Fourth Test Report Card
Just when most West Indians couldn?t stand to hear the strains of "Tie me Kangaroo down" or "Ballad of a working man" or watch the Aussies strut and lord it over another Caribbean ground, the home team managed to save the day and preserve seventy five years of history while setting the record for the highest run chase.
In a match marred by ugly sledging initiated by the Australians (most notably 'Spitting' Glen McGrath), we witnessed the coming of age of Sarwan, the savagery of Chanderpaul's blade, the level-headedness of young Omari Banks and the intimidating, if not necessary legal, thunderbolts from Lawson. It was test cricket at its most gripping and most emotional.
Spare a mention, too, for the work of pitch curator Andy Roberts and his support group of Antigua's prison inmates who produced a track with grass, bounce and carry. It was a surface that was helpful to both batsmen and bowlers alike. After the embarrassment of the Kensington wicket, this was a welcome change.
Here are the grades for the fourth Test:
CHRIS GAYLE:
After a welcome return to the team and form in the Barbados test, Chris Gayle reverted to his old static ways, essaying a huge drive at McGrath?s first legal delivery of his first over, losing his middle stump in the process. Showed more application, patience and grit in the second innings but undid it all by picking out Steve Waugh in an obvious trap. Gayle continues to develop well as an all-rounder, but must work on his slip catching.
GRADE: D
DEVON SMITH:
The young Grenadian continues to show some improvement, even though he still has a long way to go. Because of some footwork deficiencies, he continues to be caught in the arc between the wicket keeper and gully. However, he is getting starts and that bodes well for the West Indies future. He ended his first series with an aggregate of 189 runs with 2 half centuries and an average of 23.62. While somewhat underwhelming, we must realize that he was playing against Australia, and from here on in, the competition will not be as fierce. He also held a good sharp chance in the slips to dismiss Andy Bichel.
GRADE: C
DAREN GANGA:
Ganga started the series with a sonic boom and ended with a mere whimper, getting scores of 8 and 6 in this game. Still, batting out of position in the number three slot, he seemed to be one of the most comfortable and technically accomplished batsmen in the team. He must continue to score runs though, if he is to maintain his place. While his back to back centuries in the first and second test has bought him some breathing room as far as his place in the side is concerned, Ganga must score runs to play ahead of Marlon Samuels, whose two brilliant catches shows that he is ready to add some substance to his style.
GRADE: F
BRIAN LARA:
Under Lara?s leadership, the West Indies seem to have continued the upswing that began under Carl Hooper. After a few missteps, most noticeably in Barbados when he inserted Australia to bat on an absolutely dead wicket, Lara finally seemed comfortable leading the team, even though he managed to get out when well set and having the Australian bowlers at his knees. Lara's ultra aggressive approach causing him to pay the price in both innings, He did pave the way in the second for the onslaught that followed from Sarwan and Chanderpaul. His readiness to stand up to the Australians at their own game was also the perfect example to set for this young team who will have to get tough, and fast, if they are they are to regain the pinnacle of world cricket.
GRADE: A
RAMNARESH SARWAN:
The heir apparent to the line of Indian stroke makers form Guyana finally came of age in this test. There were many questions about Sarwan?s ability against top class pace bowling, and more about his propensity to gift his wicket away with the hook shot. Even though he did get out in the second innings to the hook shot, it was after he had scored a chanceless 104, effectively counter attacking Australia out of the match. Sarwan was firm in the face of McGrath's very public meltdown which resulted in a call to the Australia team by the ACB to warn Waugh about player behavior. Sarwan in all likelihood has managed to erase any doubts that he may have harbored in his mind about his suitability for the international game.
GRADE: A
SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL:
Old faithful came through again. Chanderpaul again showed why, even though many rate Lara as the most accomplished player on the West Indies team, he is the best batsman for a crisis. When it looked like the Australians would come roaring back into the game, Chanderpaul in partnership with Sarwan effectively slammed the door in their faces. He played with impeccable timing, great power, and a great sense of occasion. It was at this ground after all, that he had played second fiddle to Lara?s 375, effectively shepherding the master batsman to that milestone.
This innings was of no less importance, if entirely different in nature. Where that innings was all dogged watchfulness, this was filled with snarling aggression, where that was a supporting role, this was all Audie Murphy taking the hilltop and routing the enemy. That he was not there to see it through to the end, was tragic, however, the damage had already been done. The World Champions had been bloodied battered and bruised, and could not recover. Oh, he did it all with a broken finger.
GRADE: A+
RIDLEY JACOBS:
This was a very disappointing game for the veteran wicketkeeper. He managed to run himself out in the first, looking for an impossible single. In the second, umpire Shepherd made a mockery of a decision to give Jacobs out caught behind to a ball that was nowhere near his bat or glove. To his credit Ridley walked, but the crowd did manage to express their displeasure by launching a few missiles onto the field of play in protest. Ridley was as reliable as ever behind the stumps, snaring four catches in the first innings.
GRADE: C-
OMARI BANKS:
The kid from Anguilla proved, in only his second test, that he possesses nerves of steel. After a nightmare of a debut where he gave up 204 runs for 3 wickets off 40 overs, a lesser person would have wilted under the onslaught. Instead, his enthusiasm remained unchecked, his athleticism unfettered, plus his batting was a revelation. Middling everything and favoring driving on the up, Omari managed to guide the West Indies home with 47 invaluable runs. In fact, he batted with great maturity in the first to enable the West Indies to tie the Australian first innings total. As a bowler, while not world class, he does show plenty of variety, and was not afraid to flight the ball even though he got horrendous stick in Barbados and again here. Many catches were dropped off his bowling, at the expense of more flattering figures.
GRADE: A
VASBERT DRAKES:
Finally, after seeming to have boundless reserves of energy and enthusiasm, the burden of carrying the bowling attack finally seemed to wear on the veteran Bajan. He appeared tired, only taking two wickets in the match. It is with the bat that Drakes starred though, presciently going out to the middle before the start of play on the last day and visualizing the role that he would be called on to play later that morning. He was there to hit the winning runs and the image of him grabbing all the stumps when the game was won was a lovely sight.
GRADE: B
MERV DILLON:
Finally, Dillon managed to produce a performance worthy of one who has masqueraded under the sobriquet of "strike bowler." After being dropped from the Barbados test and seeing Jermaine Lawson laid waste to the Australians in the first innings, Dillon probably felt that he had to turn in a stand out performance. After Lawson went down to a back injury, and with the Australian batsmen threatening to route the WI bowlers, Dillon bowled unchanged between Lunch and tea on day three, effectively breaking the back of the Aussie batting. Dillon owes the West Indies many more performances like this.
GRADE: B
JERMAINE LAWSON:
Lawson finished with an ARG best 7 for 78, clinically cutting a swath through Australia's batting order with fast, hostile, high-quality bowling. Batsmen were ducking bouncers, and the crowd was dancing and singing. Even if Lawson?s performance prompted scrutiny by the ICC of his action, Lawson still managed to lift the spirits of West Indians everywhere. Here at last was the heir apparent to the long line of great fast bowlers.
GRADE: A