West Indies opener John Campbell produced a stunning counter-attacking innings against India in Guwahati on Wednesday, September 30, smashing a century off just 65 balls.
Campbell’s knock was the fifth-fastest ODI hundred in West Indies history and the fastest by a West Indies batter against India. He scored 101 off 68 balls before being dismissed, helping the visitors make a strong start in the second ODI.
Campbell Takes India On
Campbell came out with an attacking approach from the very beginning. He took on India’s pace attack during the powerplay, finding boundaries regularly against Prasidh Krishna and Auqib Nabi.
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The southpaw raced to his half-century in just 29 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty by a West Indies batter against India in ODIs.
He continued attacking even after reaching the landmark, putting pressure on India’s spinners as well.
Both Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav were hit for sixes as Campbell moved closer to his century. He eventually reached three figures in the 18th over, completing his hundred in just 65 balls.
In the process, Campbell broke Ricardo Powell’s 26-year-old record for the fastest ODI century by a West Indies batter against India. Powell had scored a 72-ball hundred in 1999.
Who Is John Campbell?
Born in St James, Jamaica, Campbell was introduced to cricket by his grandfather, who played an important role in his early development.
His grandfather remains one of his biggest supporters and has kept scrapbooks filled with newspaper reports and memories of Campbell’s cricketing achievements.
Campbell worked his way through Jamaica’s domestic cricket system before making his international debut for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 2019.
He received a huge endorsement from former West Indies star Chris Gayle early in his career. Gayle had backed Campbell as the next big left-handed white-ball batter from the Caribbean, famously saying that he could become the “next Chris Gayle”.
Campbell’s Career Interrupted
Campbell’s career suffered a major setback in 2022 following an anti-doping case involving the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.
He was charged after failing to provide a routine blood sample at his home and was initially handed a four-year suspension.
Campbell challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In April 2024, CAS reduced his suspension to 22 months after taking certain mitigating factors into consideration.
The suspension was backdated to October 6, 2022, allowing Campbell to complete his ban and return to professional cricket.
Campbell’s International Career
Campbell has established himself primarily as a left-handed opening batter and has represented West Indies across multiple formats.
Before his latest century, he had scored 1,438 runs in 30 Tests at an average of 27.65. In ODIs, he had accumulated 421 runs from 15 matches at an average of 35.08.
His latest century against India was only his second in ODI cricket, with his previous hundred coming against Ireland in 2019.