PARTNERSHIPS WERE NEEDED TO WIN - GAYLE

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said that his team thought that his team could have overhauled Australia's 273 for 8 in the First Digicel One Day International but that getting partnerships was the key factor.
"I thought it (274) was gettable but we didn't utilize the wicket well, it was a pretty decent wicket to bat on but it was unfortunate that we lost wickets at crucial times, we didn't get any partnerships going (and) it's going to be difficult once you're not getting partnerships," Gayle said at the conclusion of the game which the West Indies lost by 84 runs after they made 189 in 39.5 overs. Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five match Digicel ODI Series with the teams now moving to Grenada for the Second and Third Digicel ODIs.
Conceding that the Australians played better cricket and emerged deserving winners Gayle said that when the visitors batted he employed his spinners to make the batsmen uncomfortable and felt that the ploy worked to some extent.
"It was a slow track and the Aussies like the ball coming on to the bat and we tried to use a bit of variation and it worked today, (Ramnaresh) Sarwan and (Sulieman) Benn bowled tremendously and (I) chipped in with ten overs as well," Gayle said as the three spinners bowled 25 of the 50 overs the Australians faced. Those 25 overs cost 128 runs and the spinners picked up three wickets. Gayle, who opened the bowling then removed himself from the attack after one over bowled ten overs for 55 runs and took the wicket of Michael Hussey who made 44. Benn accounted for Brad Haddin (50) with his ten overs costing 39 runs while Sarwan dismissed Cameron White (8) and his five overs cost 34 runs.
Gayle also said that with he, Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (who missed the game due to a calf injury) the team is discussing whether players should come into the squad as cover.
"That has been one of our discussions to actually get players in (as cover for the injured players) it's up to the (injured) individual if he can manage but at the same time we want 100% out in the middle, it is something we have to discuss," Gayle revealed.
Gayle has been suffering from a groin injury for two months, confessing the day before the match that it has not fully healed and it was clear that he was experiencing discomfort on the field. He made it clear that he was willing to play with the injury and his vice captain, Sarwan also played with a groin injury.
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AUSTRALIA BEAT WEST INDIES WITHOUT BEING STRETCHED

Brett Lee and Bracken make quick inroads
Haddin involved in two unusual dismissals

Australia defeated West Indies by 84 runs without being really stretched in the First Digicel ODI at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent. The opening partnership of Shaun Marsh (81 with 7 fours and a six) and Shane Watson (31) looked comfortable after the tourists had been invited to bat first and scored 75 before they were parted. Marsh forced the early ace, but fter he was out the scoring was more controlled until Brad Haddin (50 with 4 fours and a six) and Michael Hussey (44) put on 91 for the fifth wicket. The 273-8 runs total looked to be sufficient on this pitch. It was soon revealed to be more than enough as Brett Lee (2-37) and Nathan Bracken (4-31) made quick inroads into the West Indies batting from which the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul was missing. Several batsmen got into their innings but none settled. Wicketkeeper Haddin was involved in two unusual dismissals. Debutant Andre Fletcher (26), who was looking as secure as any, saw the ball curl back from his stroke to Cameron White where it was gathered by Haddin and only nonchalantly tried to make his ground as the Australian threw down his wicket – as if the batsman did not believe the wicketkeeper could release the ball. Darren Sammy’s (33) lower-order resistance ended when a ball from Bracken clipped his off-stump and then re-bounded from Haddin’s pads onto the stumps. The batsman was reluctant to leave the crease until he was assured that the ball had hit the stumps direct. That incident sparked an inexcusable demonstration of booing and bottle/can-throwing from a section of the crowd which delayed play for some 10 minutes or so while the debris was cleared.  West Indies were dismissed for 189 in 39.5 overs.  

Australia 273-8 (S.E. Marsh 81, B.J. Haddin 50, M.E.K. Hussey 44, S.R. Watson 31, D.J.G. Sammy 2-31) beat West Indies 189 (D.J. Bravo 33, D.J.G. Sammy 33, D. Ramdin 31, N.W. Bracken 4-31, B. Lee 2-37) by 84 runs

GAYLE PLEASED WITH TEAM PROGRESS

West Indies captain Chris Gayle is proud of the way his side fought against the world champion Australia during the Digicel Test Series which the visitors won 2-0 after their 87 run win in the Third Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval.
"I think we played good cricket throughout the (Digicel Test) Series but unfortunately we came out on the losing side," Gayle told commentator and cricket writer Tony Cozier in the post game presentation ceremony.
"It was a good game today, I can't fault the guys for the effort they put in, (having scored) 387 runs (in the second innings) was pretty good but unfortunately we lost," said the 27 year old left hander who missed the first two Digicel Tests due to a long standing groin injury.
In his absence the home side was led by vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan. After losing at Sabina Park in Jamaica the West Indies drew in Antigua.
Asked by Cozier whether the team had genuine belief that they could have achieved the 240 runs needed on the final day to pull off an historic and improbable win Gayle said they had planned for victory and were not settling for a draw.
"Yeah, definitely, but we knew that it (beating Australia in the Final Digicel Test) was not going to be easy, someone had to get a big hundred which we didn't get in this game," said Gayle who made scores of 14 and 26 in the match.
"Partnerships (were) key in this innings, once we batted out the day we knew we would get the runs (475 to win) but this didn't happen today," Gayle observed.
Asked whether from the captain's perspective the improvement seen on the field has been satisfactory said he had no qualms with the pace of the progress shown by the players.
"The guys are really enjoying their cricket, they have become more mature so hopefully we can continue in the same vein in the (Digicel) One Day Series," the captain said.
And he went on to point out the players selected for the upcoming Digicel International Twenty20 match, the first of its kind in the Caribbean are geed up and looking forward to the challenge.
"We're looking forward to it and it is for us to play good competitive cricket against the number one team in the world," Gayle said.
He also hinted that some new players were selected in the yet to be released squad.
"We have some new faces, it's going to be interesting, we're looking for players to be in the international level and try and capitalize on whatever chances they get to play against the number one team in the world," Gayle said.
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AUSTRALIA WITHSTAND WEST INDIES FIGHTING SPIRIT

Victory did not seem to be entirely out of the question
West Indies, though beaten, did not surrender
Sir Frank Worrell would have been proud of them

West Indies battled Australia all the way but went down to defeat by 87 runs on the final day of the Third Digicel Test Match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. It was how the match should have been – the world champions won, and their hosts showed a fighting spirit which has not always been present in their recent cricket. Sir Frank Worrell, after whom the Trophy for which they were contending is named, would have proud of them. Dwayne Bravo 69 (with 5 fours and 4 sixes), who clumped spinner Beau Casson (3-86) for three sixes, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (50 with 5 fours) were so much in command in the morning, putting on 122 runs for the fourth wicket, that even victory did not seem to be entirely out of the question. Yet they were out within a few deliveries of each other, and, in spite of the injured Sewnarine Chattergoon (13) taking a turn at the crease, the accuracy of Stuart Clark (3-58) and hostility of Brett Lee (2-109), who bowled with a hostility and effect which is not reflected in his figures, were too much for the lower-order batting. Even while the innings was coming to an end Jerome Taylor (31 with 6 fours) showed stroke-play worthy of a specialist batsman. Both teams had cause of taking optimism from the three-match series: Australia showed that they could survive the loss through retirement / injury of several key players and still be victorious, and West Indies, though beaten, did not surrender.  

