Spinner Gudakesh Motie of the West Indies is looking forward to tomorrow’s Test match against England, which takes place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, as the culmination of the three-match series.
After missing the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham due to a sick episode, Motie is back fully healthy and eligible for selection. Kevin Sinclair, an off-spinner who claimed three wickets throughout the game, took his spot.
With one match remaining, the West Indies have already given up the Richards-Botham Trophy, falling down 2-0 after losing the first Test at Lord’s by an innings and 114 runs and the second at Trent Bridge by 241 runs the previous week.
In the first Test match, Guyanese left-arm spinner Motie dismissed previous captain Joe Root and England captain Ben Stokes with figures of two for 41. Additionally, he was undefeated with the bat twice, scoring 14 in the opening innings and 31 in the second batting session for the West Indies. Motie expressed his excitement for the third match after missing the second one.
“Since the series is already over, our next focus will be on the Test championships and earning game points to see if we can advance further in the standings,” he stated.
Furthermore, Motie stated that winning the last Test in England remained the main priority notwithstanding the upcoming South African trip of the West Indies.
“We only have one game on our radar at this time. Thus, we’re going to go out and give it our all in this upcoming game here,” he said.
Motie talked about how the first Test had given her personal gains.
He remarked, “I was just playing my role.” “I got wickets and gave the fast bowlers a break, which was my job on the team, and I did exactly that.”
With all the effort Motie had done before the series began, his decision to fire Stokes and Root was well-deserved.
“Those are the two biggest wickets I think I have ever had in my career,” Motie remarked. “We are all aware of their excellence.”
In the second innings, Motie also achieved his greatest Test score.
He clarified, “I always put a lot of work into my batting.” “I told myself going into that game that I didn’t want to get (bowled out).”
In related news, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement that seamer Jeremiah Louis will not play in the last Test because of a hamstring issue. The visitors have added Barbadian Akeem Jordan to the team as a like-for-like substitute.
Louis, a Kittitian, sustained the injury during Trent Bridge’s second Test. He will continue receiving rehab with the squad. Jordan was playing cricket in the United Kingdom when he was called up. He has now joined the squad and participated in yesterday’s Edgbaston training session.
Although Jordan hasn’t played in a Test match yet, he has participated in 19 first-class matches and taken 67 wickets at an average of 24.10 since 2022. His highest innings total of five for 44 was one of his two five-wicket hauls.