A great series (9 April 1999)

9 April 1999

A great series

Tony Becca

The Cable and Wireless Test series ended at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's on Wednesday afternoon with both teams full of praise for each other, and the fans, from both sides, celebrating way into the night.

For the teams, it was a show of respect for each other's performance in a series which was well fought and which ended tied at 2-2. For the fans, it was a demonstration of their satisfaction at the end of some splendid cricket and a lovely contest, and that is why, together, they jumped and pranced to the music of "Rally 'round the West Indies", and sang along when Chickie's Hi-fi turned up with a rendition of "Tie me Kangaroo down, sport, tie me Kangaroo down."

Both sides wanted to win - Australia, to defend their ranking as the best in the world, the West Indies to shake off the disappointment of the drubbing in South Africa, and both sets of fans wanted to win - if for nothing else but bragging rights in the bars and on the beaches around Antigua.

In the end, neither side won. It was, however, a great series for cricket - a series in which Australia, after winning the first Test, lost the second and the third, and recovered to draw the series, a series in which the West Indies, after losing the first Test, hit back to win two for a 2-1 lead going into the fourth and final match of a series in which one team won by 312, the other by 10 wickets to level the count, and both, in what was labelled the moment of truth, going to the wire in a one-wicket thriller.

That was lovely cricket, and better still were some of the other performances.

After tumbling for their record low 51 and losing the first Test, and after struggling at 34 for four in their next innings, the West Indies batted through the following day without losing a wicket on their way to 431, and after Australia had scored 490 in the first innings of the third Test, after sliding at 98 for six in the first innings and then 105 for five in the second, after tottering at 248 for eight, they reached 308 to win the Test match.

And lest we forget, Australia also made some good recoveries.

In the third Test, after scoring only 177 in the second innings of the second Test, they were falling at 36 for three before they posted 389 while losing only more one wicket, and in the first innings of the fourth Test, they shook off Brian Lara's assault on the way to victory.

On top of that, even though, despite a few good performances here and there from others, they came from a few players, there were some outstanding performances.

The fans will never forget Lara's 213 at Sabina Park, his 153 not out at Kensington, and for a different reason, his 100 at the ARG; and they will long remember Steve Waugh's 100 at Sabina Park and his 199 at Kensington Oval - just as they will remember the bowling of Glenn McGrath, who bowled with fire and skill while taking 30 wickets, and Courtney Walsh, whose skill and stamina handed him 26 wickets.

Two others who made an impact were Jason Gillespie - the youngster who made a name for himself with his alarming pace and accuracy while supporting McGrath before he broke down, and veteran Curtly Ambrose who delivered some important spells.

Two for one, two for the other was a fitting result. What a pity there was not a fifth to decide the winners of the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)