Tour diary: reflections on the Tests
Well we have come to the end of the Test match series and what a dissapointing reading it makes
Alistair Campbell
05-Apr-2000
Well we have come to the end of the Test match series and what a
dissapointing reading it makes. On paper it goes down as Zimbabwe
losing 2-0 but how different it could have been. If one looks
back one can see that we were on top, we somehow stopped applying
the pressure and relinquished the advantage we had worked so
hard to achieve, often in the space of a session. The biggest thing we
can learn from these two Test matches is the mental toughness
required to create and sustain pressure and once we get on top to
stay there. The Australians are past masters at this and their
record speaks for itself. However credit must be given to the
West Indies team who whenever in a sticky situation fought back
and did this to win the game in both instances.
There were some great performances on either side and some very
memorable moments. Andy Flower's 113* in the first Test was a
mammoth effort considering no one else passed fifty in the match;
Franklin Rose's burst of fast bowling that captured 4 wickets and
won the West Indies the first Test; Curtly Ambrose who won man of
the match in the first test for his fast amd accurate bowling
capturing 7 wickets in the match; Heath Streak who was
outstanding, capturing 9 wickets in the first test.
The second Test was highlighted by centuries from Murray Goodwin
and Jimmy Adams and the partnership between Jimmy Adams and
Franklin Rose that set a new 8th wicket record for
the West Indies. The four West Indian quicks bowled superbly in
second innings culminating in Courtney Walsh becoming the leading
wicket taker in Test cricketa fantastic achievement. Jimmy
Adams was adjudged man of the match for his fighting century and
Rover provided a motor car for the man of the series which quite
rightly went to Franklin Rose for his contributions in the two matches.
I have mantioned before in one of my reports the concern of many
at the state of cricket in the West Indies. I would like to say
from first hand experience that I find it flourishing. One has to
understand that every team goes through periods of transition and
I believe that West Indies are on their way up again. As far as
the passion for the sport is concerned, it has been an
unbelievable experience. There was a full house at Sabina Park
for nearly the whole Test; the noise was deafening but
exhilirating. It was an experience to enjoy and to treasure. In
Trinidad there was a particular individual by the name of Jumbo -
I believe every ground has its own particular character and this
one ran a thriving peanut selling business with his selling point
being is ability to throw a packet of peanuts with pin point
accuracy to anybody in the stand.
The one day tournament starts on Saturday with Pakistan being the
other side participating. I believe it will be a very entertaining
series. For us, it is time to put the Tests behind us and
realise that technically we held our own and were in some cases
better than the opposition. The thing that was missing was mental toughness.
We need to realise this and deal with it so when we get into good
positions again we focus all our attention on converting it into
a winning situation.