Jermaine Blackwood has revealed how England's attempts to get inside his head rebounded at Southampton and inspired him to play the innings that won the first Test for West Indies.
Blackwood, the highly-talented but skittish West Indies batsman, resisted England's hopes of goading him into playing the sort of irresponsible shot that has punctuated a career of more promise than substance to make 95 in West Indies four-wicket win.
'From the first ball the captain Ben Stokes was in my ear,' said Blackwood, who might not even have been in the West Indies team at the Ageas Bowl had Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo been available to tour.