Back to the dark days

Christopher O’Leary believes that the West Indies touring party have a lot of
promise, but they will have to put that into play to scare Australia after the Ashes.

Out for 379 runs before the washout.

How convenient.

Australia’s dominate performance over an inexperienced West Indies at a stormy `Gabba hardly got the cricket world crying for joy.

In fact it feels like the world has revolved back in time to life pre-Ashes. Where Australian batsmen could leave their flaws unchecked and make massive scores against lesser nations.

Back before Andrew Flintoff could turn balls both ways, before the mischievous Michael Vaughan could set out a field.

On the first day the young West Indies squad looked like it had the goods.

I was genuinely excited when young gun Fidel Edwards heralded in the series with a captivating over that featured a variety of explosive bouncers and yorkers.

By lunch on the first day Corey Collymore found beautiful line and length to expose Australia’s underbelly.

The underbelly that includes Michael Clarke, who should be dropped to get mentally tougher, and Simon Katich, who should be dropped for good (there’s my one `explosive’ comment). Katich does give everything for his country, but he has never given much because he has never taken his chances and established himself in the order.

Australia looked as if they going to be embarrassed by their fired up opponents, so Ricky Ponting and the lower order dug in and turned what may have been a 1st innings score in the low 300’s to a respectable 435.

Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath then licked their lips at the pitch and decided the Test on the second day.

In hindsight the Windies’ expressions on the field gave signs of dismay and defeat from within.

Their heads dropped, catches were also dropped, and the top order simply did not have the skill or tenacity to bat through Australia’s bowling line up.

Chris Gayle, tormented by newspapers today for looking too cool and complacent in his team’s demise, actually bowled the most overs of any West Indian bowler.

Gayle bowled 47 overs for the Test, and he is not even a bowler.

Gayle’s figures are ridiculous because the West Indies should have selected a genuine spinner to take advantage on a turning pitch.

Gayle’s efforts with the ball are admirable, but he is meant to be an opening batsman that strikes fear into the hearts of men!

Yet Gayle made as many runs as he bowled overs because he was always nicking the ball to the slips in frustration.

His natural reaction is to cross bat bowling back to Jamaica, but some balls will actually have line and length, so Gayle will continue to have problems until he settles down.

The dreadlock opener should follow the lead of Matthew Hayden and Ponting, who both batted through decent spells in the Test.

Both Ponting and Hayden were forced after England to reinvent themselves as patient craftsmen, and their staying power lead them to centuries on Day 3 even when the Windies huffed and puffed but could not blow them down.

Let’s not get even started on Brian Lara because…jeez, it’s too hard isn’t it? He is probably going to hit form in the next couple of Tests, but at the moment he is a sitting duck to the media barrage that follows him around like a rash. All he can do is get his form up, lead by example and keep his teammates interested in the tour as a result.

They may not have the talent or tenacity of England, but they have the resources to mount competitive attacks against Australia.

They exposed Australia’s middle order, and they knew to pitch the ball up at Adam Gilchrist body to make him feel uncomfortable.

In Hobart the West Indies will need to keep their heads up and put tactics into play throughout the entire Test, even when the going gets tough.

Otherwise, all the cricket world will be counting is how many sleeps to Kevin Pietersen and Co. grace our shores.

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