accept the rub of the green as well as any international team. And that fact was evident during this morale-inspiring tour.

Cricket must be careful not to turn its back on the Windies. Australia has played them just eight times in Tests in the past decade and not for almost five years compared to 17 times in the previous decade.

It’s poor. Australia can be ruthless in ignoring sides which lack the box office appeal of India and England.

Cricket needs a strong and vibrant West Indies.

And it might just get one if the rest of the world helps the West Indies to help themselves.

Originally published as Stuart Broad, England celebrate on Test cricket’s return, but the honour goes to the West Indies