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 Michael Slater leads Australia to a 5-0 clean sweep

Sydney, January 6: Michael Slater guided Australia to a six-wicket victory on the final day of the fifth Test against the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Saturday. With this victory, Australia registered their 15th consecutive Test win and a 5-0 series clean sweep. Glen McGrath was adjudged Man of the Series.

Australia went to lunch at 154/4 and it was always just a matter of time before the mighty Aussie boys would collect their 15th consecutive Test win.

Man of the Match Slater was instrumental in Australian run chase with a brilliant 85 off 128 balls with 10 hits to the fence. He was well supported by Ponting (14) and together the duo guided the home side to a victory target just after the lunch break.
 
Skipper Steve Waugh, a first innings centurion, was out just before lunch ending another determined knock when lbw to Marlon Samuels for 38.

On Waugh's departure, Australia required just 25 runs to win with six wickets intact. Mark Waugh was out on the 10th ball of the morning when he hung his bat at a Nixon McLean delivery outside the off-stump and looped a catch to Jimmy Adams in the gully on his overnight score of three.

Slater pounded Nixon McLean for nine runs in the 18th over, a knock that included two slashing boundaries; while in the 30th over he brought up his half-century. Just three overs later, he was back to his swashbuckling best, smashing the hapless McLean for 12 and storming up the pitch with almost every Nahendra Nagamootoo delivery. Such was his impeccable form with bat that it appeared quite on the cards that Australia could wrap up the match before lunch
  
Australia completed the first hour at 86 for three and 87 runs from victory. Colin Stuart had a good shout for lbw when Slater was on 47 but Hair turned the appeal down.

Slater, who threw away a certain century in the first innings when he went after Nagamootoo and was out for 96, brought up his 20th Test half-century and fourth of the series off 89 balls with six fours.

Runs were coming at a great pace with an Australian victory inevitable. Thirteen runs came off a McLean over, Slater hitting two fours as the West Indies lost their grip.

Ponting joined Slater at the crease and while Slater was content to play safe until lunch, it took the talented duo less than five overs to clinch the team's 15th consecutive Test victory.

Australia won the first Test by an innings and 126 runs, the second Test by an innings and 27 runs, the third Test by five wickets and the fourth Test by 352 runs.

 West Indies hoping against hope

Sydney, January 5: Maligned West Indies got some hope of preventing Australia claiming an unprecedented 5-0 series clean sweep with the help of Mahendra Nagamootoo and Ridley Jacobs in the fifth and final Test on Friday.

Mahendra Nagamootoo and Ridley Jacobs cracked half-centuries to leave Australia with a testing 173 runs for victory.

Matthew Hayden was out in the second over, trapped lbw for five by Colin Stuart.

Justin Langer followed him back to the pavilion when Courtney Walsh got him lbw for 10 in the seventh over to take his 494th Test wicket and leave the home side a shaky 38 for two.

 West Indies all out for 352; Australia needs 173 for victory 

Sydney, January 5: The West Indies were dismissed for 352 in their second innings against Australia late on the fourth day of the fifth and final cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground here Friday. Australia will chase 173 runs to win the Test and complete a 5-0 series clean sweep and their 15th consecutive victory.

The West Indies led Australia by 12 runs with five wickets in hand.

Brian Lara hit leg spinner Stuart MacGill for three consecutive fours and went for a fourth boundary only to sky a catch to Colin Miller at deep mid-on, but Miller couldn't take it. Finally, Miller had Lara caught at the wicket by Adam Gilchrist for 28 off 36 balls. With Lara's dismissal the West Indies chances of salvaging the Test appeared gone.

 West Indies make a come back

Sydney, January 3: Steve Waugh completed his 24th Test century and Adam Gilchrist notched an impressive 87 before the West Indies came back with an opening partnership of 98 to lie 82 behind at the close of day three of the fifth Test in Sydney.

Glenn McGrath clean bowled Wavell Hinds on 46 with the second-last ball of the third day of the fifth and final Test to prevent a looming West Indies opening century partnership in their second innings here on Thursday.

Earlier, the tourists had weathered the Australians opening onslaught through their new opening pair, Sherwin Campbell and Hinds. Campbell and Hinds, who combined in a record 147-run first-wicket partnership in the first innings, put on 98 for the first wicket on Thursday.