Australia 251 (A. Symonds 52, S.M. Katich 36, B.J. Haddin 32, P.A. Jacques 31, extras 36, J.E. Taylor 3-46, F.H. Edwards 3-55, D.J. Bravo 3-61) & 439-5 dec (S.M. Katich 157, P.A. Jacques 108, M.J. Clarke 48 n.o., B.J. Haddin 45 n.o., R.T. Ponting 39, S.J. Benn 3-154): West Indies 216 (S. Chanderpaul 79 n.o., X.M. Marshall 39, M.G. Johnson 4-41, B. Lee 3-64, B.J. Haddin 4c) & 387 (X.M. Marshall 85, D.J. Bravo 69, S. Chanderpaul 50, R.R. Sarwan 43, J.E. Taylor 31, extras 38, S.R. Clark 3-58, B. Casson 3-86) by 87 runs

AUSTRALIA IN PERIOD OF DECLINE – STACKPOLE

Former Australia and Victoria opening batsman Keith Stackpole says that world champions Australia have started a period of decline after losing several great players.
"You've got to be honest about the whole thing, you can't replace the Warnes and McGraths and Langers and Martyn and Gilchrist (who) to me was the greatest number seven to play the game, it's hard to replace those fellas," Stackpole told veteran commentator Reds Perreira during a Starcom Network tea time radio interview on the fourth day of the Third Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Many pundits had predicted an easy Australian series victory but the top ranked visitors have struggled against the eight placed West Indians at various stages despite leading the series 1-0 going into the Third and Final Digicel Test.
"We've got a lot of problems that have been on display here in the West Indies, probably the West Indies haven't been able to nail, they've had a couple of opportunities but they haven't ceased them," said the 67 year old Stackpole who appeared in 43 Test matches between 1966 and 1974.
The former right hander who scored seven Test hundreds also bemoaned the dwindling numbers of genuine champion players who pull crowds.
"Yes we're (Australia) on the downslide but so is every country," reasoned Stackpole whose lone century against the West Indies was an impressive 142 at Sabina Park in 1973.
"My major concern about cricket (is that) people love watching champions, they love watching Tendulkars, they love watching Laras, they love those players and I love watching them myself, there are not many (champion players) around now that you really want to see," said Stackpole who is also a former Australian Broadcasting Corporation cricket analyst.
"There's Mohammed Yousuf from Pakistan, he's a gifted player, (Kevin) Pietersen the English player, quite a good player you'd like to watch but there's not many emerging young cricketers that are really going to take this game by storm and entertain people," said Stackpole who has a highest Test score of 207 against England in Brisbane in 1970.
Stackpole noted that exciting rookie West Indies opener Xavier Marshall has the potential to draw crowds to the game but must exercise greater thought when he bats.
"If I had been in the West Indies dressing room at tea time I would have sat him down and I would have looked him in the eye and said to him 'you're 42 not out, you've done all the hard work, at this stage of the innings you're inclined to throw it away, out there look at (Simon) Katich, look at (Phil) Jaques, if you've got the concentration, the desire and the will,  there is a big hundred that will open up your career but you've got to cease upon it today'," Stackpole advised.
"You have to sit him (Marshall) down and really get into his brain that this pitch is playing beautifully, there's no danger out there and everything is in his favour to get a big score and he's got to do it this innings," Stackpole advised.
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WEST INDIES RIDE THEIR LUCK AND HIT BACK

Marshall leads a spirited revival
Bravo survives torrid spell from Lee

Xavier Marshall (85 with 12 fours and a six), aided by three dropped catches, led a spirited revival which left West Indies at 235-3 needing 240 runs to win with 7 wickets in hand at the end of the fourth day of the Third Digicel Test Match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. However the advantage lies with the tourists as the injured Sewnarine Chattergoon is most unikely to bat. Simon Katich (157 with 14 fours was out early in the morning as Sulieman Benn (3-154) continued to test the batsmen. Michael Clarke (48 n.o.) and Brad Haddin (45 n.o.) not out took Australia into lunch at 439-5 at which point captain Ricky Ponting declared. Chris Gayle (26) and Marshall set off with a 64 runs first-wicket stand as if determined to score the 475 runs needed for victory by nightfall. They were helped by some unusually poor Australian fielding with dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities. Ramnaresh Sarwan (43 with 6 fours) and Marshall put on a further 95 for the second wicket. The young Jamaican continued to press the attack until he was caught brilliantly by Phil Jacques at short-leg. Dwayne Bravo (30 n.o. with 3 fours and a six), who has suffered previously from poor decisions, survived a perceptibly clear catch at the wicket and l.b.w. to a Yorker appeals in successive offers from Brett Lee. The fast bowler gave him a torrid time, but Bravo survived to drive him from the attack before the close. He survives to resume the challenge tomorrow with the ever dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul (27 n.o.)
Australia 251 (A. Symonds 52, S.M. Katich 36, B.J. Haddin 32, P.A. Jacques 31, extras 36, J.E. Taylor 3-46, F.H. Edwards 3-55, D.J. Bravo 3-61) & 439-5 dec (S.M. Katich 157, P.A. Jacques 108, M.J. Clarke 48 n.o., B.J. Haddin 45 n.o., R.T. Ponting 39, S.J. Benn 3-154): West Indies 216 (S. Chanderpaul 79 n.o., X.M. Marshall 39, M.G. Johnson 4-41, B. Lee 3-64, B.J. Haddin 4c) & 235-3 (X.M. Marshall 85, R.R. Sarwan 43, D.J. Bravo 30 n.o.) 

