At a simple ceremony, held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Jacobs was presented with two 18-karat gold lapel pins, one in the shape of the West Indies Cricket Board’s emblem, studded with small diamonds, compliments of King’s Jewellery and the other with an Amerindian design to it.

The Antiguan Jacobs, who was playing in his 48th Test, was also the recipient of ceramic work, which included including mugs, done by the late Amerindian artist, Stephanie Correia.

Picture of his heroic exploits during his unbeaten knock of 54 also formed part of the former West Indies vice-captain’s package, handed over by the GCB president Chetram Singh.

According to GCB Public Relations Officer, Terry Holder, the presentation was made with the expression of hope that Jacobs will be fit again for the second Test that starts at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

In his response Jacobs said he never expected the gifts, but was truly thankful and promised he will always do his best for West Indies cricket.

Expressing his sentiments, Holder pointed out that the GCB thought that at the end of the game, there were so many things to remember, the fact that there were three centuries by West Indians, skipper Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Daren Ganga and Vasbert Drakes taking five wickets in one innings.

“You also had both batsmen with runners and for the first time you saw the batsmen (Lara and Ganga) coming out before the fielders, but one thing that is memorable in our minds is the courage displayed by Ridley Jacobs. He went down with a groin strain and refused to stay down; he got up and he kept on batting. Some felt that he really ought to have come off the field because after all there’s a Test after this and he needed to be ready for that, not Ridley Jacobs,” Holder contended.

The GCB PRO described Jacobs’ effort as an unselfish act, a selfless act saying “he was putting the country of the Caribbean before self and we appreciate that. We saw him in pain so often during his innings and I think his effort was an inspiration to the team.

“It was a champion’s performance and we can only hope that this type of performance by someone who refuses to stay down will be an inspiration to the West Indies team as they continue the fight against the Australians - down one but refusing to stay down and in the end proving victorious in the series.” (Frederick Halley)