Australia v West Indies (4th Test) Rick Eyre - 3-7 April 1999 CricInfo report

Day 1: Warneless Aussies struggle for runs

Australia failed to take full advantage of their eleventh consecutive win of the toss at the Antigua Recreation Ground yesterday. Batting first in the Fourth and final Test against the West Indies, they finished the first day Saturday on 5 for 221.

Australia went into this match with three changes from the side that lost by one wicket at Bridgetown. For the first time since December 1992, Shane Warne was missing from an Australian Test side for reasons other than injury. Matthew Elliott was also dropped and Jason Gillespie injured, the three replacements being Colin Miller, Greg Blewett and Adam Dale. For the West Indies, 21 year-old fast bowler Corey Collymore made his debut in place of Pedro Collins.

With Steve Waugh deciding to bat first after the customary Australian toss win, Slater and Blewett defended their way through an unspectacular Walsh/Ambrose opening spell. The fifty partnership came up in 21 overs, but shortly after Slater lofted off-spinner Perry over the long off fence, he became the first wicket of the match. Slater played an attempted cut shot off Perry to Dave Joseph at point, the opening stand of 60 becoming Australia's best of the series. Slater made 33.

Collymore took his first Test wicket after lunch, Blewett (32) edging to keeper Ridley Jacobs when attempting a drive outside off. Mark Waugh's disappointing series continued as he played a mistimed cover drive off Walsh to Hooper at second slip. Waugh (11) became wicket number 419 for Courtney. Waugh Senior replaced Waugh Junior at the crease, and at tea Australia were 123 for 3, a run rate of approximately 2.2 an over. Langer, who retained his place in this match mainly because there were others more in need of dropping, was on 29 and Waugh was 8.

Langer pulled Jimmy Adams for six shortly after the break, followed by a straight hit off Hooper over the boundary. Langer was run out when on 51, attempting a third run when the ball abruptly stopped short of the extra cover boundary, a brilliant throw from Perry breaking the stumps with the batsman out of his ground. Langer was the quickest of the Australian batsmen, scoring his 51 from 102 balls.

Ponting (21) failed to capitalise on a promising start when he padded up to an Ambrose inseamer and was given lbw. With the Australian captain bringing up his 50 in 122 balls, the day ended with the batting side on 221 for 5. Waugh was unbeaten on 52 and Healy, playing after days of doubt about dual calf injuries, was on four, 1.83 short of his series average.

A slow pitch and slow outfield conspired to keep the run rate below 2.5 all day, but the Australian batsmen have themselves to blame for not capitalising on useful starts. The four specialist West Indian bowlers shared the wickets one apiece plus the run out of Langer. The batting duo of Steve Waugh and Ian Healy have saved Australia so much in recent years, but Healy seems well below top form on this tour. Waugh's batting has been superb in recent months, except that all of his last three Test hundreds have been for losing teams.

After the day's play Shane Warne told reporters that he was contemplating retirement after being dropped from the team, and that he would consider his future over the next few days - a rash statement that is sure to be revised before this Test is complete.

Day 2: Lara's 100 against the run of play

If the 1999 West Indies-Australia Test series is remembered for nothing else, it will be for the extraordinary batting of Brian Lara. After two masterful match-winning performances in the Second and Third Tests, he scored yesterday the third-fastest century by a West Indian in Test history. Despite that, Australia finished the second day at the Antigua Recreation Ground well in front.

At stumps, the West Indies were 197 for 6 after the Australian tail had wagged for a first innings total of 303. West Indian captain Brian Lara scored exactly 100, his third Test ton in consecutive matches.

The second day began with Australia on 221 for 5. Ian Healy's wretched tour with the bat continued when he edged a rising delivery from Ambrose to Hooper at second slip, having scored six. Australia collapsed to 242 for 8 after Ambrose removed Dale (1) and MacGill (4). Number ten batsman Colin Miller should, on past form, have been a walkover. Should have.

Not only did Miller take most of the strike from Steve Waugh, but he made the most of it, slogging Ambrose for six not once but twice. The 50 partnership came up with Miller on 41. When Jimmy Adams replaced Ambrose in the attack he claimed the wicket of Miller in his first over, but not after the man they call ``Funky'' had slammed 43 runs from 38 balls - more than double his previous Test career aggregate.