KATICH IMPRESSED WITH BENN  

 Australian opener Simon Katich who registered his fourth Test century on the third day of the Third Digicel Test in Barbados gave credit to rookie left arm spinner Sulieman Benn for his perseverance on a day when the West Indies bowlers toiled and picked up only three wickets as the visitors piled on 295 runs.
"The left arm spinner bowled pretty well, he set some pretty good fields and he gets a bit of bounce," said Katich who went to bed on an unbeaten 148.
The lanky 26 year old Benn is playing in his first Test on his home ground and the second in his career after making his debut in Guyana against Sri Lanka earlier in the season when he took three wickets in that game and showed potential with the bat lower down the order.
In the first innings here in Bridgetown Benn picked up the wicket of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (32) via the lbw route. And so far in the second innings he has accounted for Michael Hussey for 18 to have figures of 1 for 107 from 36 overs, five of which were maidens.
Katich also said that the Windies fast bowlers must be commended for their tireless work all series but that their batsmen did not always give them full support.
"The quicks stuck to their job as well, they stuck to it all series, if anything, they are pretty disappointed with them getting (216) yesterday," the left hander told journalist at the end of the third day of at the Kensington Oval with Australia comfortably in charge, on 330 for 3, an overall lead of 365 with two days remaining in the final Digicel Test of the three match series which Australia leads 1-0 after their victory in Jamaica and a draw in Antigua.
 "Their bowlers have stuck at it reasonably well throughout the series and would have hoped for a few more runs," Katich reasoned.
Katich who is opening the Australian innings in place of the injured Mathew Hayden said that a bit of negative bowling by West Indies captain gave him confidence that they were comfortably in charge.
"There were periods (when Chris Gayle was bowling wide outside off stump) where you felt if you didn't take any risks, try and work ones and two, you feel you are on top and in control of the game," Katich revealed.
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AUSTRALIANS PRESS HOME ADVANTAGE

Double-century partnership for the first wicket
Katich appears to be ominously secure

The Australian pressed on relentless through the third day of the Third Digicel Test Match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados which they finished 335 runs ahead with 7 second innings wickets in hand at 330-3. Long before the close the West Indies were reduced to trying to staunch the runs before they could take the wickets. Simon Katich (148 n.o. with 13 fours), who batted throughout the day, shared a 223 runs partnership from 72.3 overs for the first wicket with the more enterprising Phil Jacques (108 with 9 fours). Sewnarine Chattergoon damaged his foot in chasing the ball to the boundary and missed the rest of the day’s play. Until well into the second session the bowlers did not know where to look to get a wicket. After Jacques was caught by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin from Fidel Edwards his captain Ricky Ponting (39) maintained the pressure on the home side until he hit a ball from Darren Powell to substitute Runako Morton at mid-on at 299-3. Even so the batsmen were never in unfettered command. The bowlers generally stuck to their task and left-arm spinner Suliemann Benn (1-107), particularly, was never mastered. In the closing moments he induced Mike Hussey (18) to turn a delivery to Dayne Bravo “round-the-corner” on the leg-side, and gave Michael Clarke, who was on a “pair”, several close calls. Clarke has still to open his account, but Katich appears to be ominously secure in hitting his second century in as many matches.
Australia 226-8 (A. Symonds 52, S.M. Katich 36, B.J. Haddin 32, P.A. Jacques 31, extras 36, J.E. Taylor 3-46, F.H. Edwards 3-55, D.J. Bravo 3-61) & 330-3 (S>M. Katich 148 n.o., P.A. Jacques 108, R.T. Ponting 39): West Indies 216 (S. Chanderpaul 79 n.o., X.M. Marshall 39, M.G. Johnson 4-41, B. Lee 3-64, B.J. Haddin 4c)  

I THINK THE GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB – DYSON

West Indies head coach says that since many pundits had predicted that the Australians would maul the West Indies in the Digicel Test Series and that has not happened that the home side has done well despite being 1-0 down in with the final Digicel Test hanging in the balance.
"In this particular series, considering that a lot of people thought that the Australians were going to come in and just take the series without any opposition at all and probably take it three nil, I think the guys have done a good job," Dyson told reporters at the end of day two of the Third Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval where Australia in their second innings are on 35 without loss after being blown away for 251 in their first innings. West Indies replied with 216 and the visitors have a 70 run lead with all ten second innings wicket in hand.
Dyson intimated though that the Caribbean public has to be more patient and not expect a complete overnight transformation of the team.
"We've played a couple of poor sessions, that's something you can't turn around in five seconds. This is one of the Caribbean conflicts that I have. People aren't magicians, you just don't click your fingers and all of a sudden everything turns around and is fixed," lamented Dyson who took over the head coach role in the latter half of 2007.
He blamed the poor regional First Class competition for inculcating bad habits in the players which are exposed and exploited at the international level by superior teams.
"You've got to look at a whole lot of things that contribute to this (inconsistent performance), you look at the sub competition (First Class) that the guys play in and the sort of cricket that they play and you see reflected exactly what we see out there (on the Test field)," said the 54 year old former Australian opener whose international career included 30 Tests.
"You can't take guys that are playing that (the regional First Class competition) day in and day out, bring them in (the Test team) and expect them, with the click of your fingers to go 'oh I'll play a totally different style of cricket'. You can play that way in the competition below, you can't do that in Australia because the competition below is much stronger," Dyson pointed out.
Dyson though said that despite this being a major concern he has not yet formally raised the issue with the West Indies Cricket Board.
And while analysts and commentators agreed that the West Indies top order played a series of poor shots which ended with their dismissals Dyson did not agree fully with the analysis.
"I don't think the batsmen throw it all away just like that, we're disappointed with the batting effort today and the batsmen would be first to admit that," Dyson revealed as he praised his main batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (79 not out) for batting beautifully.
"He (Chanderpaul) always does (make major contributions) unfortunately so far in this series some of the lesser profile players haven't made a major contribution to support that and that's a little disappointing and the guys themselves are disappointed with that," Dyson said
"I don't know about being soft dismissals, it's a very, very fine line, you want players to be aggressive, particularly on wickets that offer a bit of pace and bounce but on that fine line where it does not come off you want to term it "throwing it away", I don't quite follow that," Dyson said quizzically.
"We're not converting our 20s and 30s often enough, occasionally the execution isn't spot on and occasionally you get out to a superb catch or superb piece of fielding," Dyson said in defence of his batting line up.
And the Windies coach reckons that despite a 70 run advantage for Australia going into the third day's play and with the West Indies having to bat last on what will be a worn pitch the match still hangs in the balance.
"I score the game at the moment as being even, there's three days of cricket left, we're going to have to bowl exceptionally well and bat exceptionally well in the final innings, I don't see the wicket breaking up so it will be an interesting game from here in," Dyson assessed.
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AUSTRALIANS AHEAD – AFTER EARLY WEST INDIES SURGE

Stroke-making West Indians soon in trouble
“Atlas” Chanderpaul plays a lone, unsupported hand

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (79 n.o. with 12 fours and a six) played a lone, supported hand – as has been the standard fare – as Australia blunted the initial assault of the West Indies fast bowlers and finished the second day of the Third Digicel Test Match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados 70 runs ahead with all 10 second innings wickets standing. It could be decisive in what has been so far an unexpectedly low-scoring match. Fidel Edwards (3-55) and Jerome Taylor (3-46) quickly finished off the Australian innings in the morning for 251 runs in spite of some lusty blows from Brett Lee (23 n.o. with 3 fours and a six). The West Indian batsmen went for their strokes from the start and were soon in trouble against Lee (3-64). Chris Gayle was out to a spectacular “goalkeeping” catch by debutant Beau Casson at mid-off. Chanderpaul mixed aggression with defence and for a while had some support from the stylish Xavier Marshall (39 with 6 fours) who was not over-awed by the tourists’ attack. The dismissal of Dwayne Bravo (29) after a fifth-wicket stand of 60 sparked a collapse of the lower-order against the left-arm pace of Mitchell Johnson (4-41) who had been wayward in his earlier spell. None of the last five batsmen reached double-figures. George Headley was nick-named “Atlas” because he bore the entire West Indies batting on his shoulders – it is a name with which Chanderpaul has long deserved to be endowed. The home side trailed by 35 rubs on first innings.

