Australia v West Indies - Third Test

Adelaide Oval

AUS: *WM Woodfull, AR Morris, DG Bradman, GS Chappell, SJ McCabe, AR Border, +IA Healy, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, DK Lillee, WJ O'Reilly.
WI: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, RB Kanhai, IVA Richards, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MA Holding, J Garner, CEL Ambrose, LR Gibbs.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: PJ McConnell & RC Bailhache

After scrapping doggedly for an unlikely draw in Perth, Australia entrusted the defence of their 1-0 series lead to an unchanged XI at the Adelaide Oval, whilst West Indies were forced to replace hamstring victim Malcolm Marshall with Michael Holding. Bill Woodfull won the toss, and on a ground where batsmen have prospered in ATG cricket - three triple hundreds have been scored at the Adelaide Oval, including one by Woodfull himself - he had no hesitation in electing to bat.

West Indies had the better of the first day though, reducing Australia to 223-7 by stumps, with only Stan McCabe (64) passing 50. Holding had bowled with hostility to claim four wickets on recall, including two in a devastating spell with the second new ball, but a spirited stand of 91 for the eighth wicket between Border and Lindwall on day two swung the pendulum back in Australia's favour, and after Border was out for 69 Lindwall added a further 53 runs with Lillee (25) for the ninth wicket before finally being caught in stunning fashion by Sobers in the slips for a career high 86.

Australia had totalled 367, a slightly disappointing score on a good batting wicket, but after a much improved showing with the bat in Perth, West Indies slipped back into their poor form of earlier in the tour and were skittled for 168 by early afternoon on the third day, saving the follow-on by just one run. Lindwall followed up his batting heroics by knocking over the first three wickets on his way to figures of 4-38 off 17 overs, and only four West Indians reached double figures, including nightwatchman Michael Holding, who biffed an entertaining 31.

Australia thus had plenty of time to set West Indies a daunting fourth innings target on a wicket likely to offer Bill O'Reilly some assistance, and led by Bradman's first century for five Tests they racked up a total of 302-4 before Woodfull declared shortly before tea on day four with a lead of 501. Bradman, who had passed 5000 career runs during his first innings 44, was not at his fluent best, taking 40 minutes to move from 95 to 100 and batting six hours in all for his undefeated 113, but with the support of Border's second fifty of the match he was able to oversee the addition of 152 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket before Woodfull called time.

Thus far the match had followed an uncannily similar course to that of the second Test, but this time around it was West Indies that now faced the prospect of having to bat for over four sessions to save the game. There did not appear to be any gremlins in the wicket as of yet though, and anchored by Haynes' first fifty of the tour the tourists reached 98-1 half an hour before the close before two late strikes from Davidson and O'Reilly left West Indies 131-3 at stumps with a whole day's play remaining.

Lloyd fell early on the final morning, losing his leg stump to Lindwall for 18, and Garry Sobers now joined Viv Richards at the crease to begin a partnership that was surely West Indies' final hope of salvaging the match. Sobers played his natural game, and reached 28 exclusively in boundaries before Morris just failed to hold on to a difficult bat/pad chance off O'Reilly shortly before lunch, a moment that was to prove pivotal in the eventual outcome of the game. Sobers adopted a far more conservative approach from that point on, and with Richards also batting in admirably restrained fashion, Australia's bowlers began to struggle to make an impression.

Richards was put down by Lindwall on 68 in Lillee's second over with the second new ball, and that was the last chance to be offered until half an hour before stumps as West Indies' fifth wicket pair stamped their authority on the final day's play. O'Reilly wheeled through 44 overs, conceding just 84 runs in the process, but the fact that he could only snare two wickets was a disappointing statistic for the hosts. The second wicket was that of Richards, but by the time Chappell bagged a sharp catch at slip, Richards had amassed 129 runs over the course of six and a half hours at the crease, an innings that was in complete contrast to his contribution at the WACA but every bit as worthy. Sobers eventually finished undefeated on 89, an innings that spanned 259 balls and five and a half hours, and his partnership of 185 with Richards had saved the game for West Indies.

For the record, the tourists finished on 357-5, still the thick end of 150 away from the most unlikely of victories, but the manner in which Richards and Sobers had played the hosts' attack must give them confidence for the final two Tests. O'Reilly had been ineffectual on a wicket that should have offered him some assistance, Lillee had a game to forget after recording his first ATG five-for in Perth, racking up match figures of 1-159 off 41.4 overs here, and the fact that the hosts shelled six catches over the course of the match must be of concern. Nonetheless, Australia maintain their series lead going into the final two Tests, and the main talking point now will be whether skipper Richie Benaud will be fit to return at the MCG, and who he will replace if he is selected. All to play for in Melbourne then, and a West Indian victory there would set up the ultimate final Test showdown in Sydney.

