West Indies tour of Australia 2009/10

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Fixtures

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Windies hit by Gayle''s forced departure

SYDNEY: West Indies has got its tour of Australia off to a disastrous start with captain Chris Gayle flying home to be at his mother''s bedside and his batsmen immediately faltering in his absence.

The swashbuckling opener withdrew from the tour match against Queensland, which began at Allan Border Field on Wednesday, just an hour before the toss when news filtered through his mother was gravely ill and admitted to hospital in Jamaica.

Gayle is now in serious doubt for the first Test against Australia, starting next Thursday at the Gabba, and possibly for the rest of the series.

The West Indies squad remain hopeful Gayle''s mother will make a quick recovery and the 30-year-old captain can make a return for the three-Test series.

But West Indies selectors, who would have been disappointed with an under-par first innings total of 271 against the Bulls, are already considering who to send over as a replacement player if Gayle cannot start in the Gabba Test.

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Australia’s confident beginning against Windies

BRISBANE: Australia started the Test series against the West Indies with confidence here on Thursday.

Their captain Rickey Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.

After opener Shane Watson was run out without scoring a run, Simon Katich with his captain came to rescue and made together 126 runs in the second wicket partnership.

Katich made 92 and Ponting scored 55. Michael Hussey (66) was also among the main scorers.

For the West Indies, Dwayne Bravo claimed two wickets.

Australia were 322 runs for five wickets at stumps on the first day.

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Windies disappointing start after Australia declare at 480-8

BRISBANE: Australia declared at 8-480 midway through the second session on day two of the first cricket Test against the West Indies at the Gabba.

In reply, the West Indies began disappointingly and their wickets were falling at regular intervals.

They were 134 for five at stumps while Travis Dowlin at the crease with 40.

After negotiating a tough opening period on day one, Australia’s batsman each took a liking to the favourable condition, with all bar opener Shane Watson (0) and hard-hitting spearhead Mitchell Johnson (7) making double figure contributions.

Simon Katich (92) topped the scorers, while skipper Ricky Ponting (55), Michael Hussey (66), Marcus North (79) and Nathan Hauritz (50 not out) also notched up half centuries.

Hauritz and Peter Siddle (20 not out) were the unbeaten batsmen when their captain called an end to the innings at the end of the 135th over.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo (3-118) and youngster Kemar Roach (1-76) were the pick of the bowlers, though all toiled hard in the hot, trying conditions, made all the more difficult by the absence of their most experienced option Jerome Taylor, who bowled only nine overs before succumbing to a hip complaint.

Brad Haddin and Marcus North, who resumed on 5-322, certainly appeared to have little trouble dealing with the depleted Winidies attack on a Gabba wicket that had dried to be almost rock-hard.

However, as happened time and again yesterday, just as the Australia bats appeared to be gaining the ascendancy, the visitors struck.

This time it was debutant Ravi Rampaul, who produced a lovely outswinger to have Haddin caught behind.

That brought Johnson to the wicket, but his stay was short-lived, with Sulieman Benn snaring his second wicket after the third umpire upheld central umpire Ian Gould''s decision that the budding all-rounder had got a light touch on a ball through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Rampaul went agonisingly close to snaring a second scalp, but was left shaking his head after substitute fieldsman Darren Sammi grassed a relatively easy chance from a thick outside edge off the bat of Nathan Hauritz.

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Bravo’s ton lifts West Indies to 336-6 in Adelaide Test

ADELAIDE: West Indies middle order batsmen Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul steered their team to a respectable total on the opening day of the second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Bravo posted his third Test century before falling for 104, while Chanderpaul scored 62 runs.

Both added 116 runs for the fourth wicket, which steadied the visitors from an uncertain 84 for three to 336 for six at stumps after skipper Chris Gayle won the toss and elected to bat.