Australia 226-8 (A. Symonds 52, S.M. Katich 36, B.J. Haddin 32, P.A. Jacques 31, extras 36, J.E. Taylor 3-46, F.H. Edwards 3-55, D.J. Bravo 3-61) & 35-0: West Indies 216 (S. Chanderpaul 79 n.o., X.M. Marshall 39, M.G. Johnson 4-41, B. Lee 3-64, B.J. Haddin 4c)

 THE BOWLERS DID A TERRIFIC JOB – GAYLE  

West Indies captain Chris Gayle was lavish in praise for his bowlers after they reduced Australia to 111 for 5 and had the world champions in a corner at 226 for 7 at the end of a rain curtailed first day of the Third Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval.
"They (the bowlers) have been doing a terrific job for the last couple of Test matches and to continue in this game is really good and it is just to finish off on a high now," Gayle told reporters at the end of the first day's play which allowed 56.4 overs until heavy showers in the final session brought an end to the day's proceedings.
Gayle singled out his irrepressible all rounder Dwayne Bravo who took three wickets for 48 runs from 12.4 overs for special praise.
"Bravo did well, extremely well, always picking up wickets for us, Bravo can come in the middle and get a few wickets," Gayle said of his 24 year old medium fast bowler who accounted for the wickets of Michael Hussey (12), Michael Clarke (0) and top scorer Andrew Symonds who made 52.
Jerome Taylor the Jamaican fast bowler made the initial breakthrough when a short delivery was skied by Phil Jaques (31) and Denesh Ramdin, the wicketkeeper, made a stunning catch running all the way to fine leg. Taylor then made the Australian captain Ricky Ponting (18) extremely uncomfortable for a spell then as is almost customary dislodged him via the lbw route.
In eight encounters in international cricket Taylor has accounted for Ponting on six of those occasions and must now be considering claiming the Aussie skipper as his 'bunny'. In the Second Digicel Test in Antigua Taylor dismissed Ponting on both occasions for scores of 65 and 38.
Previously Taylor had sent Ponting packing in One Day Internationals in 2006 for scores of 6, 1 and a duck.
Gayle noted that the West Indies team needs to get over the hurdle of taking the first five wickets then getting stuck.
"At the end we were stuck at five (wickets) for a while which we always do, we're always stuck at five and we have to try and push on and knock over the middle and lower order," Gayle reasoned.
The powerful left hander who is set to return to his main job of opening the West Indies innings after missing the First and Second Digicel Tests due to a groin injury reckons that the pitch is not a nightmarish one for batting.
"It is a decent wicket to bat on after the shine comes off the ball, then basically there is not a lot of sideways movement so once you dig in and decide you're going to bat on that track, it's very good," Gayle analysed.
 "It has generated pace, it is a bit quicker now, this morning it was a bit slow, it's getting quicker, the surface is drying out now so obviously the ball is going to come on more to the bat, once you apply yourself you will get runs out there," the big Jamaican power hitter reckoned.
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WEST INDIES PACE ATTACK HALTED BY RAIN

Gayle sends Australia in – and four wickets fall before lunch
Symonds survives again and comes back fighting

Andrew Symonds (52) survived – yet again – a perceptibly justified appeal for a catch by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin down the leg-side off Dwayne Bravo at 133-5 to put Australia on level terms at 226-8 from 56.4v overs after the West Indies fast bowlers had dominated the early stages of the first day of the Third Digicel Test Match at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. Without the hindrance of that poor decision, of several dropped catches, and a missed run-out opportunity, the home team almost certainly would have dismissed the tourists for well over 200 runs. Rain brought the closing session to a premature conclusion. The pace attack of Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards and Bravo dismissed the first four batsmen before lunch after captain Chris Gayle, playing in his first match of the series, invited the Australians to bat first. Symonds, again making the most of his good fortune, and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin turned the game round by adding 87 runs for the sixth wicket. Yet the pace attack were again in ascendancy by the close. It had been an exciting contest with 5 sixes and 22 fours struck, and excellent catches among the dropped chances – none more exciting than that by which Gayle pulled up within inches of the boundary rope when catching Simon Katich. Just before the close Sewnarine Chattergoon, returning to the side, held a scorching catch to dismiss Symonds. Michael Clarke, century-maker last time out, was  caught at the wicket without scoring.
Australia 226-7 (A. Symonds 52, S.M. Katich 36, B.J. Haddin 32, P.A. Jacques 31, extras 32, D.J. Bravo 3-48, J.E. Taylor 2-44)

HARD TO FIND WORDS TO DESCRIBE SHIV – SARWAN  

West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan whose century led his team in saving the Second Digicel Test was at a loss for words to describe the batting performance of Man of the Match Shivnarine Chanderpaul who scored unbeaten knocks of 107 and 77 in the two innings he batted in the game.
"It's very hard to find words to describe him. Over the last three years he has shown his consistency and he keeps better with age and it is really good for us as a team and hopefully we as batters can learn from him," Sarwan said of his Guyana and West Indies team mate who scored a total of 184 runs without being dismissed in the match.
Sarwan, who himself made impressive contributions of 65 and 128 said that the plan on the last day, as they needed to survive the entire day to save the game, was to bat session by session.
"Our focus was to take every session as it is, we needed to survive but at the same time we needed to be positive and then we would have taken it from lunch time and then analyse it at tea time, all in all we just wanted to be positive throughout the day," the stand in West Indies captain said at the end of the game.
His opposing number, Australian captain Ricky Ponting saluted the efforts of the Guyanese duo.
"We had every opportunity to win a Test match today, obviously Ramnaresh and Shiv played very well in that partnership in the middle of the day that we couldn't break, it was the difference between us winning and a draw," Ponting said at the post-match presentation ceremony where Chanderpaul was presented with his Digicel Man of the Match medal by West Indies Cricket Board president Dr. Julian Hunte.
The third and final Digicel Test of the three match Digicel Test Series commences on June 12^th at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. West Indies captain Chris Gayle who is suffering from a groin injury which prevented him from playing in the First and Second Digicel Tests is expected to play in that game and return to his usual opening slot.
Chanderpaul who said after the game that he has a minor thigh strain is also expected to be fit and ready for that crucial game when the West Indies will be looking to level the series.
The West Indies players return to their respective home territories for a few days of rest after gruelling back to back Tests. They will regroup in Barbados next week for the Third Digicel Test while the Australians will travel to Barbados where they will have a short break with their family members who have travelled from Australia to be with them at one of the world's premier tourist destinations.
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 CENTURY STAND BY SARWAN AND CHANDERPAUL ENSURES DRAW

