Aussies v. Windies - First Test.

[Donny]

After just 14 balls, the Aussies tactics seem clear. Keep Chanderpaul off strike and attack the other batsmen.

It's working OK as well. Dizzy already has Drakes and Dillon (both lbws).

Dillon's was Gillespie's 150th. Test wicket.

[Donny]

Well, Chanders found himself on strike against Gillespie and edged to Gilchrist.

Shortly after Jacobs hit MacGill over the longest boundary but fell to the next ball, a sharp catch at short forward square leg by Lehmann.

Next over, Dizzy claimed his 5th. wicket when he had Lawson plumb lbw. 5/39 from 20.2 overs. MacGill took 3/141 from 31.

The Windies lost 5/17 this morning. The Aussies need 147 to win.

[Donny]

Australia are 0/31 after 7 overs.

Langer is 22 and it's too cold to sit here anymore. I'm off to bed to watch this in comfort.

[HAL]

I would like to go to Australia sometime. . . . . I hear its quite beautiful.

[Donny]

Australia won by 9 wickets.

Langer was 78 n.o. and Ponting, 42 n.o. Hayden made 19.

Earlier in the day, Gillespie took 4/4 - 5/39 overall - to minimise Australia's run chase.

[Brown26]

what a great second innings by the aussies - bowled pretty well today with a bit of assistance from the pitch, but the boys made the runs smoothly and confidently - a long way form the aussie sides of late who can't chase. I was very impressed!!

- Ben

[HAL]

Oh. . . . when was that?

[couragous cloke]

well well well, mixed amotions in the westindies camp. shocking start the the game with "a shocker" De Silva totally wrecking our first innings with 4 wrong decisions including the dangerous Lara, ( missing oFf) chanderpaul (clearly pitched outside leg) devon smith ( inside edge into bad) and dillion( the worst decision ivE eva seen in tesat match cricket) in my view that was it, but the greatness of Brian Lara kept westindies in it before hitting his own wicket, Ganga playing a lazy shot and the tail, (like always ) never wagging. i suppose u could say that was the difference in the game, Australia's tail wagged impressively and Westindies fell miserably.

The Windies will be pretty high on confidence next test starting saturday. with chris gayle set to return, sarwarn (the vice captain) to come back and Lara and chanderpaul in devistating form. Watch out Australia.

[Pies Premiers 2003]

seems 3 west indians made centuries and still the windies got spanked in 4 days...

the aussies make runs too quickly for other team too compete....

ALL TOO EASY

[Pies Premiers 2003]

having clicking problems

[Pies Premiers 2003]

Only rain will save the windies from a whitewash

[Donny]

Waugh wants to avoid Americanising cricket
Brian Homewood - 13 April 2003


GEORGETOWN, April 13 (Reuters) - Australia captain Steve Waugh, whose team crushed West Indies by nine wickets in the first Test on Sunday, refused to criticise the umpiring in the match and said he did not want the sport to be Americanised.

The match was punctuated by a series of controversial decisions, with Sri Lanka's Asoka da Silva bearing the brunt of the blame.

But Waugh, celebrating his world record 157th Test appearance, said that uncertainty was part of the beauty of cricket.

"You don't want to end up with robots out there," said Waugh.

"We don't want the sport to be Americanised.

"We want to have controversy and we want to have something to talk about. That's why cricket is unique.

"I don't want to be too critical of the umpires, we all make mistakes."

Waugh said he was not worried about trying to stop West Indies captain Brian Lara, who made 110 on Saturday and was only out because he clipped his own wicket with the bat as he followed through on a shot.

"We were lucky to get that break but we made the most of that luck and that's what great sides do," said Waugh, adding that he did not want to dwell on his own achievement.

"It's a team effort and we don't focus on one individual," he said.

[Donny]

Georgetown April 13 (Reuters)

Lara did his best to look on the bright side after the drubbing.

The Trinidadian, who was reinstated as captain one week before the start of the Test after Carl Hooper's sacking, said he was encouraged by the centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Daren Ganga.

He was also lifted by the team's fighting spirit as they recovered from a 252 first innings deficit to make the tourists bat again.

Lara also thanked the crowd for their support - even though he was loudly jeered during the presentation ceremony by supporters angry at the firing of their fellow Guyanese Hooper.

"I'd like to thank the crowd who got behind the team for the whole game," he said. "I think the bowlers did very well on the second day and there was a very good effort from everyone on the third. I'm very proud of the guys."

"I think we are going to go to Trinidad looking to do much better."

Lara, who did not take part in the post-match media conference, admitted that Hooper's decision to pull out of the team had left his side short of a spinner.

"One of the reasons Carl Hooper was included was as a spinner," he said. "I'm sure the selectors will put their heads together and find the best solution for the second Test."

[Pies Premiers 2003]

Dont get me wrong..Lara is one of the best batsman in the world.....also one of the most exciting at times and makes centuries with such class...

BUT....

He is no good as a captain.........

[HAL]

I am not trying to get him or her wrong. But what?