If this was a prizefight, the West Indies would be cast in the
role of the faded ex-champ. Sporting lots of experience, but jaded
and dreaming of the days of long gone glory and devastating four
prongs, while suffering humiliation after humiliation. Zimbabwe
would be the younger never-was hoping to make its reputation
against a supposedly ex-champ!
In a battle of the minnows, and regardless of the West Indies
gaudy record of the 80's, we now find ourselves in the position of
minnows of test cricket. The West Indies refused to do the basics
and almost paid a heavy price.
FIRST TEST FINAL SCORE: Zimbabwe 507-9 declared and 200-7
declared. West Indies 335 and 207-9.
When the West Indies arrived in Zimbabwe two weeks ago, the
spectre of a drawn Test against the ninth-ranked team was furthest
from the minds of Brian Lara's men.
How quickly things change. When Zimbabwe declared their second
innings at 200 for seven give themselves 83 overs to defend a
373-run target, the visitors were suddenly clinging to hopes of
salvaging a draw.
There is good news on the Jerome Taylor injury front, according
to West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt.
The teenage fast bowler, who was
suffered a strained lower back after bowling just 9.4 overs on
the first day, has been cleared to return to "full activity" as
early as Saturday.
FIRST TEST, DAY FOUR: Zimbabwe 507-9 decl. and 94-4; Windies
335. (Zimbabwe leads by 266)
Four days into the first Test against Zimbabwe, the sleepwalking
West Indies finally woke up and showed a bit of fighting spirit --
thanks to the manful efforts of its most inexperienced player.
Fidel Edwards, a 21-year-old fast bowler in only his second
Test, batted purposefully at number eleven for 18 valuable runs as
the visitors scored a moral victory by avoiding the follow-on. With
crucial low order batting by Vasbert Drakes (31), Shiv Chanderpaul
(36), the West Indies still has an outside -- if unlikely -- chance
of a come-from-behind win.
FIRST TEST, DAY THREE: Zimbabwe 507-9 decl. Windies 241-6.
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.