Brett Lee threatens fresh break-through
Chanderpaul takes home side to safety

Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (128 with 18 fours and a six) and the ever dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul (77 n.o. with 8 fours) saved West Indies and ensured that the Second Digicel Test Match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua was drawn by putting on 142 runs for the fourth wicket. The home team closed the match 105 runs behind with 5 wickets in hand. Yet the early exchanges in the morning, following Australia’s overnight declaration, belonged to the tourists as by dismissing the two opening batsmen cheaply fast bowlers Brett Lee (3-51) and Stuart Clark threatened to break through decisively. Runako Morton, too, fell to the former at 84-3. However the two Guyanese batsmen steered their team through the worst of the peril and took them to a position of apparent safety by the mid-afternoon. Sarwan survived a appeal for an (almost) on-line stumping against Stuart MacGill at with his score on 92.  However it was not plain sailing. With the first delivery of the new ball left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson had the West Indies captain caught by Mike Hussey. Dwayne Bravo followed soon after. Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (21 n.o.) provided the support for Chanderpaul to take the home side to safety. It was not enough to win the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy – which remains with Australia – but it was enough to save the team’s pride and provide confidence for the future.    
Australia 279-7 dec (S.M. Katich 113, M.J. Clarke 110, R.T. Ponting 65, B. Lee 63 n.o., J.E. Taylor 3-95) & 244-6 dec (P.A. Jacques 76): West Indies 352 (S. Chanderpaul 107 n.o., R.R. Sarwan 65, X.M. Marshall 53, B. Lee 5-59) & 266-5 (R.R. Sarwan 128, S. Chanderpaul 77 n.o., B. Lee 3-51)

I'M JUST DOING MY JOB – CHANDERPAUL 

West Indies batting mainstay Shivnarine Chanderpaul who hit his nineteenth Test century – equalling Clive Lloyd as the most by a Guyanese – said that in scoring runs he is merely doing his job.
"I'm just doing my job," was the typically sharp and pointed response from the resolute left hander of few words when asked if he is getting used to the role of being the anchor of the West Indies batting line up.
Chanderpaul, who has now scored 7795 Test runs during his 111 match career at an average of 48.11, said that despite his record and reputation it is a major challenge to score runs consistently against international teams especially the number one team in the world in Australia.
"When you are coming up against the number one team in the world it is going to be mentally and physically tough to go out there and fight," Chanderpaul told journalists at the end of the fourth day's play of the Second Digicel Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium when he scored an unbeaten 107 to top score in the West Indies first innings score of 352 in response to Australia's 479 for 7 declared.
The 33 year old who debuted as a fragile 19 year old in 1994 said that had the three wickets which fell in quick succession to Brett Lee not gone down the West Indies would have been in a far better position as he agreed that it was a critical turning point in the game where Australia regained the advantage. The visitors now lead by 371 runs with four wickets in hand after posting 244 for 6 by the end of the fourth day.
"I think if we had batted on until tea it would have made a difference, we would have taken down that lead a little less by probably another hundred if we batted to tea," Chanderpaul said without acknowledging that the three decisions by ICC Elite Panel umpire Russell Tiffin were all faulty.
Dwayne Bravo was adjudged caught behind when the ball deflected from his thigh pad, Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy were both given out lbw when both were struck outside the line of the off stump whilst playing a shot. The West Indies were then all out on the stroke of lunch.
Chanderpaul's response to the umpiring blunders was nonchalant as he clearly shying away from publicly commenting on how seriously they affected the West Indies batting effort for fear of being officially reprimanded by the International Cricket Council.
"That is how the game goes, you can't worry about what's gone," Chanderpaul said.
He did however say that Lee bowled exceptionally well while picking up a five wicket match haul even if three of the wickets should not have been given out.
"He got the ball to swing both ways and was bowling pretty well so it wasn't easy," Chanderpaul remarked.
"There was one he surprised me with, an inswinging yorker and I started to open my eyes wide looking for everything," Chanderpaul said.
And when questioned about the prospect of another long day of facing Lee and the Australian bowling attack in order to save the match Chanderpaul pointed out that his team mates have the talent to do the job.
"We have enough talent in our team, hopefully the guys could just put it together and show their true talents out there tomorrow and bat well and we could all do well and save the game," Chanderpaul pointed out.
Chanderpaul acknowledged that it is going to be a tough task for the home side to keep the series alive after Australia won the First Digicel Test in Jamaica to lead the series 1-0.
"It's not going to be easy, it's going to be tough cricket, it depends how well we go out and bat tomorrow, we've got to play it session by session," Chanderpaul reasoned.
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CHANDERPAUL COMES THROUGH – AS LEE STRIKES

CARIBBEAN TOURS ARE HARD WORK – MACGILL  

A tour of the Caribbean, one of the world's premier tourist destinations, is every Test cricketer's dream. While this may especially be true during off days when postcard beaches are always a few short steps away, today Stuart MacGill the leg spinner who announced his retirement from international cricket, painfully detailed how difficult it is to operate as a bowler in unfriendly and punishing Caribbean cricketing conditions.
"Caribbean tours are hard work, very few of us (Australian players) cope well with tours over here, these tours are very hard tours," frankly declared the 37 year old leg spinner who is on his third tour of the region.
"Playing against the West Indies in the Caribbean is hard work, you've got some very good players who respond very very well to playing in this region," MacGill told journalists at the end of day three of the Second Digicel Test when he bowled 16 unquestionably wretched overs and was clobbered for 82 runs and picked up one wicket.
"It's hot, the pitches are unforgiving, the grounds are quite often small although this one (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium) is a great facility and you've really got to earn your dollars," said MacGill who has struggled to make an impact on the tour thus far, picking up five wickets (inclusive of two tailenders whose dismissals were forced by umpiring errors) from 52 overs.
MacGill who was expected to shoulder the brunt of the spin bowling load in the post-Shane Warne era has been extremely erratic in both line and length and also in general direction as batsman after batsman punished him for being embarrassingly loose. He hinted that apart from struggling to recover proper from wrist surgery there were mental issues which were also causing him difficulties.
"A lot of people watching from the other side of the fence only see the physical side of cricket, they don't see the mental impact (which) is pretty significant, you've really got to concentrate over here (in the Caribbean) otherwise things get away from you real quick," said MacGill.
MacGill, who indicated that he will continue playing First Class cricket for New South Wales, said that the tight schedule also took its toll on him, causing him to oversleep and miss the team bus' departure to the match venue on the second morning.
"We've had a pretty tight schedule, three days between Tests here plus the (warm up) game at Trelawny, I think the rigours of this particular tour have proven a little bit too big for me and historically it has been the case for a couple of bowlers so at least I am in good company," said MacGill in a clear reference to the legendary Warne who had an ordinary time in seven Caribbean Test matches when he only took 17 wickets and never had a five wicket haul in this part of the world.
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RAIN AND WET OUTFIELD – DRAW SEEMS LIKELY RESULT

MacGill announces retirement – and is clobbered
Sarwan is only wicket to fall in the day

The third day’s play in the Second Digicel Test Match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua was curtailed severely by rain and a wet outfield at the beginning – causing the entire morning session to be lost - and ended prematurely through bad light. Nevertheless by taking their total to 255-4 from 71 overs, still 224 runs behind with 6 wickets in hand, and effectively removing the danger of the follow-on West Indies should have gone some way to ensuring that the match is at least drawn.  The delay, however, did little for their prospects of victory and winning the Frank Worrell Trophy. The only wicket to fall during the day was that of Ramnaresh Sarwan (65 with 4 fours and a six) who was caught by Michael Clarke off leg-spinner Stuart MacGill at 182-4. MacGill, incidentally, announced his retirement from Test Match cricket – it was a sad farewell as he was hit for two sixes and ceded 8 no-balls. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (55 n.o. with 6 fours), who has taken up his usual residence at the crease,  found a further reliable partner in Dwayne Bravo (29 n.o. with a four and 2 sixes) with whom he had added 73 runs by the close.
Australia 279-7 dec (S.M. Katich 113, M.J. Clarke 110, R.T. Ponting 65, B. Lee 63 n.o., J.E. Taylor 3-95): West Indies 125-3 (R,R, Sarwan 65, S. Chanderpaul 55 n.o., X.M. Marshall 53)

GAYLE SAYS MARSHALL NEEDS COMFORT AND GUIDANCE

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said that rookie opening batsman Xavier Marshall who he is mentoring needs comfort and guidance in order to develop into a successful international cricketer.
"He is a youngster who needs a bit of guidance, I am a role model for him so what I do is to try and guide him as much as possible. When we play cricket together I try and pass on as much information to him as possible and show him along the road," the injured Gayle exclusively told DigicelCricket.com.
Ironically Marshall found himself in the West Indies final eleven for the Second Digicel Test against Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium because Gayle is injured and unable to play. Marshall scored 53 with eight stunning fours but fell late in the day to the left arm spin of Michael Clarke.
"He batted really really well, he just came back into Test cricket and he got a start which he did not capitalize on, maybe he was trying to be cautious coming on to the end," reasoned Gayle who said he did not say too much to Marshall before he went out to bat since he did not want to put him under any additional pressure.
"The only thing I asked for was a big one, I didn't say anything because I didn't want him to go out there and change his game," Gayle said.
Gayle also said that Marshall is a changed young man who is more focussed and determined after having disciplinary challenges early in his career. At the end of the opening day Marshall was lavish in praise for the advice and guidance Gayle, the senior West Indies opening batsman offered him several months ago.
"He has had difficulties throughout his career, he was out of First Class cricket for a year and now you can see the determination and the hunger. He is definitely a different person. He has had issues which the board has dealt with, he needed comfort to come back into the cricket and make it so far to be back into Test cricket," Gayle revealed.
"It's good to see him back and in a different and better frame of mind and now he needs to continue and keep his focus," the 28 year old left hander said. "He will eventually get a bit more mature and I am happy with the progress he is making, he is the sort of guy who plays the cricket with a passion, you can see that in how he throws himself around in the  out field," the tall and powerful Jamaican said of his fellow countryman. Gayle also revealed that Marshall is headstrong but that trait can be a major advantage in international cricket once he is managed well.
"He is a strong-minded person and he will never back down from any situation or anyone at all, it is all about how you go about things and manage him and how you show him how to capitalize in Test cricket," Gayle reasoned.
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AUSTRALIA HOLD ADVANTAGE

Clarke keeps West Indies on the back foot
Not out of the contest (but) have a tough task

Australia continued to enforce their advantage – with Michael Clarke outstanding – on the second day of the Second Digicel Test Match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. West Indies finished the day with three tickets down and trailing by 354 runs at 125-3. Simon Katich (113 with 9 fours) did not last long into the day before he was caught at the wicket from fast bowler Jerome Taylor (3-95) without adding to his overnight score. Andy Symonds followed him soon, but Brad Haddin (33) stayed with Clarke (110 with 12 fours) in putting on 64 runs for the eighth wicket. Brett Lee (63 n.o. with 8 fours and a six) added 54 runs with his vice-captain and had put on another 65 runs in an unbroken stand with Mitchell Johnson (29 n.o.) by the time Ponting declared the innings closed at 479-7 at the tea interval. The bowlers seemed to have given up hope of ending the innings without his intervention. Xavier Marshall (53 with 8 fours) gave West Indies a flying start but with little real support. The young Jamaican, whose career to date has not fulfilled his schooldays promise, gave little indication that he has not scored a first-class century. Clarke (2-7), now a left-arm spinner could not be kept out of the action, and by the close of play West Indies, with Ramnaresh Sarwan on 32 n.o., though not out of the contest, were facing a tough task.
Australia 279-7 dec (S.M. Katich 113, M.J. Clarke 110, R.T. Ponting 65, B. Lee 63 n.o., J.E. Taylor 3-95): West Indies 125-3 (X.M. Marshall 53)

   MARSHALL CREDITS GAYLE FOR SOUND ADVICE AND MOTIVATION

Opening batsman Xavier Marshall said that sound advice from West Indies captain Chris Gayle gave him confidence and motivation to work hard at this game.
"A couple months back Chris (told) me that it is up to me to go out there and prove that I can do it, he told me to work hard and once I worked hard the runs will come," Marshall told DigicelCricket.com shortly after the end of the first day's play of the Second Digicel Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Ironically Marshall is playing in the game as a replacement for Gayle who was again forced to sit out with an ongoing injury. He also confessed that he was surprised that he was recalled to the West Indies Test squad after being out for two and a half years since he played two Test matches against Sri Lanka in the summer of 2005.
"I'm a bit surprised but I've been working hard over the past few months and I guess when you work hard it pays off," said Marshall who was surprisingly selected in the West Indies Test squad after the First Digicel Test in Jamaica earlier in the week when he served as emergency fieldsman.
A bigger surprise came when at the toss he was announced as the second West Indies opening batsman alongside Devon Smith. Marshall replaced the injured Ryan Hinds in the squad and fellow Jamaican right handed opener Brenton Parchment in the final eleven. When asked what he thought was the reason for his surprising return to the squad the super talented 22 year old said that his performance in the Australia warm up game in Trelawny helped his cause.
"I think (it was) the practise game that we played against the Aussies before (the start of the Digicel Home Series), I did not carry on but I think I looked pretty good batting against the Aussies so I think that is one of the innings that they (the West Indies selectors) looked at and brought me back here," Marshall said.
In that game, playing for the Jamaica Select XI, Marshall, batting at number three, made 30 and 31 respectively. On both occasions he was the second highest top scorer but he suggested that during his performances he did not look intimidated by the Australian bowling attack. Parchment also played in that game, making 25 and 4 in the two innings. Marshall also said that his three Carib Beer Series half centuries this season aided his cause but expressed disappointment at not getting any triple figure score as "hundreds count". Marshall who had some disciplinary infractions in his younger days claims that he is long past that phase in his life and is more relaxed now.
"I think I am a bit more mature, people used to think I was a bit rough, now you can see I am more relaxed, enjoying my team mates, friends and so on and I think I am getting there," the soft spoken young man asserted. He is looking to apply that frame of mind to his batting. "I want to go out there and bat sensible, get a start for the team and carry on," Marshall revealed. And he believes that a major threat will be Australian paceman Brett Lee who bowled Marshall his first delivery at international cricket in a One Day International in 2005 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I think I would have to pay attention to Lee because he has a bit more pace than the rest and Stuart Clark as well (because) he hits one area on the strip and I just have to concentrate," reasoned Marshall who only learnt of his inclusion in the final eleven this morning.
He reckoned that while it was a difficult day in the field, the West Indies players coped with it well barring the one missed catch by Runako Morton (who dropped a straight forward chance from Simon Katich of Fidel Edwards when he was on 90). Marshall said that he thought that the physical toll of playing back-to-back Test matches may still have some of the players who played a gruelling five days of Test cricket in Jamaica a bit tired hence the sporadic lapses in the ground fielding.
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AUSTRALIA MOVE ON SURELY AT ANTIGUA