Scores
AUS 1st Inns 367 (Lindwall 86, Border 69, McCabe 64, Woodfull 49, Bradman 44; Holding 4-75)
WI 1st Inns 168 (Richards 42; Lindwall 4-38)
AUS 2nd Inns 302-4 dec. (Bradman 113*, Border 68*)
WI 2nd Inns 357-5 (Richards 129, Sobers 89*, Haynes 52)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: IVA Richards

Australia v West Indies - Second Test

The WACA Ground, Perth

AUS: *WM Woodfull, AR Morris, DG Bradman, GS Chappell, SJ McCabe, AR Border, +IA Healy, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, DK Lillee, WJ O'Reilly.
WI: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, RB Kanhai, IVA Richards, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, J Garner, CEL Ambrose, LR Gibbs.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: AR Crafter & RC Bailhache

With Bill Woodfull installed as captain in Richie Benaud's absence, the Australian XI travelled across country to Perth 1-0 up in the series, and they were able to include both Don Bradman and Dennis Lillee in the starting line-up after their recent injury lay-offs. West Indies called up Clive Lloyd to replace Everton Weekes (ankle), and it was Lloyd who dominated proceedings as the tourists' batting finally sparked into life over the course of the first two days.

Proceedings initially began well for Australia as Lindwall and Lillee reduced West Indies to 22-3 on a typically hard and fast wicket at the WACA, but Viv Richards led a bold counter attack that saw 172 runs added in the next two and a half hours. He raised his 50 by striking Bill O'Reilly for his fourth six, and was finally out for 96 when Allan Border held a good low catch at midwicket off Lillee. Richards hit ten fours and five sixes in all, and his cavalier approach was continued by Lloyd and Sobers throughout a rain shortened evening session on the first day and then into the second morning.

Sobers was eventually caught on the boundary for a hard hit 70, but Lloyd powered to his first ATG century, eventually racking up 140 before Lillee took out his middle stump shortly before lunch on day two. Lillee went on to complete what was incredibly his first ATG five wicket haul in his 29th Test, and the tourists' innings eventually closed on 400 shortly before tea on day two. Australia endured a tough evening session, losing Bradman caught behind for 41 when he gloved a rising delivery from Marshall and almost losing Chappell to a blow on the head from Garner, and it was only thanks to yet another gutsy knock from Allan Border and three dropped catches from West Indies that Australia eventually avoided the follow-on.

Border stood firm for an undefeated 96, having been dropped by Greenidge when on 48, and his seventh wicket partnership of 80 with Davidson (30) helped pushed Australia to a total of 291 and a deficit of 109. Garner took 4-50 on recall and Marshall bowled superbly for his 3-71, and as day three drew to a close it was now down to the West Indian batsmen to score quickly again in order to allow enough time to bowl out Australia on the final day.

And score quickly they did, racking up a total of 313-5 off just 76 overs before Sobers declared with a lead of 422 half an hour before tea on the fourth day. Haynes contributed 42 and Kanhai returned to some form with 66, but it was Richards, with an unbeaten 140 to go with his first innings 96, who dominated the innings, his runs coming from just 137 balls and including eleven fours and five sixes. He simply thrived on a track that still retained much of its pace, and although there were a few streaky shots between fifty and a hundred, it was a most dominating innings. O'Reilly eventually picked up three wickets but had been largely ineffectual after his successful return to the side in Brisbane, and Australia now faced the prospect of holding out for over four sessions in order to maintain their series lead.

Morris failed once again, and when Bradman was harshly adjudged caught behind off Ambrose by umpire Crafter for just 6, Australia were in deep trouble. By drinks on the final morning the innings had slid to 105-6 courtesy of Marshall and Ambrose, but first Test hero Stan McCabe was still there, and he wasn't going to give up without a fight. Alan Davidson became a willing ally, and the pair took Australia through to lunch without further loss, although Davidson should have departed almost immediately, surviving three huge shouts for caught behind off Marshall before he had scored, with only umpire Crafter knowing why he turned down the second of those appeals.

It was Lance Gibbs' turn to tie Davidson in knots after the break, but again umpire Crafter was unwilling to play ball, and when Dujon missed a clear stumping opportunity with Davidson on 22, one wondered whether it might just be Australia's day. McCabe stood unflustered through all the drama at the other end, and the pair somehow reached tea still unparted, much to West Indies' great consternation. The score was 168-6 at this stage, compiled over all of 89 overs, and the tourists now had a further 37 overs in which to pick up the four wickets they needed to level the series. The new ball came and went, and McCabe eventually crawled to the slowest 50 in ATG history after 359 minutes and 241 balls at the wicket.

