An unforgettable Test match (18 March 1999)
It has been said many times in the past and it will be said many times in the future: cricket, as the second Test between the West Indies and Australia at Sabina Park underlined, is a game of glorious uncertainty
18-Mar-1999
18 March 1999
An unforgettable Test match
Tony Becca
It has been said many times in the past and it will be said many times
in the future: cricket, as the second Test between the West Indies
and Australia at Sabina Park underlined, is a game of glorious
uncertainty.
After losing 5-0 to South Africa without scoring 300 in any innings
and losing the first Test against Australia by 312 runs in under four
days, and after looking down the barrel at 34 for four on the first
day at Sabina Park, the West Indies batted through the second without
losing a wicket.
They went on to rattle up 431 and nailed Australia, the unofficial
world champions, by 10 wickets with almost two days to spare.
In what was a fantastic performance, the West Indies left their fans
singing and dancing and with visions of other victories in the third
and fourth Test matches, almost shouting, this is our game, Australia
here we come.
Is it the beginning of the revival? Should Australia take the warning
seriously? It may well be; and despite Australia's quality, and
although they still remain favourites to win the series, they should.
The Windies, however, have not yet redeemed themselves. As manager
Clive Lloyd said after the victory, one swallow does not make a
summer, and there is still need for some good young batsmen.
The victory, however, especially the manner in which it was achieved
and the decisiveness of it, may be just what the doctor ordered to
instill some confidence in the players - to motivate the stars and to
inspire the young players.
The key to the West Indies success in this series is Lara, both as a
captain and as a batsman - and he seems to realise that.
As the captain, Lara appears to have learnt his lesson and certainly
on the field, he is now acting like a leader. He is now talking with
his players, exchanging ideas and motivating them.
As a batsman, Lara seems prepared and motivated, and with the star
batsman on whom so much depends in such form and in such a mood, with
Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul expected back, with Australia
in a daze after Lara's brilliant assault, anything is possible.
Whatever happens from here on, the fans will never forget the second
Test of 1999 - the Test in which Lara thrilled them with a dazzling
display, James Adams turned up with a gritty and invaluable
performance, Courtney Walsh continued his unrelenting march towards
the world record number of wickets in a career and Nehemiah Perry
celebrated his Test debut with some fine offspin bowling.
It was cricket West Indian style. The batting, especially on the
second day when Lara and Adams hammered 340 runs, was brilliant and
exciting and the attack, a lovely variety of two right-arm fast
bowlers, one left-arm swing bowler and an aggressive spin bowler, was
almost the perfect combination.
It was cricket, lovely cricket played on a pitch which, after the
problems of last year when the Test match was abandoned and despite
the cracks which opened up at the southern end after two days, was
what old-timers call a good cricket pitch.
Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)