Century-maker Katich saves his Test Match career
Stroke-players Hayden and Gayle are absent

Australia moved surely, rather than commandingly, to 259-3 by the time bad light brought the first day’s play to a premature close after 82 overs in the Second Test Match against West Indies before a disappointing attendance at the Sir Vivian Richards’ Stadium in Antigua. The bowlers stuck to their task, but were not helped by fielding lapses, including two dropped catches, by the omission of a spinner from their attack, and by Simon Katich (113 n.o. with 9 fours) saving his Test Match career. The left-handed opener owed his further selection to the injury which has forced incumbent Matthew Hayden to miss the rest of the series. With Hayden and his opposite number Chris Gayle out of the match the contest was attritional rather than spectacular. Dwayne Bravo gave West Indies a break-through by having Phil Jacques l.b.w at 36-1. However Ricky Ponting (65 with 5 fours) was in the same form he had shown in the previous match at Kingston. He and Katich put on 136 runs for the third wicket, but shortly after attaining his 10,000^th Test Match run the Australian captain was caught by Xavier Marshall in the slip/gully cordon from Jerome Taylor. Mike Hussey did not settle as easily and mishit Darren Sammy to Shivnarine Chanderpaul  at 199-3. Michael Clarke (38 n.o. with 5 fours), recently joined to the tour, showed immediate form. He and the more restrained Katich seemed to be well in command of the crease when play came to a close.
Australia 259-3 (S.M. Katich 113 n.o., R.T. Ponting 65, M.J. Clarke 38 n.o.)  

 ENGLAND TO PLAY FOUR TESTS IN CARIBBEAN (Digicel Home Series 2009)

The West Indies and England will play four Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International during the Digicel Home Series 2009 in the Caribbean.
England will arrive in Barbados on January 21 and leave April 4. To start the tour they will have two warm-up matches in Barbados before the first Digicel Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on February 4.
The second Digicel Test will be at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua from February 13-17, the third Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval, Barbados on February 26 to March 2, followed by the fourth and final Digicel Test at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad from March 6-10.
The Twenty20 International will also be at Queen's Park Oval on March 15. The five Digicel One-Dayers then follow. The first two will be at the Guyana National Stadium on March 20 and 22, followed by two at Kensington Oval (March 27 and 29) and the finale in St Lucia on April 3.

SCHEDULE
January 25-27: Tour Match in Barbados
January 29-31: Tour match in Barbados
February 4-8: 1st Digicel Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica
February 13-17: 2nd Digicel Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
February 21-22: Tour Match in Barbados
February 26 to March 2: 3rd Digicel Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados
March 6-10: 4th Digicel Test at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad
March 14: Tour Match in Trinidad
March 15: Digicel T20 International at Queen's Park Oval
March 20: 1st Digicel ODI at Guyana National Stadium
March 22: 2nd Digicel ODI at Guyana National Stadium
March 27: 3rd Digicel ODI at Kensington Oval
March 29: 4th Digicel ODI at Kensington Oval
April 3: 5th Digicel ODI at Beausejour, St Lucia

WEST INDIES SELECTORS NAME SQUAD FOR SECOND DIGICEL TEST

The West Indies selectors have named the following players for the 2nd Digicel Test against Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from May 30th to June 3rd. 
Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Xavier Marshall, Runako Morton, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

SAMMY SAYS HE IS A STOCK BOWLER LIKE COLLYMORE 

All rounder Darren Sammy who has just completed his fourth Test match says that he understands his role in the team and sees himself as the stock bowler of the West Indies bowling line up similar to that of seam bowler Corey Collymore who is now playing county cricket in England for Sussex as a Kolpak player.
"I had to do a lot of bowling (in the First Digicel test) but I see myself as the workhorse in this bowling unit," Sammy revealed exclusively to DigicelCricket.com after the home team went down to Australia by 95 runs on the final day of the opening Digicel Test match at Sabina Park.
"I see myself as the one who supposed to bowl the bulk of the overs while they interchange the faster bowlers. My role in the team is similar to Corey Collymore, he used to do a very good job for us bowling maidens and applying pressure whether wickets fall at his end or the other end and I see my role similar to his," Sammy said shortly after the match ended.
The 30 year old Collymore played the last of his 30 Tests for the West Indies in June 2007 and also appeared in 84 One Day Internationals for the West Indies. The miserly right arm seam bowler took 93 and 83 international wickets respectively in the two forms of the game.
While accepting that he is not a genuine quick bowler, Sammy, the 24 year old St Lucian right arm medium fast bowler also likened himself to Stuart Clark who won the Digicel Man-of-the-Match prize for taking eight wickets in the match for Australia.
"I am not a tearaway fast bowler but if I could keep things tight sort of like what Stuart Clark is doing for Australia I would be happy," said Sammy who is the first St Lucian to play for the West Indies.
He said that missing the services of key players in captain and opening batsman Chris Gayle and lead strike bowler Jerome Taylor were huge blows to the home team going into the opening clash of the Digicel Test Series.
"Chris and Jerome are key members of our team and we missed them on the field but I must commend the other guys, even though we were missing two key players we still showed fight and spirit and determination," Sammy reasoned.
He also said that while he is not unhappy with his performance in the match he still thinks there are areas where he needs to constantly improve. In the first innings, Sammy was especially outstanding, taking two wickets for 78 runs from 29 overs. No bowler bowled more overs in the innings.
"This Test match could have been better for me, I thought I gave a couple of loose deliveries when bowling and in the first innings I didn't contribute at a crucial time (when he failed to score) when I was batting with Chanderpaul," highlighted Sammy who took seven for 66 against England on his Test debut at Old Trafford in 2007.
In the second innings when he made 35 and put on 67 for the seventh wicket with top scorer Denesh Ramdin (36) Sammy said they were looking to occupy the crease for as long as possible.
"The plan was to bat as long as we could and me and Denesh believed that we could have gotten to the total so we were just playing each ball on its merit and when we get the bad balls look to cash in but it was unfortunate that Denesh got run out and I myself got out in the end," Sammy revealed. "Overall it was a good Test match, we showed fight, we showed spirit, over the last two series we've showed improvement every game. The public is asking for us to show fight, we won't start winning right away but as long as we keep improving and show that we're competing against the top teams in the world that augurs well for the future of West Indies cricket," Sammy reasoned. "We gave the Australians a fight right down to the wire. We got ourselves into a winning position but the guys think that this Test match has more positives than negatives," Sammy said. "We bowled out Australia twice in a match which is a plus for us, the continued good batting of Chanderpaul and a whole total team effort," Sammy pointed out as some of the areas that the team was pleased about.
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CLARK CRUSHES WEST INDIES - AUSTRALIA WIN BY 95 RUNS

