GEORGE DOBELL IN BARBADOS: The West Indies centurion relished the coming together, which forced the umpires to intervene, on day three of the second Test
Jermaine Blackwood has dismissed any suggestion that he and Ben Stokes over-stepped the line during an incident late on the third day of the second Test in Barbados.
Blackwood, who had recently survived being bowled by a no-ball and was closing in on a third Test century, was seen exchanging words with the allrounder before the umpires intervened.
England captain Joe Root was then called over and given what appeared to be a stern talking to by umpire Joel Wilson. At one stage, Root and Stokes struggled to suppress their laughter.
But Blackwood denied anything untoward had occurred and insisted he had no problem with Stokes.
“For a long time, Ben Stokes has liked to come at me,” Blackwood, who scored 102, said. “It was a little bit of banter. I love it. I think that’s good for cricket.
Blackwood was eventually dismissed by Jack Leach (Randy Brooks/Getty Images)
“I don’t have a problem with it, and it boosts my confidence as well, whenever I hear someone talking and coming at me, that even gets me on to stay more focused. I’m really glad he did that.
“There’s no problem at all for me.”
Blackwood's first hundred since December 2020 was not without alarm. England failed to trigger a DRS review following an unsuccessful lbw appeal, with replays later showing Stokes' delivery would have hit the stumps.
Saqib Mahmood was then denied from making the 30-year-old his maiden Test victim after he overstepped following a delivery that bowled the Jamaican.
“I'm very pleased," added Blackwood. "Coming into this knock I was feeling the pressure. I thought it [his lbw decision on nought] was going down but that is how it goes."
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