Australia v West Indies - Series Summary

After an innings defeat in the tour opener against the Chairman's XI was followed by a loss in the first Test in Brisbane, few people outside the Caribbean would have backed West Indies to come away with the laurels in this series, but that is exactly what they did. The tourists' batting - led by the incomparable Viv Richards - dominated the last three Tests, and an individual century tally of 6 to 2 in favour of West Indies over the course of the series underlined their dominance with the bat. Sobers (who enjoyed one of his best all-round series), Greenidge and Lloyd all joined the party at various stages, and Lloyd looks to have cemented a place in the side for the next couple of series at least. Only Gibbs disappointed with the ball as Marshall, Ambrose and Garner all averaged under 30, and had it not been for Stan McCabe's rearguard heroics in Perth then West Indies may have run out 3-1 series winners rather than 2-1 victors.

McCabe's form faded after the opening two Tests, as admittedly did that of most of Australia's representatives, and the hosts missed Allan Border's stabilising influence over the course of the decisive final two Tests. Australia's team selection looked unbalanced in those two games, with Benaud's lack of form in the pivotal number six position severely exposing his side, and many observers felt that he had been rushed back into the side too soon after breaking his finger in the first Test; innings figures of 19-2-107-1 in the final Test seemed to confirm such views. Don Bradman also suffered a huge dip in form, averaging less than 50 in a series for the first time in his ATG career, and with both Morris and Chappell AWOL for much of the series, Australia's batting looked decidedly fragile. Bill O'Reilly, who took a series-high 21 wickets but was battered into submission in both Melbourne and Sydney, and with Ray Lindwall Australia's only really consistent threat, West Indies were able to rack up huge scores in the final two games.

Australia now share top spot in the ATG rankings (with England and South Africa) for the first time after 141 Tests of lone dominance, and next season's Ashes clash in England could well see the true crowning of a new number one in the ATG world.

Australia - Batting
AR Border 266 runs @ 66.50, DG Bradman 324 @ 46.29, SJ McCabe 341 @ 37.89, WM Woodfull 332 @ 36.89, IA Healy 231 @ 33.00

Australia - Bowling
WJ O'Reilly 21 wkts @ 28.10, RR Lindwall 16 @ 29.81, DK Lillee 13 @ 42.08, AK Davidson 14 @ 42.14

West Indies - Batting
IVA Richards 667 runs @ 95.29, GStA Sobers 423 @ 70.50, CH Lloyd 416 @ 69.33, CG Greenidge 336 @ 42.00, PJL Dujon 186 @ 31.00

West Indies - Bowling
MD Marshall 19 wkts @ 23.00, J Garner 16 @ 24.56, CEL Ambrose 19 @ 27.42, GStA Sobers 12 @ 34.25, LR Gibbs 11 @ 43.73

WEST INDIES WON THE SERIES 2-1

Players of the Series


RR Lindwall & IVA Richards