Carefree Batting Spells Trouble

The West Indies spent the first two days of the first test against Zimbabwe sleepwalking in the field and did not do much to convince anyone that they had woken up when it was their turn to bat.

Facing an energized and disciplined Zimbabwe attack at Harare, Wavell Hinds emerged the leading run-scorer so far with a handsome -- but somewhat carefree -- 79 but the West Indies are staring down the gun barrel at 241 for 6, still needing 66 to avoid the follow-on.

The third day's play was delayed by just under two hours after a practice ball was accidentally rolled into the pitch and the dented area had to be removed and then replaced.

All the top order batsmen save for the ever-reliable Shiv Chanderpaul have already made the return trip to the pavilion.

Except for the unfortunate Daren Ganga who compiled a composed and solid 73, the approach was reckless and lacked a desire to reverse the West Indies overseas fortunes, particularly in the face of the imposing 507 total posted by the home side.

Chris Gayle, in what appeared as a concerted effort to curb his natural aggressive impulse, spent 40 deliveries over 14 before Heath Streak got one to hold its line and rap the towering left hander on his back foot. Ganga and Hinds then sailed smoothly but Hinds showed no inclination to give up the airy shots through the mid-on/mid-off arc as he took the attack to the bowlers. After 95 balls and 14 fours, he went in the air once too often to rookie medium pacer Blessing Mahwire and Andy Blignaut reeled in the catch.

That was with the score on 127 shortly after lunch, and with the power-studded batting line up still in the dressing room, there was not much alarm. Captain Brian Lara replaced Hinds and looked as though he was more inclined to provide a batting spectacle for the few spectators on hand, rather than dedicate himself to the task of building an innings his team needed.

Not surprisingly, when he lofted spinner Raymond Price down Mahwire's throat the Zimbabweans celebrated as though they had just heard news of a turnaround in their country's economic fortunes. Lara hit five tortuous fours out of his 29 from 38 balls but, in the circumstances, the mode of dismissal was unbecoming.

Lara, more than anyone else, should know better.

Ramnaresh Sarwan replaced the capain and played cautiously for 9 before he -- annoyingly and unnecessarily -- played back and across the line and was plumb LBW. Price had removed two of the men who were supposed to have been leaders in the West Indies batting line up for a total of 38 runs.

Ganga defended one that bounced up, took the arm guard and rolled back onto his stumps -- an unlucky end to an innings that included 14 clinical fours from 140 balls.

Price was Zimbabwe's hero. By the end of the day, he had fired through 18 overs at two runs an over and had three wickets. His third was that of keeper Ridley Jacobs who was taken by Mark Vermuellen for 5. By then the score had reached 240 for six and for the addition of one more run and with light fast fading the umpires brought the only mercy to the Windies.

Shiv Chanderpaul was as dogged as usual at stumps and he'll return tomorrow on 19 with Vasbert Drakes (0*) at his side. Chanderpaul is the West Indies' last hope to save the follow on and the tailenders, possibly minus the injured Jerome Taylor, will have to hang around long enough to give him a chance.

Much like the pitch, the Windies batting seems to need a surgical replacement of desire and commonsense approach to overturn their merciless overseas run particularly against an opponent as supposedly weak as Zimbabwe.

DAY THREE FINAL SCORE:
Zimbabwe 507 for nine declared (Heath Streak 127*, Andy Blignaut 91, Tatenda Taibu 83; Fidel Edwards 5-133). West Indies 241 for six (Wavell Hinds 79, Daren Ganga 73; Price 3-39)