Carl Hooper -Top 3 performances in international cricket
Former West Indian cricketer and skipper Carl Hooper was often overshadowed by some of the biggest superstars of the game in the national team. However, the tall all-rounder was a proven match-winner for his side, often fighting a lone battle for his star-studded team. He amassed 11523 runs across formats for the Windies with 307 international wickets to his name. On his 56th birthday, we list some of his most remarkable knocks for the national team.
81 & 5/26 against Sri Lanka, 1997
Sri Lanka traveled to Kingston for the second Test match of the series against the West Indies. The visitors elected to field first in the contest after winning the toss. Courtney Walsh’s side made an abysmal start to their innings losing 4/34, handing the visitors the advantage. The hosts were in danger of getting bowled out before breaching the three-figure mark, however, Carl Hooper’s gritty 81 helped them to 147 runs in their first innings. He then helped his side restrict the visitors to 222 runs in their reply with inspirational bowling figures of 5/26. He single-handedly kept the hosts in the game, which eventually fizzled out in a draw.
233 against India, 2002
Guyana hosted the first Test match of the series between the West Indies and India in 2002. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat surface at the venue. But they were in a spot of bother after losing the influential Brian Lara for a duck, leaving them struggling at 44/3. That is when the Caribbean skipper Carl Hooper came to the fore with a majestic 233. His mammoth 293-run stand with Shivnarine Chanderpaul helped the home side to a daunting total of 501 runs. The match eventually ended up in a draw after Rahul Dravid led India’s resistance with a glittering ton in the second innings.
113 against India, 1988
Viv Richards’ rampaging West Indies traveled to Gwalior for the sixth ODI against India with the series already in the bag for the visitors. They were put in to bat first by the hosts after India won the toss. The decision brought instant rewards for the home side as the Windies found themselves meandering at 65/3. That is when a young Carl Hooper displayed his impeccable batting prowess by notching up a counter-attacking 113 of just 97 deliveries to help the visitors to a handsome total of 278 runs. The total proved to be an uphill battle for the Indians, who surrendered for just 205 runs, handing their opponents a comfortable victory.