West Indies never really in the contest
Forced into injudicious shots by persistent accuracy

West Indies crashed to defeat to Australia, and more particularly to fast bowler Stuart Clark (5-32), by 95 runs on the fifth and final day of the First Test Match at Sabina Park, Kingston. In spite of a lower-order flurry the home team were never really in the contest as 6 wickets fell for 82 runs. Clark’s persistent accuracy forced the batsmen into taking injudicious shots – often to the fieldsman position positioned there for “the purpose”.  Denesh Ramdin (36) and Darren Sammy (35) prospered as the front-line bowlers Clark and Brett Lee (2-81) were rested. Their 67 runs partnership for the seventh wicket was ended with the former’s run-out by leg-spinner Stuart MacGill (2-43) who, after a flurry by Daren Powell (27), took the two wickets to end the innings at 191. The “regulation” West Indies batting collapse was particularly disappointing in view of their earlier determination. The Australian performance was patchy, depending too much on the success of a few individuals. It is either a portent of future failure when these individuals disappoint, or of greater achievements to come when those who were absent, or under-performed, here “get their act together”.  West Indies, who lost 8 wickets to catches in each innings, were not beaten by pace, but, apparently, by faulty application.
Australia 431 (R.T. Ponting 158, B.J. Hodge 67, M.E.K. Hussey 56, A. Symonds 70 n.o. F.H. Edwards 5-104) & 167 (A. Symonds 79, D.J. Bravo 4-47, D.B.L. Powell 3-36, F.H. Edwards 3-40, D. Ramdin 4c) beat West Indies 312 (S. Chanderpaul 118, R.S. Morton 67, D.J. Bravo 46, D.S. Smith 32, S.R. Clark 3-59, B. Lee 3-63, B.J. Haddin 4c) & 191 (S.R. Clark 5-32) by 95 runs

West Indies all rounder Dwayne Bravo who led his team's bowling performance in routing Australia for 167 by picking up 4 wickets for 47 runs said that the team is a more galvanised and happy unit now than in recent years. He pointed out assistant coach David Williams, the former West Indies wicketkeeper, as a critical component of their improved consistency.
"The way how the team has been playing has a lot to do with the assistant coach David Williams (and) what he brings into the team and the new management staff and what they bring into the team," Bravo told reporters at the end of the fourth day of an intriguing opening Digicel Test match at Sabina Park. "That togetherness that wasn't there before," the 24 year old all rounder declared. "One thing that stands out is that the team has been praying three times a day and I think that is the most important thing. Everyone in the team understands how important God is to us and I think that is the reason why we are seeing changes in everyone as individuals and as a team," Bravo revealed.
"We have to respect and understand that there is a God out there and that is one of the reasons why the West Indies team has been turning things around," Bravo said. "Our team has been playing as a team and has been enjoying each other's company and I think that is the key," Bravo said as the Windies closed the day on 46 for 1, 241 runs away from what would be a major upset victory. "I think we are in a very good position at this time and it is up to us as a team to continue the good work and move forward," Bravo said while revealing that he is confident of victory once the West Indies plays well in the first session on the final day.
"Once we ensure that we don't lose early wickets to let the Australians back in the game and once we have a good first session I have no doubt that we are going to go on and win the game," Bravo reasoned.
The right hander who made a blistering 46 in the first innings said that the wicket was two paced but that it was not unplayable.
“Over the past four days the track has been a bit up and down, that has been a bit of a concern. Once you apply yourself and be selective in your strokeplay you can get runs. It won't be in the back of our minds, we have to go out there, be positive and believe we are going to get the runs," Bravo said.
He accepted that he has been guilty of getting starts and then getting out but said that it was an aspect of his game that concerns him and he has been working to improve it. "I know I am guilty of getting starts and getting out, that is something I've got to work on, I've been working on it and I know I will get over it, I'm 24 years old, I started at a young age and I am learning my cricket at the international level which is a difficult thing," Bravo explained. And he also said that he comfortable with his position in the team. "I'm confident and happy with my position and I know I will do well. If someone finds that I am not consistent enough with the bat, I accept that and that is something I have to work on," Bravo said.

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ENTHRALLING FINISH IN PROSPECT

Symonds saves Australia's honour
Bravo “mops up” lower order

Andrew Symonds (79 with 9 fours and 3 sixes) saved Australia from the brink of ignominy on the fourth day of the First Test Match against West Indies at Sabina Park and set up the possibility of an enthralling finish on the final day. The tourists faced humiliation when night-watchman Mitchell Johnson was out to Daren Powell at 18-5, but Symonds and Brad Hodge (27) withstood the early assault of the fast bowlers. The absent Jerome Taylor was missed as support for the frontline attack of Edwards and Powell. His partner was out at 70 but Symonds increased his scoring rate in a 74 runs seventh-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (23) who was out eventually to a spectacular catch by Runako Morton at short extra cover.  Fidel Edwards (3-40) gave Brett Lee a “working over”, and just when it seemed that the tourists were pushing the match beyond West Indies’ grasp Dwayne Bravo (4-47) came back to “mop up” the lower order. Symonds fell to a lofted hit onto which Darren Sammy held firmly in spite of colliding in the field with Powell .  When bad light brought the day’s play to a premature ending West Indies still needed 241 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand.
Australia 431 (R.T. Ponting 158, B.J. Hodge 67, M.E.K. Hussey 56, A. Symonds 70 n.o. F.H. Edwards 5-104) & 167 (A. Symonds 79, D.J. Bravo 4-47, D.B.L. Powell 3-36, F.H. Edwards 3-40, D. Ramdin 4c): West Indies 312 (S. Chanderpaul 118, R.S. Morton 67, D.J. Bravo 46, D.S. Smith 32, S.R. Clark 3-59, B. Lee 3-63, B.J. Haddin 4c) & 46-1