 Tail Enders gives Australia 180 run lead over West Indies

Sydney, January 4: Tail enders Colin Miller and Glenn McGrath with the help of some lusty shots placed Australia at a 180-run lead over the West Indies on the third day of the fifth Test here on Thursday.

Miller struck two sixes and a boundary in his unbeaten 37 while McGrath hit 13 before being run out on the throw of Colin Stuart, while attempting a second run.

Earlier, skipper Jimmy Adams dropped the catch of Adam Gilchrist, who made the West Indies pay a high price for a fumbled catch. The dashing wicketkeeper-batsman profited from his reprieve blazing away for 87 with nine fours and a six off 124 balls to compound Adams' blunder in the gully off Colin Stuart.

Steve Waugh scored his 24th Test century to join Greg Chappell, Sachin Tendulkar and Viv Richards behind leader Sunil Gavaskar on 34.

Waugh was out for 103 shortly before lunch on a delivery from spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo. Waugh faced 238 balls and batted for 300 minutes. He hit nine fours and a six.Nagamootoo finished with 3-119 off 35 overs while Stuart claimed 2-81 off 23 overs.

Australia, racing towards their 15th successive Test victory and a 5-0 series whitewash, were dismissed for 452 off 135.4 overs about 30 minutes before tea in reply to the West Indies' 272.

At tea, the West Indies was 18 for no wicket with Sherwin Campbell on 10 and Wavell Hinds eight.

 Australia 284 for four at the close of the second day

Sydney, January 3: Australia were 284 for four at the close of the second day in reply to the West Indies first innings 272 on the second day of the fifth cricket Test at the SCG here on Wednesday.

Half-centuries from Michael Slater, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting took Australia past the West Indies first innings total of 272 all out and into a strong position to win the fifth Test at Sydney and complete the series whitewash

At stumps, skipper Steve Waugh was not out 82 with Ricky Ponting on 51. Waugh’s innings comprised of a massive 6 over the long-on boundary and many 4's and singles around the ground, which was another truly inspirational innings by the Australian captain. Ricky Ponting was in his usual aggressive form, carrying on the Slater legacy with many powerful drives and pull shots, to leave him on 51 at the close of play, also looking very strong and once again proving to be a valuable asset to the Australian team.

 Unlucky Slater out for the ninth time on 90’s

Sydney, January 3:  Michael Slater missed out on scoring a deserved century and got out again in the 90’s. This time he was out on 96 trying to loft leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and mistimed his shot to offer a simple catch to Marlon Samuels at point. His brilliant knock included as many as 13 boundaries.

Resuming after tea, the Australian innings was steadied by skipper Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. Australia were 237-4 with Steve Waugh at 56 and Ricky Ponting at 32.

The last West Indian wicket added 16 more runs to their overnight score of 256 before being bowled out for 272. The last wicket fell in the form of Courtney Walsh (4) who was caught by Mathew Hayden off Colin “Blue” Miller.

Australian openers made a cautious start in reply to West Indies moderate total. Courtney Walsh provided the first breakthrough quite early in the innings. He had Hayden (3) caught in the slip by Lara when Australia’s score was 17.

With Slater's dismissal,  he joins his skipper Steve Waugh to become the second batsmen in the world to be out in the nervous 90s for the ninth time.  

Most 90s in test cricket : 9 Michael Slater (Australia), 9 Steve Waugh (Australia) (includes two not outs), 8 Alvin Kallicharran (West Indies) (one not out), 6 Geoff Boycott (England) (one not out), 6 Clem Hill (Austalia) (one not out), 6 Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), 6 Rohan Kanhai (West Indies)

 Australia to chase West Indies total of 272  

Sydney, January 3: Michael Slater was breezily leading the way as Australia set after the West Indies' first innings total of 272 during the second day of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Wednesday.

At lunch, Slater was 54 off 64 balls, cracking eight fours and Mark Waugh on 14 not out. There was controversy in the hour before lunch when Justin Langer refused to walk when he edged to Brian Lara at first slip off Courtney Walsh when he was on seven. The match umpires called in the help of the third umpire in the stand to make a decision with doubt whether Lara had his fingers under the ball to claim a clean catch.

 Lara argued with the umpires over the decision minutes later at the drinks break that Langer was not out, but his mood lasted another 20 minutes until Langer was finally out for 20l, caught by Ridley Jacobs in Nixon McLean's opening over and leaving Australia at 55 for two.

