From an encouraging position of 139 without loss, the West Indies suffered another of their now almost predictable batting collapses to finish the third day of the thirdCable and Wireless cricket Test here at the Kensington Oval on 291-8
Carlton Baugh fell for 24 off the last ball of what was another disappointing day for the West Indies and, on a bowlers’ nightmare of a pitch, the West Indies are in a deep hole, still 114 runs away from avoiding the follow on with only two wickets standing.
Yesterday the West Indies skipper, with the crowd chanting ‘Lara, Lara’ for almost his entire innings, battled suspected Chicken Pox, the Aussies bowlers and the pressure of once again being forced to play the role of saviour of his team batting at number eight due to his illness.
The superstar left-hander had to dig deep to produce another sensational innings for a wobbly team that depends almost entirely on his sub line batting?
Yesterday the task was just too much for the world double record holder who was trapped LBW for 14 just before the close of a day that began with much promise for the Caribbean side.
Baugh’s dismissal shortly after compounded the West Indies woes and spoilt the good work from twenty-three year old Chris Galye in the first session.
Gayle, recalled for his 29th test after being controversially dropped, responded with an accomplished 71 in a century opening stand with Devon Smith.
But inept shot selection from two key batsmen, Lara’s ill-health and a lack of mental toughness, combined to leave the home team once again on the ropes on a track described by Steve Waugh as the slowest pitch he had ever played on.
Regarded as the number one opener in the region, Gayle teamed up with Carl Hooper to play in the Double Wicket World Cup in St. Lucia and missed the Carib Beer final in Barbados.
He was not selected for the first two tests although the WICB made it clear that he was eligible for selection.
There was speculation that Gayle, with over 1,500 Test runs at an average of 35.28 with two centuries (175& 204) was being punished for missing the regional final although skipper Brain Lara said in Guyana that the best 13 players in the region were selected for the first test.
After four failures from the opening pair and the West Indies down 2-nil and in danger of a white-wash, Gayle was back.
Yesterday he batted with confidence and played some enterprising shots, reaching the boundary 12 times from the 154 balls he faced.
His presence at the top of the order produced an attractive 139 run opening partnership with Smith (59) before Gayle was bowled by Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie removed Smith three runs later and at lunch the home team were 149-2.
The West Indians had laboured in the field as the Australians piled up a massive 605-9 declared. It was generally agreed that the inexperience of the West Indies bowlers and the placid nature of the pitch were mainly responsible for Australia’s daunting score.
“It is going to be difficult to dismiss the West Indians easily on this type of track. I would not say I am confident... but hopeful of a result” Waugh told reporters at the end of the second day’s play.
Daren Ganga (26) in his 20th test, patted a full toss from part-time spinner Daren Lehaman straight to the fielder at mid-on at 205-3.
One run later Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with 64 test matches and over 4,000 runs under his belt, skied leg spinner Stuart McGill to deep mid-on off the first ball he faced.
From 210-4 at tea, the woeful Windies lost Ramnaresh Sarwan (40) and Omari Banks (24) both at 245, much to the disgust of another large crowd.
Both batsmen played ‘shots’ as they went after the Australians at a period when occupying the crease was of more importance to the home team’s cause than scoring runs.
It is unfair to expect players who have not consistently dominated in our ordinary regional first class competition to miraculously become match winners at the highest level against the best team in the world.
We hear that there is no real shortage of talent in the West Indies. We hear that our players are young and will learn. This is indeed so.
But until someone, somewhere, somehow harnesses that talent, develops it and instils the right attitude among our players from the under-15 level we will continue to perform poorly on the international stage and more and more talented youngsters will become former International players at a young age.