Davidson finally departed with 25 overs left, bowled by Garner for 41, but his 76 run partnership with McCabe had lasted twelve minutes short of four hours, and with Lindwall hanging in for a further 90 minutes for 12, Australia were eventually able to pull off a miraculous escape. McCabe finished undefeated on 59 out of a total of 210-8, having batted for 478 minutes and 327 deliveries, and one of the most riveting Test matches of all had ended in a draw. It had been a game of contrasts, with West Indies posting their runs at a rate exceeding four an over before Australia's defensive marathon on the last day, and the teams will now reconvene in Adelaide with all still to play for over the second half of the series.

Scores
WI 1st Inns 400 (Lloyd 140, Richards 96, Sobers 70; Lillee 5-111)
AUS 1st Inns 291 (Border 96*, Chappell 44, Bradman 41; Garner 4-50)
WI 2nd Inns 313-5 dec. (Richards 140*, Kanhai 66, Haynes 42)
AUS 2nd Inns 210-8 (McCabe 59*, Woodfull 41, Davidson 41)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: IVA Richards & SJ McCabe

Australia v West Indies - First Test

The Woolloongabba, Brisbane

AUS: WM Woodfull, AR Morris, SJ McCabe, GS Chappell, AR Border, *R Benaud, +IA Healy, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, WJ O'Reilly, WA Johnston.
WI: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, RB Kanhai, EdeC Weekes, IVA Richards, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, CEL Ambrose, CEH Croft, LR Gibbs.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: AR Crafter & PJ McConnell

The opening Test of this long-awaited series certainly lived up to expectations, with both sides combining to produce a match that left nails bitten and nerves jangled. Australia entered the game without Bradman and Lillee, both of whom were still recovering from the injuries they picked up in South Africa, but replacements Stan McCabe and Bill O'Reilly were at the centre of the action as ball dominated bat over the course of the first two innings.

West Indies won the toss and batted, but they were bowled out inside a day as O'Reilly ran through the lower order to claim 6-39 and thus become the first player to reach 200 ATG wickets. Only Richards, with a typically punishing 78, offered any resistance, and once he was gone the last five wickets melted away for just 13 runs to leave the tourists 193 all out.

West Indies struck back in fine style though, and by tea on day two Australia had been bundled out for 208, with Lance Gibbs emulating O'Reilly by claiming five wickets of his own. Had it not been for Stan McCabe then Australia's plight would have been far worse, and his maiden ATG hundred dominated an innings where the next highest score was Lindwall's unbeaten 27. If McCabe's five hour effort was the high point for Australia, the low point certainly came when new skipper Richie Benaud was forced to retire hurt with a broken middle finger on his right hand courtesy of Malcolm Marshall, and his reign as captain looks as though it will be a brief one, at least for the time being.

Nonetheless, Australia led by 15 runs at the halfway stage, and West Indies' second innings got off to the worst possible start when non-striker Des Haynes was run out without facing a ball when Greenidge called him through for an impossible single off Lindwall's very first delivery. Davidson's throw from mid on was unerring, and the tourists were eventually three down before their first innings deficit was erased. Weekes and Richards rallied with 54 and 34 respectively, but Weekes was hampered by an ankle injury and Richards was forced to retire on the second evening after receiving a nasty blow to the side of his head from a Lindwall bumper. He returned briefly on the third morning, but it was left to Dujon (67) to guide the score to respectability, and a 66 run seventh wicket partnership with Marshall helped take the total to 197, setting Australia a target of 183.

Having not even reached the tea interval on day three, time was never going to be a factor for the hosts, and stand-in captain Bill Woodfull set out his stall to play a typically obdurate and, hopefully for Australia, match-winning innings. At 51-3 and 107-4 the result could have still gone either way, but a dashing, undefeated 50 from Ian Healy gave Woodfull the support he needed, and he was able to stroke the winning boundary half an hour before lunch on day four to finish unbeaten on 81 and to put Australia 1-0 up in the series.

This had been a cathartic victory for Australia after their recent run of results, but a new captain is now needed for the second Test and possibly the remainder of the series; Bradman should be fit enough to play in Perth, but whether he will come back as skipper is a matter for renewed debate. West Indies were again on the receiving end of some poor umpiring decisions here in Brisbane, but just as in the warm-up game in Adelaide their batting was simply not up to the mark, and it needs to improve before the teams travel across country for the second Test at the WACA.

