A rather misleading series scoreline
A 2-0 defeat for West Indies has not significantly improved their reputation but the result conceals a substantial improvement reflected in sharper fielding, improved running between wickets and more committed lower-order batting, writes Peter
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
A 2-0 defeat for West Indies has not significantly improved their reputation but the result conceals a substantial improvement reflected in sharper fielding, improved running between wickets and more committed lower-order batting, writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald. Many anonymous players who never toured Australia made their mark and the Australians were taken aback.
Not even a surprising decision by a third umpire prepared to ignore the evidence provided by Hot Spot, and so the review system, could take the gloss off a superb chase by the West Indies or a deserved victory by Australia. The West Indians can be proud of their performance. In times past they were granted five-match series but their stocks have fallen and they stand near the bottom of the rankings.
In the Australian, Mike Coward writes that Ponting and his jaded minions may get to keep the series trophy locked behind the glass panels at Jolimont, but it's the West Indians who will sign off the first leg of the tour in a better frame of mind. They suffered more injuries than the hosts but somehow managed to motivate themselves better with every setback. Coward adds that the Australians are yet to figure out a way to close-out Tests in the post Warne-McGrath era.
For years they played with arrogance and a sense of entitlement to victory and all the privileges that go with it. But now they have lost their invincibility, opponents loudly question their credentials. Clearly, this irks those accustomed to constant success and, as was the case here, frustrations abound and raw emotions are exposed. Furthermore, few members of this team feel secure and therefore are fractious and vulnerable.
In the same paper, Peter Lalor says Chris Gayle is responsible for putting West Indies back on the map. Gayle led an aggressive and entertaining pack of cricketers who won hearts in Western Australia when they took to the stage and performed a reggae set at a function. he also writes about Gayle's wicked sense of humour.
In South Australia a young female photographer asked him if he could sit with his knees together while she took the team's picture. "I'd love to," he said, "but I can't." She is still blushing.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo