Law has high Hopes for Windies batsman

Stuart Law believes West Indies may soon have a modern "great" on their hands in Shai Hope.

The tourists' 23-year-old batsman underpinned their shock five-wicket victory over England last week with a breakthrough performance as he became the first player in Headingley's long history to hit a century in each innings.

Hope followed his maiden Test hundred, in his 12th match, with an unbeaten 118 as West Indies knocked off 322 to level the series and make a mockery of a barrage of pre-match criticism which included claims the current team is the worst from the Caribbean ever to tour England.

"He's a rock, isn't he?" said Law, who recalled a telling conversation before start of play on the final morning in Leeds.

The coach suggested to the young Bajan that the tourists could bat till tea, then see if there was still a shot at pushing for victory.

"He looked at me and I said 'What's wrong with that?'," Law said.

"He looked at me (again), shook his head and shrugged his shoulders - and I said 'OK what's your plan?

"'We're going to win', (he said). That's God's honest truth...(and) he went out and won the game."

It was an exchange which confirmed to the Australian he was dealing with a special cricketer.

"I think the fact he wasn't over the top in his celebrations just means he's hungry, he's driven," Law said. "He doesn't want to stop where he's at now; he wants to keep going. I think that's a great sign.

"He's a tough cookie. He's pretty good now, but he's got the potential to go great."

“The challenge for Shai is to stay fit and healthy. If he does that, with the drive he’s got and the mental toughness and will to work, that will just make him better and better.

“He’s pretty good now, but he’s got the potential to go great.”

Law also had a dig at former England captain – and former Essex teammate – Nasser Hussain, who had suggested in a newspaper column after day four at Headingley that the Caribbean side had displayed “mental fatigue” due to the demands of Test cricket.

“People make assumptions all the time,” said Law. “But he doesn’t know the characters that are inside that dressing room – he doesn’t even know me and I played with him at Essex.

“Not a lot of these players play T20 cricket anyway. I think it was great we sent a big humble pie to go and chomp on in the commentary box.

“I’ve seen these guys at close quarters. There’s immense confidence there.

“There was probably a couple that doubted their ability to cope at this level, but I hope those doubts are now well and truly put to bed and they can start flourishing.”