Tino Best

With a flamboyant style, Tino Best is one of those unique West Indian cricketers' who is short in stature but capable of generating express pace. Aggressive, belligerent and enthusiastic, Best is known for his raw pace and exuberance on the field. After a successful debut season playing for Barbados in 2002/2003, which he finished with 17 wickets from 5 matches at an average of 24.29, Best was selected for the third Test at home against Australia in May 2003. He was later selected in the limited over squad for the 2006 ODI series against Zimbabwe.

One of the major problems that Best faced during that time was his inability to control his speed and failing to maintain a disciplined line and length. Constant injuries and his wayward nature kept him out of the side for the next few years. Frustrated with the long break from international cricket, he joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008, playing for Mumbai Champs. When senior players of the West Indian side went on a strike in 2009, Best found himself back in the squad in 2009 for the Test series against Bangladesh but was dropped shortly after.

Another successful domestic season in 2011/2012 allowed him to return to the Test squad and he toured England in 2012. He grabbed that opportunity with both hands and scored a scintillating 95, becoming the only West Indian no. 11 besides Wes Hall to make a half-century in Test cricket, falling just 5 runs short of becoming the first No. 11 to score a Test ton. He had a fantastic year, as he also registered his best bowling figures in Tests of 6/40 against Bangladesh in November 2012 at Khulna. He ended the two-match Test series as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 12 scalps. In the following year against Zimbabwe, he managed to pick up just one wicket in 2 Tests.

Best was a part of the West Indies squad that toured Indian in November 2013. He was mediocre in both the Tests and proved ineffective against a strong Indian batting line-up.

He generated good pace in New Zealand but lacked consistency and direction. Best managed 8 wickets at the expense of 369 runs, the most runs leaked by a bowler in that 3-match rubber.

by Cricbuzz Staff

As of April 2014