McGrath failed to live up to his Test average when he fell for 5 to become Ambrose's fifth wicket of the innings and the 366th of his career. Steve Waugh ran out of partners, unbeaten on 72. The West Indies would have felt confident at one stage of removing Australia under 250. Instead the total was 303.

After a tight opening spell with the ball by McGrath and Dale, it was That Man Miller again who made the first two breakthroughs. Griffith (9) fell to a good diving catch by Healy, while Campbell (8) was adjudged caught by Mark Waugh at first slip after the TV umpire had decided that he had taken the ball cleanly just millimetres from the ground.

Dave Joseph (28) came to the crease at 19 for 1 and left at 176 for 4. He witnessed from 22 yards away one of the most devastating hundreds in modern Test cricket. After taking fourteen balls to get off the mark, Lara took eleven runs in four balls from Dale and it was on. Dropped at 14 by Miller off McGrath, Lara went on to reach his 50 in 61 balls.

The second 50 took just 21 balls. With a single off Miller, Lara raised his 100 from 82 balls out of 116 scored while he was at the crease. It was the third-fastest ton by a West Indian in terms of balls faced - Viv Richards taking 56 balls against England at the same ground in 1986, and Roy Fredericks taking 71 balls against Australia at the WACA, Perth in 1975.

Despite Lara's individual brilliance, the West Indies were in the position where they needed more. Lara failed to add to his 100 as Healy showed that he was back to some of his better form with a diving catch off the bowling of McGrath. West Indies were 136 for 3 when Lara left, still 167 behind.

Joseph's innings came to an end when he was trapped lbw by Adam Dale. Jimmy Adams failed to score before getting a fine edge to a Dale seamer for Healy's third catch of the innings. Adams will come to the crease in the second innings with the words ``Last Chance Forever'' in bright lights flashing over his head.

Ridley Jacobs was out for 4 from a bemusing lbw decision by Dave Orchard. A Stuart MacGill leg-break pitched outside leg stump and did not appear to have enough turn to hit the wicket, although Orchard seemed to be of the opinion that it did. Nehemiah Perry (2*) played out the remaining overs in support of Carl Hooper (40*), on whose shoulders the West Indies' hopes of a competitive first total rests.

Day 3: Is Australia's lead Lara-proof?

Australia need to win the Fourth Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground if they are to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy that they have held since May 1995. The third day's play Monday belonged to them as they went to stumps with a lead of 290 with eight second-innings wickets in hand.

Any thoughts that the West Indian tail would see them through to a total competitive with that of Australia's 303 were seen to evaporate within 8.2 overs on Monday morning. The WI lost four wickets for 25 runs to be all out for 222, a deficit of 81. Carl Hooper was run out for 47 after an excellent return throw from the deep by Glenn McGrath. Corey Collymore's unbeaten 11 made him only the fourth batsman to reach double figures in the innings. Without Lara's extraordinary 100, the WI innings had the appearance of the South African tour all over again.

McGrath took three wickets while Miller, Dale and MacGill claimed two each. At least Shane Warne, watching this match from the dressing room, would have the satisfaction of knowing that he wasnt the one being smashed about by Lara this time.

For those people who only attend the cricket to see runs being scored freely, there was absolutely no reason to be at the ground before lunch. Australia went to the interval at 22 for 1 after 16 overs of their second innings, making a total of 47 runs scored in the session. Greg Blewett (7) was the Australian wicket to fall, an Ambrose incutter striking the batsman low on the front pad, the bowler's appeal eventually being upheld by the Master of Suspense, Steve Bucknor.

Michael Slater took his score to 44 (including sixes off Hooper and Collymore) before getting an inside edge onto his stumps to become scalp number 420 for Courtney. Justin Langer was joined at the crease by Mark Waugh, both players batting for their Test futures. Langer showed unusual aggression against Ambrose shortly before tea, hitting him for three fours in four deliveries.

At tea Australia were 110 for 2, having scored 88 runs in the session - Langer on 40 and Waugh 17. Earlier in the session Jimmy Adams replaced the injured Ridley Jacobs as wicketkeeper in circumstances that appeared to defy the Laws of Cricket (see following article).

Langer brought up his 50 after tea with a six over long-on from the bowling of Nehemiah Perry. Mark Waugh's 23rd run of the innings was his 6000th in his eight-year Test career - the 8th Australian to reach that milestone. The Australians continued to dominate an otherwise somnolent afternoon's play, leaving the field on 209 for 2 - Langer at 84, sixteen runs away from his third Test hundred, Waugh unbeaten on 60.

