Meet the latest giant West Indies bowler

Almost inevitably, it turned into a losing debut for Banks.

But in the fourth and final match of that series, in Antigua, the West Indies set a new world record by successfully chasing a fourth-innings target of 418 - and Banks was there at the end, having contributed an unbeaten 47.

Anguilla went crazy. On their boy's return, a cavalcade was organised to transport him around the island and the local newspaper reported that a "mammoth and jubilant crowd" gave Banks a hero's welcome.

"The parade did not take too long because the island is only 35 square miles," he said.

"But everyone was really pleased for me and happy to know that Anguilla had been recognised on the international stage at long last. And I was proud to see that I had made them feel so good."

The West Indies no longer possess a long line of international class fast bowlers. However, there is still enough talent coming off the production line to make one wonder whether Anguilla would still be waiting for her first Test cricketer if Banks had not made a big decision eight years or so ago.

"When I played Under-15 cricket for Anguilla as a 13 and 14-year-old I was a fast bowler," he reveals.

"But I didn't really have the pace to trouble some of the older guys so that's when I decided to try something different.

"I'd always fooled around bowling a bit of spin in the nets. Then one day my captain threw the ball to me in a game and I got four wickets bowling off-spin against Antigua."

Banks had been re-invented and with Cardigan Connor - the ex-Hampshire seamer from Anguilla - to coach and encourage him, his new skills were polished and steadily developed.

The next turning point arrived in 1999 when Leicestershire arrived in Anguilla for a pre-season tour. They spotted Banks, invited him to join them back in England and he spent two summers playing for the county's second XI before embarking on a third term, with Warwickshire.

"That definitely helped my cricket and was probably the biggest part of my development," he said.

"Playing over here, day in and day out against professionals, helped me so much.

"I think that gave me the edge against other young cricketers in Anguilla and in the rest of the Leeward Islands and helped to get on."

Banks has now played six Tests. He was never in contention for the four against England earlier this year, however, because he was suffering with a back problem.

Seeing the West Indies lose 3-0 hurt him more than the injury, though, and - despite some claims to the contrary - he maintains the passion for cricket is as strong as ever in the Caribbean.

"There is no doubt it still means a great deal to people," Banks added.

But if there is anything more important than cricket to folk across the Caribbean then how about music?

Banks can claim to have the best of both worlds.

His father, 'Bankie', is a well known reggae singer who has his own bar and restaurant on Anguilla.

And the boy who became a West Indian Test cricketer inherits his dad's talent to the extent of being an accomplished guitarist.

"After we won that Test against Australia we went to a bar in Antigua and played some music - Curtly Ambrose, Richie Richardson (former West Indies captain), my dad and me," Banks Jnr said.

"It was a great experience and everyone who was there says it was a great night."

Lord's is not averse to a bit of music these days, judging by the other night's Twenty20 Cup occasion.

But if the West Indies win the Test there this week and Banks manages to smuggle his guitar into the dressing room then it's fair to assume they ain't heard nothing yet.