There are those dismissing West Indies recent 2-0 Test Series win over Bangladesh as “Cho, is jus’ Bangladesh”.

They would do well to consider that early this year, Bangladesh toured New Zealand and shocked the World Test champions, winning the first Test of that series by eight wickets. The hosts bounced back in the second Test to draw 1-1.

But it was a major milestone for Bangladesh cricket, marking their very first Test-match triumph in New Zealand and the wider Australasia.

For Caribbean people to properly appreciate Bangladesh’s moment of glory, they probably need to consider that the last time West Indies won a Test match in New Zealand was in February 1995. Back then Courtney Walsh was captain and his great comrade-in-arms Curtly Ambrose was his new-ball partner.

Brian Lara, James Adams and Junior Murray scored centuries as West Indies recorded an innings and 322-run victory over their hosts in Wellington 27 years ago.

But to get back to the just-ended series win over Bangladesh, I was most pleased by the disciplined approach of West Indian batsmen in pace-friendly conditions. Make no mistake: While their batsmen let them down, the Bangladesh fast bowlers were very impressive. Ebadot Hosain was not as penetrative as he was in New Zealand but his discipline was exemplary and the strongly-built Khaled Ahmed, striving to hit the pitch hard with good control, was a revelation.

As he did against England in the West Indies’ satisfying 1-0 series win a few months back, 29-year-old captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite led the way against Bangladesh, playing dead straight for the most part, resisting the temptation to go across his front pad. That’s a weakness which had let him down on numerous occasions previously.

John Campbell in every innings looked the part as Brathwaite’s trusted Test match opening partner. Let’s remember that Campbell entered the Test series under great pressure because of his poor run against England and, the outstanding form in the regional domestic season from 26-year-old fellow left-handed opener, Guyanese Tagenarine Chanderpaul. How Campbell responded, averaging 68 over four innings, told me that he has what it takes in terms of mental strength. Technically, the 28-year-old is also showing progress. He has long had a perceived fragility against top-class spin bowling. Against Bangladeshi finger spinners, Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan, Campbell looked assured and at ease.

Yet again, Vice-Captain Jermaine Blackwood provided hard evidence that he is adjusting his batting style to deal with the realities of Test cricket. What a pleasure it is to see Blackwood spending time at the crease, gathering runs, without looking skywards to hit the ball over the top. Importantly, he trusted his defence which ensured he was very difficult to dismiss, averaging 64.50 across four innings. I was among the sceptics when Blackwood was first given the job as Brathwaite’s deputy. But the evidence suggests that the powers that be knew what they were doing.

Nkrumah Bonner’s form was a concern. At his best he brings a sense of calm and stability. Against Bangladesh he twice got bowled off the bottom edge, in back foot defence, with his bat angled, rather than straight. Bonner, 33, is said to be a hard worker. That’s good, for he will need to be technically at his very best against Australia, Down Under, later this year.

In my view the West Indies selectors should not persist with the experiment of asking Raymon Reifer to bat at number three. On the face of it, the decision was taken because of his success there in the regional domestic season and against England — scoring a century in a practice game. Reifer, 31, is a credit to the game, always giving his all with bat, ball and in the field. But in my view, the available evidence does not suggest he is a Test match number three. He should be encouraged to be the best he can be as lower middle-order batsman and testing left-arm medium pacer.

My own choice for the number three spot against Bangladesh was Chanderpaul. Don’t get me wrong. I recognise that he is an accustomed opener and is likely to go to Australia as reserve for that position. But in the absence of an accustomed number three with the required technique and desire, I would go with Chanderpaul in that position. Those who believe the son of Shiv is just a defence-minded, stroke-less wonder, have not seen enough of him.

In some respects, the most pleasing aspect for the Caribbean side was that century in the second Test from Kyle Mayers. Naysayers had got around to saying his match-winning double century in Bangladesh early 2021 was just a one-off, such has been his drought of runs since. However, the 29-year-old Barbadian’s dominance against pace and spin in St Lucia — off back and front foot — stirred distant memories of legendary countrymen. His controlled swinging medium pace remains a wonderful asset, earning him six wickets.

Joshua Da Silva didn’t replicate his marvelous batting in that match-winning century against England in Grenada, but his fighting knock in St Lucia in partnership with Mayers was priceless. More to the point, with every game the 24-year-old seems to be improving as a wicket-keeper.

Kemar Roach, smart and skilful, justly gained accolades for his efforts — taking his 250th Test wicket in the process and ten wickets in the series. He no longer scares batsmen with pace but at 34, Roach remains a high-quality Test match bowler. Crucially, while he is still in the mix, the youngsters around him need to learn as much as they can.

Among those clearly learning is 25-year-old Alzarri Joseph who topped the West Indies bowling charts with 12 wickets. Joseph has always been capable of high pace and, in the absence of Shannon Gabriel, it was good to see him opening up the throttle with greater consistency against Bangladesh, and earlier this year, against England.

The highly talented Jayden Seales was not at his best in terms of line and length, yet he still finished the Bangladesh series with nine wickets. Seales has now been drafted into white ball cricket, but all and sundry need to remember that he is still only 20 years old. He turns 21 in September. He should be handled with the utmost caution.

Another Trinidadian fast bowler Anderson Phillip, who turns 26 in August, made his debut in St Lucia, taking two wickets in 14 overs and looking the part. I was intrigued by his apparent willingness to embrace an enforcer role.

Unsurprisingly, spin was not a factor for the West Indies against Bangladesh although the 27-year-old Guyanese left-arm orthodox Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai played the opening Test in Antigua. Steady, rather than penetrative, he ended with 0-43 in 16 overs. His only significant contribution was a hard-hit unbeaten 23 batting at number 10. Motie-Kanhai is included for the One Day Internationals, which follows Twenty20 matches to be played over the next few days. Let’s see how he goes.

Finally, it was a pleasing thing to see West Indies taking their catches especially in the slip and gully region. It’s an aspect that rarely gets enough attention from analysts and armchair critics. Yet, as is well established, catches win matches.