As Steve Waugh carefully considers the timing of a declaration on Tuesday, he will need to think (a) has he left enough time to take 10 West Indian wickets? and (b) will the lead be enough to withstand the ferocity of Brian Lara?

Day 4: Australian lead passes the Lara-proof test

Australia appear set to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy tomorrow at the Antigua Recreation Ground. They will do this provided they can claim the final six wickets in the West Indian innings on the fifth day. If they fail to do that, or if the West Indies can score the 283 runs needed for victory, then the trophy will return to the Caribbean. Any thoughts of a Lara-led recovery are now gone as the West Indian captain was dismissed cheaply on Tuesday afternoon.

At stumps on the fourth day, West Indies are 105 for 4 in their second  innings, Australia earlier dismissed for 303 leaving a target of 388 in about 137 overs.

Australia began the day in a strong position at 209 for 2, leaving Steve Waugh to contemplate when he would need to declare. In the end, a declaration was not needed as the Australians lost their last eight wickets for the addition of 97 runs.

Mark Waugh (65) added only five runs to his overnight score before edging Ambrose to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, back on the field after his facial injury on Monday. After some tight containment for Curtly Ambrose coupled with negative bowling from Hooper and Adams at the other end, Langer brought up his third Test hundred with a single off Hooper. Langer faced 252 deliveries for an innings which has probably saved his Australian spot for their next series (expected to be against Sri Lanka in September).

Ambrose removed his second Waugh twin of the morning when Steve (4) fell in almost identical fashion to his slightly younger brother. After off-spinner Hooper had been defensive and ineffective for most of the morning, he removed Langer with a ball that spun quite a long way from outside the left- hander's leg stump to keep low and clip the off stump. Langer scored 127. Australia went to lunch having scored 65 runs in the morning session, Ian Healy (8 from 14 balls) outscoring Ricky Ponting (4 from 50).

Healy's best innings of the series ended after he had scored 16 runs, top- edging a pull shot off Hooper. Healy's batting average for the series is 6.62 - but that is not what he in the team for. The word ``meek'' can describe the surrender of the Australian tail. Normally at least one of the Australian bowlers can be relied on to bash a quick 20 or 30, but not this time - Miller (1), Dale (0), MacGill (2), McGrath (2).

Hooper removed MacGill but the Methuselah of the West Indian attack, Courtney Walsh, took all the others to finish the innings with 4/78. He has ended the series with 26 wickets at 20.73, but looks unlikely to have the chance to improve on his career total of 423 until early 2000.

Australia all out for 303, West Indies needing 388 in a day and a half. As was proven at Bridgetown last week, no target should be taken for granted by the bowling side.

After a subdued opening to the West Indian innings, Adrian Griffith was forced to retire hurt when struck on the elbow by a McGrath delivery. Campbell (24) and Joseph (3) saw WI through to 37 for no wicket at tea.

Adam Dale's first over after the break was worth 13 runs as Joseph smashed three fours, but in his next over Dale got his revenge, Joseph (17) holing out to Miller at mid-off. Campbell (29) fell to a superb diving catch by Healy, and at 58 for 2 Hooper joined Lara at the crease.

Even with 330 needed for victory, anything seemed possible. But not for long. Lara shuffled in front of the stumps and found himself struck on the pads by a McGrath delivery in front of off-stump. Dave Orchard agreed with the appeal, and the West Indian captain was out for 7.

Hooper lasted 55 balls for 12 runs before being trapped lbw by change bowler Greg Blewett. Adrian Griffith returned to the crease to join Jimmy Adams until the close of play - Griffith on 16 and Adams 18.

After play was finished Lara lodged a complaint with the match referee that McGrath had spat at Adrian Griffith following the last ball of the day. Television footage shows that McGrath, who had just finished bowling a fiery over at Griffith, spat at the ground in the general direction of the batsman as they passed close to each other as they were heading off the ground. Griffith did not appear to notice, but Lara complained that he thought it was a deliberate act of abuse. Match referee Raman Subba Row, after viewing video evidence, has said he will announce a decision an hour before the start of Wednesday's play as to whether any action will be taken against McGrath. He told reporters that he needed to determine whether McGrath ``spat at the batsman or simply spat''.

