Postcard (30 March 1999)

30 March 1999

Postcard

from Justin Langer

Day five, third Test, Kensington Oval, Barbados

Irrespective of the final result I am very proud that I have just been involved in one of the greatest Test matches in the history of the game. To say our changing room was like a funeral parlour at the end of the day is something of an understatement, but on reflection we have all been involved in a fascinating game of cricket.

Before this third Test, Steve Waugh predicted that this was going to be one of the toughest Test matches any of us would play in. He was spot-on in his prediction. This was like an AFL grand final lasting five full days and being decided by a 60m torpedo punt kick after the siren. It was an incredible game of fluttering fortunes and duels between some of the modern day great's of this game.

To even attempt to put into words Glenn McGrath's performance would be an insult to the man who must be ranked amongst the greatest of Australian bowlers. Words alone cannot truly describe his courage, skill and sheer competitiveness...

Using mere words to describe Brian Lara's innings today would be pure sacrilege. Words alone cannot describe the immense batting ability of the most destructive batsmen currently playing international cricket...

To see Jason Gillespie in excruciating pain at lunch, and then to see him come back out and bowl with all his heart for his country, how do you describe that courage with words?

In terms of Test cricket, this game has had it all.

The individual performances of Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, Sherwin Campbell and Jason Gillespie were outstanding. Any game that has great players like Walsh, Ambrose, Warne, Waugh (x2), Lara, Healy, etc is going to be one heck of a contest and this was no exception.

Out in the middle the atmosphere was tense, exciting, loud, exhilarating. Again words alone cannot do the feeling of the game justice. The noise was like a six-hour rock concert. The tension was like that of a novice tight-rope walker. The excitement was like a Superbowl and the exhilaration had the adrenal glands pumping for six long, hard breathtaking hours. When Brian Lara secured victory with a typically crisp cover drive my mind and body felt drained of all the energy that had been pumping through every cell in my body for the whole day.

Writing this I still cannot believe that we are 2-1 down in this series. As great a Test match as it was, the cold hard facts are that we lost today and we know that it is going to take an awesome effort to recharge for the all-important fourth Test starting Saturday. The Caribbean is buzzing with excitement. The scene is set to see how good the number one Test-playing nation in the world really is. The West Indies have fought back like a battered Rocky Balboa. We have also taken some big hits in the last two Tests. Now it is time to see how good we really are!

From Barbados

Disappointed, drained, tired but very determined, JL