Scores
WI 1st Inns 193 (Richards 78; O'Reilly 6-39)
AUS 1st Inns 208 (McCabe 103; Gibbs 5-61)
WI 2nd Inns 197 (Dujon 67, Weekes 54)
AUS 2nd Inns 183-4 (Woodfull 81*, Healy 50*)

AUSTRALIA WON BY 6 WICKETS

Man of the Match: SJ McCabe

Australia v West Indies - Tour Match

Cricket Australia Chairman's XI v West Indians

Adelaide Oval
4 Day Game
Umpires: CJ Egar & LP Rowan

Chairman's XI: W Bardsley, SG Barnes, *IM Chappell, AL Hassett, WW Armstrong, KD Walters, JM Gregory, +ATW Grout, MG Hughes, TM Alderman, H Ironmonger.
West Indians: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, RB Kanhai, EdeC Weekes, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MA Holding, WW Hall, J Garner, LR Gibbs.

West Indies' tour of Australia got off to the worst possible start as they crashed to an innings defeat inside three days against the Board Chairman's XI in Adelaide. The Board Chairman's XI, a team made up of players uncapped by Australia in ATG Tests, racked up an imposing 475-5 declared and then proceeded to bundle out the West Indians for 209 and 136 in less than 120 overs as the tourists paid the penalty for a very poor batting display.

The Australians scored at a rate exceeding four an over throughout their innings, with the foundations being laid by by Bardsley and Barnes' first wicket partnership of 169. The graceful Bardsley missed out on his hundred, but Barnes made no mistake, and capitalised on Hall's dropped catch when he was on 24 to the tune of 117 additional runs. The ebullient Barnes was joined on three figures by skipper Ian Chappell, who had himself been given a life on 29 when Dujon fumbled a straightforward stumping chance off Sobers, and Gibbs apart, not one of the tourists' bowlers managed to appear even remotely threatening. Warwick Armstrong rounded off the innings with a rollicking 93 and Chappell declared upon his dismissal, allowing his bowlers time to reduce the tourists to 157-5 by the close of the second day.

Jack Gregory completed his five wicket haul on the third morning to wrap up the West Indians' first innings, and once Chappell enforced the follow on it was spin that undid the tourists second time round as Ironmonger and Armstrong routed the Windies for just 136. Both bowlers were able to extract a considerable amount of turn from a dusting pitch, and one wonders whether their performance will influence the Test team's make-up ahead of the series opener in Brisbane.

For the tourists, only Rohan Kanhai passed 50 in either innings, and although he looked in good touch the same could not be said of most of his colleagues. Des Haynes was unlucky to be the victim of two very poor lbw decisions, and it must be said that the tourists were on the receiving end of a number of poor calls over the course of the match. However, this cannot mask the fact that the West Indians simply played some very average cricket here in Adelaide, and if things do not improve rapidly Australia will fancy their chances of avenging the blackwash with a resounding victory of their own.

Scores
Chairman's XI 1st Inns 475-5 dec. (Barnes 141, Chappell 130, Armstrong 93, Bardsley 84)
West Indians 1st Inns 209 (Kanhai 57, Dujon 45*; Gregory 5-70)
West Indians 2nd Inns 136 (Ironmonger 5-37)

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CHAIRMAN'S XI WON BY AN INNINGS & 130 RUNS

Australia v West Indies - Series Preview

At long last, West Indies' first ATG tour of Australia is upon us, and one can only hope that the cricket can live up to the hype and speculation that has been such a part of the build-up. The teams' previous confrontation in the Caribbean was a landmark series, but both sides have endured a period of mixed fortunes since then, especially Australia, whose number one ranking now hangs by a thread.

The biggest talking point since Australia's recent defeat in South Africa has been that of the captaincy, and it has been confirmed that Richie Benaud is to remain in the role that he inherited after Bradman's finger injury in Port Elizabeth. Benaud's appointment is for the duration of this series only though, at least in the first instance, so it will be a very testing time for Australia's new skipper in every sense of the word.

West Indies have also appointed a new captain in recent times, and Garry Sobers remains at the helm despite losing 2-1 in England. West Indies played some good cricket in the second half of that series, and the hope is that this form will be carried over to Australian soil. As expected, Messrs Greenidge and Haynes have been recalled to open the batting, Kanhai retains his spot at number three and there are recalls for both Joel Garner and Wes Hall to bolster the bowling attack. The tour starts with a 4 day game against a Chairman's XI in Adelaide, then the action moves to Brisbane for the first of five Tests.

The squad in full:
GStA Sobers (c), IVA Richards (v/c), CEL Ambrose, CEH Croft, PJL Dujon, J Garner, LR Gibbs, CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, WW Hall, MA Holding, RB Kanhai, CH Lloyd, MD Marshall, DL Murray, EdeC Weekes.