MELBOURNE, Australia CMC – Embattled West Indies have come in for high praise from several unexpected quarters, following their fight-back against Australia in the just concluded Test match.

The Caribbean side lost the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by 177 runs inside four days but showed significant improvement, as their batsmen turned in a gutsy display in both innings despite the defeat.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann, as well as several highly-regarded members of the media, applauded the young Windies team for the way they rebounded especially following the nightmare in the Hobart first Test which ended in three days with an innings and 212-run loss.

“I was really pleased the way they fought back … after being six for 90 on day two and then obviously batting really well on day three,” said Lehman, a former Test cricketer.

“I thought they played really well and that’s what they’re gonna need to do going forward to improve as a side, they know that now… Back end they took the game to us.”