Day 5: Australia retain the Frank Worrell Trophy

The 1999 West Indies - Australia Test series ended much as it began, with Australia in control. But the fact that the visitors retained the Frank Worrell Trophy, settled when they won the Fourth Test by 176 runs yesterday, does not hide the fact that the series ended in a 2-2 tie. Brian Lara and Courtney Walsh, both written off at the start of the series for differing reasons, were the spearheads of a West Indian renaissance. If only their team-mates were joining in that renaissance.

At the start of the last day's play the West Indies needed 283 more runs to win. Failing that, they needed to bat all day with six wickets in hand to save the match. In the end, they were all out before tea.

Jimmy Adams began the fifth day on 18. He ended his innings on 18, the victim of an excellent leg-side stumping by Healy off Colin Miller. Healy showed a fine return to form in this match, even if his batting skills continue to elude him. Adams, the world's number one batsman at the end of 1994, must be due for the ``Never To Play For The West Indies Again'' stamp on his forehead.

A solid partnership between Adrian Griffith and Ridley Jacobs came to an end when the wicketkeeper was trapped lbw by change bowler Greg Blewett who was used in Pontingesque fashion (or Doug Walters if you are old enough) by captain Steve Waugh. Jacobs scored 16. With West Indies 158 for 6 at lunch, the remote chance of the home side scoring the necessary 230 runs was all but gone.

An entertaining cameo from Nehemiah Perry (26 from 35 balls, four fours) came to end when he mis-hit MacGill to the waiting Michael Slater at mid-on. Ambrose (4) lasted one scoring shot, losing his leg stump to become MacGill's second wicket of the innings. Griffith raised his 50 from 201 deliveries, but on 56 he fell lbw to a big-turning MacGill leg break. Steve Bucknor was satisfied it was out.

In the 103rd over of the innings, Glenn McGrath bowled a bouncer to Corey Collymore, which was fended off the bat-handle to Stuart MacGill at gully. It was McGrath's 30th wicket of the innings, the last wicket of the match. West Indies all out for 211, losing by 176 runs. Australia had come from behind to square the series and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy that they won on 3 May 1995.

Justin Langer won the man-of-the-match award for his second innings 127 even though Brian Lara's 84-ball 100 was without doubt the spectacle of the game. Lara did however walk away with the man of the series prize, though both Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh would have been worthy candidates.

This series was not the 4-0 drubbing that many had feared. Lara's electrifying performances have done a lot to keep interest in West Indian cricket alive, but there still must be cause for concern at the lack of depth in the region's ranks. Unfortunately a planned Test tour of Pakistan in October this year has been called off. If a replacement tour cannot be arranged, the WI will not be playing any more Test cricket until February 2000, when Pakistan and then New Zealand are scheduled to tour. It may be a long time for 37 year-old Courtney Walsh to wait to capture the eleven wickets he needs to catch Kapil Dev's world record.

For Australia, they survived their first challenge of the post-Taylor era - just. With so many talented batsmen at Sheffield Shield level, it is amazing that they still cannot come up with a stable and consistent top six in Tests. Ian Healy is not finished yet, and needs only 11 more dismissals to become the first wicketkeeper in Test history to break the 400 barrier. Nevertheless, the time for Australian selectors to seek a successor can be no more than a year of two away. The question must arise whether 27 year- old Adam Gilchrist is the long-term solution, or should they be grooming someone younger. And then there is the enigma that is Shane Warne...

With the seven-match one-day series starting on Sunday at Arnos Vale, St Vincent, it is Changing of the Guard time for Australia. Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Matthew Elliott, Greg Blewett, Ian Healy, Stuart MacGill, Jason Gillespie, Colin Miller and Andy Bichel are all on their way either home or to England for the county season. Adam Gilchrist, Michael Bevan, Shane Lee, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Tom Moody, Damien Fleming, Paul Reiffel and Brendon Julian join Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Dale as the one-day series kicks off Australia's World Cup warmup campaign.

McGrath fined

Glenn McGrath was found guilty by match referee Raman Subba Row of bringing the game into disrepute after being seen on television spitting on the ground at the end of the fourth day's play on Wednesday. A complaint by West Indies captain Brian Lara that McGrath had spat at batsman Adrian Griffith was rejected. McGrath was severely reprimanded, but forfeited 30 per cent of his match fee, the result of breaking a good behaviour bond imposed after he was found guilty of verbal abuse during the Fourth Test against England last December. Subba Row's decision was announced shortly before the start of the fifth day's play Wednesday.