Ridley Detamore Jacobs

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After Jeff Dujon, a man whose lower middle order batting exploits regularly tormented already beleaguered opponents, West Indies searched for a viable replacement. David Williams, Junior Murray and the hard-working Courtney Browne all had limited success, but it is Ridley Jacobs who has made the position his own.

A combative, naturally aggressive left-hander, and an impressive glove-man, Jacobs has solved the West Indies' keeping dilemmas. It is unfortunate that his career should coincide with such a depressing time for West Indies cricket.

Jacobs was into his thirties before he made his Test debut. His brief experience in one-day internationals had been tough, and it was probably only maturity - which a younger man may have lacked - that allowed Jacobs to prosper in difficult times.

His batting exploits are often entertaining; he has an uncomplicated approach and is keen to hit over the top. He pulls and hooks regularly and competently, and is at his best with the ball coming on to the bat. Though his natural game is typically Caribbean, he has shown an ability to defend well in tough situations. As such situations are now common for the West Indies, his strike rate has dropped as he has needed to show bundles of patience. Though not a stylist behind the stumps, he regularly pulls off stunning catches and moves quickly and well.

Jacobs was successful in domestic cricket for the Leeward Islands, and as a 29-year-old was given an opportunity to play for the West Indies. The Antiguan did not immediately impress: in four one-day-internationals with New Zealand, he took just one catch, and scored 13 runs in three innings. He would not play for the West Indies again for two years.

His keeping was sharper when he returned to the side for the 1997/98 ODIs. He did not shine with the bat, and after 17 ODIs his top score was just 28. Immediately before an unsuccessful one-day series with South Africa, Jacobs would be the star as his Test career launched. He had turned 30, and there were questions about his fitness. But in a dreadful series in which South Africa would thrash their visitors 5-0, Jacobs would show some fight, and restore an ounce of dignity for the West Indies.

For Jacobs, the series was full of useful knocks with the bat, where solid keeping performances were stamped with exceptional catches. He hit two half centuries, 78 and an unbeaten 60, and regularly chipped in with twenties and thirties to prevent the Windies from subsiding quite so quickly. It was a ghastly series for West Indies cricket, but Jacobs had provided the best resistance.

Since that series in South Africa Jacobs has only missed one Test match, a testament to his commitment and improving fitness. Cricket in the West Indies was in danger until Brian Lara's heroics managed a drawn series with Australia, in which Jacobs proved that his performances in South Africa were no fluke, with 68 at Barbados. After sitting out the first games of the one-day series, he made scores of 29, 33, 68 and 54, enhancing a budding reputation as a good striker of the ball.

It was this reputation that enabled Jacobs to open the batting in the 1999 World Cup. He exploited the fielding restrictions, making two fifties in the tournament. By now he was a fixture in the West Indies team. Critics were impressed at his unflustered, thoughtful approach to the game. This attitude is perhaps garnered from his personal life; he is a quiet man and a lay preacher.

Though his keeping remained good, his form with the bat over the next 18 months was uninspiring. He struggled in series with New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, and his top Test score was only 42 in the Test series with England. He was however, still chipping in for the one-day side.

Jacobs' 96 not out in Perth (in another series which West Indies would lose 5-0) was his first half century in 26 Test innings. He followed it up with another in Sydney, proving to the Australians that he was not lacking in bottle. He appeared to have broken out of a slump which went barely unnoticed; West Indies cricket was in such a desperate state. Of course, Jacobs was mainly in the side for his keeping, and he picked up 21 scalps in the series.

Jacobs was at his best again against South Africa. Though South Africa took the series 2-1, Jacobs' batting was a pleasing diversion. He made 93 not out in the second Test, his sixth Test half-century. Another half century came in the West Indies' win in Jamaica, but it was in the third Test that Jacobs would make his first Test century. Despite being palpably caught behind on 97 (bizarrely, there was no appeal) Jacobs reached the landmark with a top-edged pull for six. It was an innings he was bound to play at some stage, lucky, enterprising and powerful. He hit four sixes, and if only West Indies were a more successful side, his natural instincts could have been released more often.

Jacobs had a successful tour to Southern Africa in 2001, in the one-day form of the game at least. He was unbeaten in all five innings he played in the Coca-Cola Cup, a tournament which the West Indies won. He was banned from the second Test against Zimbabwe, for not calling Virender Sehwag back when he was incorrectly dismissed stumped. It was a perverse ruling, as Jacobs had not even appealed. His Test form took another dip as Sri Lanka were the next team to clean sweep West Indies in a series.