Slater was particularly severe on West Indian leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and he was taken out of the attack nearing lunch having conceded 29 runs off his four overs. The West Indies added 16 runs to their overnight score before they were dismissed for 272.

 Stuart MacGill picks up seven wickets

Sydney, January  2: There was no respite for the West Indies despite an opening stand of 147 between Wavell Hinds and Sherwin Campbell as Stuart MacGill took seven wickets on his home ground of Sydney to reduce the visitors to 256 for 9 on the opening day of the fifth Test.

Stuart MacGill put the West Indies into a spin when he snared 7-92, undermining a record opening partnership on the first day of fifth cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground Tuesday.

The West Indies, who had already conceded the series after losing the opening four Tests, began the day positively with Sherwin Campbell and Wavell Hinds combining in a record 147-run opening stand.

MacGill broke the partnership, dismissing Campbell for 79 and following up with the wicket of Hinds for 70 in his next over. MacGill, then took the prized wicket of Brian Lara at 35 off 73 balls, when Mark Waugh took a wonderfully instinctive catch at slip.

Mac Gill  struck again in the same over when he had Ramnaresh Sarwan lbw for a duck, his third duck of the series. Marlon Samuels was MacGill's fifth wicket for 28. The wickets kept coming for MacGill. He had Jacobs stumped by Adam Gilchrist for 12 and in the next ball Nixon McLean was given out lbw to a leg break.

The West Indians return tomorrow to try and add to the score with Colin Stuart and Courtney Walsh yet to score.

 West Indians continue to dominate

Sydney, January 2, 2001: With half centuries to both opening batsman and a record opening partnership, the West Indians have continued to dominate play on the opening day of the fifth and last Test at Sydney.

Sherwin Campbell was first and Wavell Hinds followed. Both batsmen picked up half centuries during the second session of the fifth test. Sherwin Campbell (79) was scored his half-century off 111 balls, which included six boundaries.

Wavell Hinds (70) was well behind Campbell on the scoreboard, but did not take long to catch up, finding the boundary three times in quick succession after lunch.

The opening partnership last for half the day, which consisted of 147 runs, the first century opening partnership any team has scored against the Australians in over 30 tests.

Jimmy Adams was LBW to Glenn McGrath at 10. Brian Lara came in next and is playing at 17
be fore the tea break.

 West Indies win toss and bat in fifth and final Test 

Sydney, January 2:  West Indies captain Jimmy Adams won the toss and decided to bat first in the fifth and final cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground here Tuesday.

Australia are chasing their first-ever series clean sweep over the West Indies after winning the opening four Tests.

Australia are taking two spinners, Colin Miller and Stuart MacGill, into the Test in a bid to win an unprecedented 15th consecutive Test victory.

The match began under clear skies with the prospect of a full day's cricket.

 Waugh urges the Caribbean’s  to invest in youth

Melbourne, December 30: Steve Waugh urged the humiliated West Indies to invest in youth to climb from rock-bottom after the mighty Aussies defeated the West Indies by 352 runs in the fourth cricket Test here on Friday.

The Australians swept to an unprecedented 14th straight Test win when they routed the West Indies for 109 midway through the fourth day to take a 4-0 series lead into the final Test in Sydney in four days' time.

 "They are going through a tough time like we did in 1985, they've just got to stick with a couple of young guys who they think are going to be their future, the same way as Australia did then with myself, Dean Jones and Ian Healy," said Waugh, man-of-the-match for his unbeaten 121 in the first innings.  

 Australia beat West Indies by 352 runs 

Melbourne, December 29: Australia clinched their world record number of consecutive Test cricket wins to 14 with victory over the West Indies in the fourth Test here Friday.

They beat the tourists by 352 runs to take a 4-0 lead in the five-Test series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. West Indies were dismissed for 109.

The tourists lost their opening two Tests in Brisbane and Perth inside three days and last week's third Adelaide Test by five wickets early on the fifth day.

Australia will now push for a 5-0 series clean sweep in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which begins next Tuesday

Marlon Samuels made an unbeaten 60 in the first innings with another top scoring 46 before he was the last wicket to fall caught in the outfield going for his half-century off the bowling of Colin Miller.

Gillespie took the first six wickets to fall and finished with 6-40 off 17 overs.