Bravo struck 12 boundaries and a six in an aggressive knock, and rode his luck through a streaky 10-minute period in the final session, and Chanderpaul’s fighting four-hour knock of 62 ended controversially when he was adjudged caught behind off Watson’s bowling,

For Australia, all rounder Shane Watson took two wickets in the final session, Doug Bollinger was the early destroyer with a couple of scalps, and Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz claimed a wicket each.

Earlier in the first session, the West Indies lost three wickets – openers Adrian Barath (three), Gayle (26) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (28).

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Australia’s 174 no loss against Windies’ 451 on 2nd day

ADELAIDE: The Australian openers have responded brilliantly to an imposing West Indian first innings total of 451 with both Shane Watson and Simon Katich closing in on centuries at the end of day two of the second cricket Test at Adelaide.

The Adelaide pitch has thus far played true to its nature and has supported batting, as seen from the West Indian total and the start provided by the Aussie openers.

Peter Siddle kick-started the day brilliantly for Australia, catching Darren Sammy plumb with a full delivery.

Brendan Nash, batting overnight on 44, then added 44 with Suleiman Benn before the latter fell for 17 to Nathan Hauritz.

Next man in Kemar Roach did not last long, nicking one to the keeper in the very next over off Mitchell Johnson.

This brought in the last man, Ravi Rampaul, who hung around for almost 20 overs and thoroughly frustrated the Aussies, adding a vital 68 runs with Nash, a record for the tenth wicket against Australia.

In fact he remained unbeaten till the very end, scoring 40 with six fours and two sixes to his credit. The partnership ensured that the score crossed the psychological barrier of 400 and, in fact, went a couple of steps further and raised the 450.

Nash was unlucky to miss out on his second international hundred, bowled by an incoming delivery from former housemate Johnson. He scored 92, an innings of great composure and solidarity.

Watson and Katich then fought back brilliantly, shaving the deficit by 174 and managing to survive 48 overs, thus posting half-centuries in the process.

Kemar Roach bowled at great speeds in his first spell, occasionally in excess of 150 kph, but the batsmen were unshakeable. Both Watson and Katich looked extremely comfortable against all the Caribbean bowlers, with Watson expectedly playing the aggressor and Katich the sheet anchor.

Watson brought up his fifty off just 61 deliveries with a boundary behind point off Bravo. Katich posted his own fifty 14 overs later.

Post tea, there was a bit of drama with a war of words between Watson and Suleiman Benn, who got good turn and bounce thanks to his height. He even had a half-chance dropped, when a genuine edge from Watson bounced off Denesh Ramdin''s gloves.

Watson, then on 91, was stranded at the end of the day''s play an agonizing 4 runs short of a magnificent hundred, and knocking off the landmark and then starting all over again would be his top prioirity when he comes out to bat tomorrow. Katich meanwhile finished unbeaten on 71.

Australia must make this brilliant platform given by the openers count as they still are 277 runs adrift of the West Indies total. However, since the pitch is still a batsmen''s paradise, they would fancy their chances of scoring in excess of 350 tomorrow.

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Adelaide Test: West Indies 284-8 on 4th day

ADELAIDE: The West Indies made 284 runs for the loss of eight wickets at stumps on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia here on Monday.

The West Indies have gained an overall lead of 296 runs by the virtue of the first innings lead of 12 runs.

When the West Indies resumed on the fourth day at the Adelaide Oval at 23 without loss, captain Chris Gayle and Adrian Barath made 45 for the first wicket before Barath was run out for 17.

However, Gayle batted all day while wickets were falling at regular intervals on the other end.

Gayle completed his eleventh Test century and remained not out on 155 when play ended on the fourth day.

For Australia, Mitchell Johnson claimed four and Bollinger took two wickets while Shane Watson got one wicket.

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Australia-Windies Test ended in draw

ADELAIDE: The second Test match between Australia and the West Indies ended in a draw after Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin helped their team from an embarrassment of defeat here on Tuesday.

However, the hosts are still leading a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

West Indies resumed their second innings on the final day at 284-8 and they were all out for 317 runs.

