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 Australia v West Indies 4th Test, Melbourne, 26-29 Dec, 2000 AUSTRALIA WON BY 352 RUNS (Lead series 4-0)  WEST INDIANS HAVE NO ANSWER TO AUSSIE JUGGERNAUT There was to be no Xmas bonus for the luckless West Indians at Melbourne as win number 14 arrived with little interruption to the Australian's march. The home side's top order, put in by Adams were a little generous with their shot selection (wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs equalled the world record with seven catches in the innings), so it was up to returning captain Steve Waugh, with his 23rd Test hundred, to show them the way. From a solid 364, the script then cast the West Indian batsmen in the minor roles, apart from the unnerved Samuels who stood firm 123 balls for his unbeaten 60 out of 165. Gillespie and reserve seamer Adam Bichel (five for 60) did the damage, as the tourists again failed to get a foothold. Justin Langer and Mark Waugh took centre stage next with a partnership of 116, as Australia increased its already sizeable lead to 461 before allowing the West Indians another opportunity to look helpless and beaten before they started (Samuels stood up to be counted yet a again with 46, adding 54 with Jacobs). 109 was their collective effort, as Gillespie removed the top six (leaving them 23 for six) finishing with nine for 88 in the match. For a mere club player like myself it is hard to imagine the pride sapping pressure this series must have on the West Indian players. Once of world beating class themselves, now they are stripped bare of many of their heroes, fast becoming the whipping boys of Test cricket. Richard Kendall |
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Australia
364
WI
165