WI 'Licked' On and Off Field

Melbourne-The situation remains depressingly constant.

For the fifth successive time, the West Indies enter the last Test of an overseas series here Tuesday their resolve in tatters and another defeat all but inevitable.

In each case-in Pakistan in 1997, in South Africa in 1998-99, in New Zealand last December and in England last summer-the loss duly followed.

Coach Roger Harper, unwisely but realistically, stated at the corresponding stage in England last August that his players were "very low" and "just waiting" for the tour to end.

He has made no such pronouncement this time but it is hard to imagine that it is any different, especially after the overwhelming margin of 352 runs in four days in the fourth Test here Friday.

Criticism has been biting and it can hardly have escaped the players' notice.

The Sydney Telegraph described them yesterday as "the worst team in 114 years" which covers every team that has ever played Test cricket. The Caribbean is half a world away but modern technology ensures that they are not quarantined from the discontent back home.

Yet, as captain Jimmy Adams has stressed, there are still six weeks remaining in Australia for the majority of the players-the fifth Test followed by the exhausting triangular One-Day series also involving Zimbabwe-and "we have to focus on playing better cricket".

It may be that they could scarcely play worse but Adams, his senior players, the coaches, the manager and the motivator, Joe Hoad, somehow have to ensure that there is not a total breakdown.

They can start by adopting a more positive approach on the field, by seizing the moment whenever Australia find themselves under pressure, as they have been more than once.

Instead of backing off, as he did at 149 for five in the first innings here, Adams needs to at least try to make the most of any advantage, however slight.

As strong as they are, the Australians are not gods. As was evident in the only close match of the series, in Adelaide, and especially when Brian Lara was getting after them in both innings, their nerves can become frayed when their much heralded record of successive victories is threatened.

It is easier said than done at this late stage but there is nothing more to lose. The ship has again hit rock bottom.

Adams and his colleagues can start with their selection.

Marlon Black must be brought back, given the advantage of bowling with the wind and used in short bursts. He was wastefully handled after his promising debut in Brisbane but his pace and ability to swing the ball are assets that should not have been so readily discarded.

With Merv Dillon eliminated by his ankle operation, he and Colin Stuart should share the new ball with full licence to go all out, Courtney Walsh coming on as first change in the containing role he has filled so far.

It would, of course, be a dificult call to make for it would be seen as an unbecoming demotion for such a great bowler. But it would be a tactical switch and team man that he is, Walsh would recognise it as such.

Mahendra Nagamootoo finally deserves a place, instead of Nixon McLean who continues to be ineffective and expensive.

Like Kerry Jeremy, Nagamootoo has been confined to net bowling while Adams has had to use Marlon Samuels and himself to spin and accelerate the over-rate.

Nagamootoo is not the world's greatest leg-spinner but would put variety to a one-dimensional attack. In addition, he is an enthusiastic all-round cricketerand enthusiasm is what is most needed now.

There is little that can be done with the batting.

Out-of-form Campbell

It would be in Sherwin Campbell's interest to stand down for he is clearly mentally shot at present. But the selectors did not give the tour selectors the benefit of a third opener.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has not had an innings since the second Test in Perth December 3, a layoff that may have helped him over his earlier traumas. His reinstatement would be at Wavell Hinds' expense but that would entail promoting Brian Lara back to No.3, not an advisable move.

Nor would any shift upwards of Marlon Samuels and Ridley Jacobs because they have been the only ones to have batted with any comfort and consistency. Both are in their appropropriate positions.

History, ancient rather than modern, provides a useful reference point for Adams.

Seventy years ago, the first West Indies team to tour Australia entered the fifth and final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground-the famed SCG-already heavily trounced in each of the preceding Tests.

It was only two years on from the West Indies' elevation to Test status and they had been repeatedly overwhelmed by an experienced Australian team including some of the finest players of the time, indeed of any time.

Don Bradman, Bill Ponsford, Alan Kippax and Stan McCabe were formidable batsmen, Clarrie Grimmett as effective a leg-spinner as Shane Warne, Herbert Ironmonger an outstanding left-armer.

Yet, by aggressive and imaginative tactics, that included declarations in each innings, they pulled off a famous victory by 20 runs.

Their batsmen shed the shackles that had confined all but George Headley and their fast bowlers at last found a pitch they could enjoy. Australia, at last, saw them at their best.

Headley and Frank Martin set them on their way with hundreds that were the basis of a declared first innings total of 350 for six.

The bowlers-pace from George Francis, Herman Griffith and Learie Constantine, spin from Martin and O.C.Scott-responded by remarkably dismissing their powerful opponents for 224.

Ahead by 126, captain Jackie Grant declared again at 124 for five and challenged Australia to make 250 to win. Griffith bowled the legendary Bradman for his first "duck" in Test cricket and a rejuvenated West Indies went on to claim their belated spoils.

These are different days but the enterprising spirit of the 1930-31 pioneers in the final Test at Sydney would not be out of place in the same circumstances now.