Captain Chris Gayle remained not out on 165 to become the first West Indian captain to carry his bat through a Test innings. He hit seven fours and a six during his long innings of seven hours and 21 minutes.

Mitchell Johnson was the most successful Australian bowler with five wickets.

Australia needing 330 runs to win the match but lost five wickets for 139 before Clarke and Haddin struggled to avoid defeat and succeeded at the end. Australia were 212 runs for five wickets when the match ended in a draw.

Clarke made 61 and Haddin 21 as both put 73 runs for the unbeaten sixth wicket partnership.

For the West Indies, Dwayne Bravo claimed three wickets for 37.

The third and the final Test will begin on December 16 at Perth.

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Australia scored 339-3 vs. West Indies

PERTH: Australia reached 339 for three at stumps after an exciting start by the openers on the first day of the third Test against the West Indies.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and his decision was justified as they ended the first session without loss.

The tourists eventually made the breakthrough after lunch when opener Shane Watson missed out on his maiden Test century after he edged Roach to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin having made 89 of 130 balls.

Simon Katich missed out on a century by single run as he helped put Australia in a commanding position. The left-handed batsman reached 99 before he chased a ball outside off stump from Sulieman Benn and was caught at square leg.

Ponting was struck on the elbow in his second ball from a fired-up Roach and despite defying the pain he was forced to retire hurt on 23.

Michael Hussey made an unbeaten 81 by the close. Australia lead the serious 1-0.

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Aussies 339-3 vs West Indies at stumps

PERTH: Australia look set for a big total after reaching 339-3 on the first day of the third and final Test against West Indies in Perth.

Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich put on 132 before Watson fell for 89.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was forced to retire hurt on 23 after being struck on the arm by Kemar Roach, before Katich fell one run short of his hundred.

But Mike Hussey (81 not out) and Marcus North (23 not out) saw the hosts, who lead the series 1-0, through to stumps.

Australia handed fast bowler Clint McKay his Test debut, the Victorian replacing the injured Peter Siddle, while spinner Nathan Hauritz was cleared of a finger injury.

The tourists made three changes to the side that drew the second Test in Adelaide, injury victims Shivnarine Chanderpaul (finger) and Adrian Barath (hamstring) and the the omitted Darren Sammy replaced by debutant Gavin Tonge, Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deonarine.

Having won the toss, Ponting elected to bat after previously saying he would never bat first at the Waca again after last year''s disastrous first session against South Africa.

But Watson and Katich put on 106 in the morning session after Windies captain Chris Gayle dropped Watson at first slip when he was on seven.

Watson went on to plunder the bowling at will, hitting 15 boundaries in his 89, before being caught behind off the bowling of fast bowler Roach.

Ponting was struck on the left arm by the second ball he faced from Roach, and although he hit two fours and a six in one over and made 23, he was eventually forced to leave the field.

Ponting was taken to hospital but cleared of any break and will resume his battle with Roach tomorrow.

However, Ponting may find himself in hot water with match officials after being involved in a heated exchange with Dwayne Bravo that could see both players disciplined, as umpire Ian Gould was forced to separate them.

The tourists were then repelled by a solid partnership from Hussey and Katich that took the Australians to 217-1 at tea.

Katich was fortunate to survive a spectacular dropped catch by Dowlin at short-leg early in the final session but was out for 99 when he chased a ball well outside off-stump from Roach.

Despite being under significant pressure for his place in the side, local boy Hussey looked untroubled in taking Australia through to stumps with fellow Western Australia player North.

Gayle will reflect on a day when several dropped catches and misfields proved costly, and he is also likely to come in for some criticism for the use of his bowlers.

Gayle opted to use his spinners for most of the final session, despite having Roach (1-67) rested and available to attack the Australians with the sea breeze behind him.

More mysteriously, having bowled Roach into the wind during the first session, Gayle chose the same strategy for the final six overs before stumps.