Kirk McKenzie endures worst ever series for a West Indies batter

23-year-old Kirk McKenzie is someone who has been highly rated in the Caribbean, and he showed glimpses of brilliance across the first three Tests he played against India and Australia.

McKenzie started his Test career off with a brisk 32 on debut against India, where his stroke-making stood out. The left-hander even smoked Ravichandran Ashwin for a huge six to lay down a marker.

Then away in Australia, he started the tour with a fifty in Adelaide before top-scoring with a 41 in the second innings of the Gabba Test, which the Windies famously won by eight runs.

So, understandably, he was expected to shine for the visitors in the England tour. He began the tour well, too, registering a bright 73 against a select County XI in the warmup encounter.

However, the three-match series has instead ended up turning into an absolute nightmare for the 23-year-old. 

McKenzie began the tour with a 1 & 0 at Lord’s, and his series simply never got going from there. The Trent Bridge Test saw him register scores of 11 & 1, and on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test at Edgbaston, the left-hander finished the series with scores of 12 & 8.

That’s four single-digit scores in six knocks and 33 runs in six innings at an average of 5.50.

These horrid numbers have ensured that McKenzie has ended up setting an unwanted record.

His average of 5.50 here is the lowest EVER registered by a West Indian batter in a series (minimum six innings batted). Previously, this record belonged to Kyle Hope, who, in 2017 against England, amassed 41 runs in six innings at an average of 6.83.

But through this forgettable showing, McKenzie has gone right to the top of the list.

In fact, the left-hander’s average of 5.50 is the eight-lowest average for a batter in a single series in Test history. In this century, only Shaun Marsh (2.83 vs India in 2011) has registered a lower average in a series (minimum six innings played) than McKenzie’s 5.50.

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