The West Indian vice-captain, Sherwin Campbell was out for six after the opening half-hour. He wretched sequence of scores this series have been 10, 0, 3, 4, 18, 8, 5, 6; a total of 54 runs at 6.75.

Captain Jimmy Adams went out on a duck. Gillespie captured his sixth wicket in his next over when he removed nightwatchman Colin Stuart.

Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and Samuels had delayed Australia's victory before the left-hander was given out in dubious circumstances caught behind off spinner Miller. Jacobs made 23 off 40 balls and shared in a 54-run stand with Samuels.

Nixon McLean could not anything as he was run out for one in the final over before lunch leaving the tourists at 78 for eight.

 Adams appeals to save the paralyzed Carribean Cricket

Melbourne, December 29:  The West Indian skipper Jimmy Adams has appealed to his country's administrators to stop talking and act to revive paralyzed Caribbean cricket.

Adam couldn’t help himself from making such an appeal after the West Indies were defeated once again, tarnishing the image of once-proud West Indies cricket.

The mighty Aussies crushed them by 352 runs in the fourth Test to hold a 4-0 series lead with a Test to play. 

Caribbean cricket has been laid bare these past five years with a series defeat to England for the first time in 31 years and now the very real prospect of an unprecedented 5-0 series whitewash in Australia.

The 32-year-old Jamaican left-hander was a pitiful sight as he went for a first-ball duck at a time when he was needed most as the West Indies slid to be all out for 109 and hand Australia one of their most emphatic successes. He was out for a six-ball duck in the first innings.

Adams wants action from the Caribbean cricket authorities to turn things around.

"It is not ever a time to panic, I don't think panicking achieves anything," Adams said in the wake of the latest Test humiliation inside four days.

"You look at a situation, you assess it and you work out what is it that we want short-term, mid-term and what we realistically look for long-term in terms of years.” he added.

Adams admitted he is feeling the pressure of leading the under-achieving West Indian team.

"Of course, the results hurt," Adams said. "I'd like to consider myself always a realist but at the same time, you always try to be as positive as you can with all your players."

However, when asked how he was coping with the pressure of being in charge, Adams said that he was not so much physically (tired) but mentally of course.

Steve Waugh tried to console him and recommended Adams to have a serious drink. Waugh expressed his grief adding that Jimmy was a real nice guy and a good cricketer, but he (Waugh) was fortunate to captain an excellent side.

"At this time it's not happening for Jimmy, his batting's showing the signs of stress and what is going on, he's not thinking clearly with his shot selection and that happened today, but he'll come back from that." Steve said.

With the fifth and final Test coming up at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Adams said that he knew it was going to be a tough one again but he will have to deal with it.

 Australia declare at 262 for five,  set Windies 462-run target

Melbourne, December 28:  Steve Waugh declared his team's second innings at 262 for five setting the West Indies an incredible 462 runs to win the fourth cricket Test late on the third day here Thursday.

The West Indies will have to negotiate 10 overs before Thursday's stumps. There are still two days left in the Melbourne Test.

Mark Waugh remained 78 not out scored in 247 minutes and Ponting hit 26 off 24 balls. Earlier Justin Langer made 80. Ricky Ponting helped himself to 20 runs plus a no-ball from Colin Stuart's last over leading up to Waugh's declaration.

 Australians putting the test well out of Windies reach

Melbourne, December 28: Holding a 199-run lead on the first innings, the Australians were effectively putting the match well out of the West Indians reach in search of their 14th consecutive victory and a 4-0 series lead on the third day of the fourth cricket Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

In the final over before tea Justin Langer was caught at slip by Daren Ganga off spinner Jimmy Adams for 80 when his eighth Test century was beckoning. At tea, Australia were 165 for three with Mark Waugh the not out batsman on 42.

With still more than two days to play, Australia led the West Indies by 364 runs and a major talking point was when skipper Steve Waugh would consider he had enough runs to declare and set the tourists a daunting target.

Langer and Waugh put on 116 runs for the third wicket in 139 minutes to ram home Australia's advantage.

Almost an hour's play was lost through rain in the morning session but the Australians only lost opener Michael Slater who fell to an edge to Brian Lara at first slip off Mervyn Dillon for four in the second over of the innings leaving his side at eight for one.

Wavell Hinds, who dropped Matthew Hayden on 24, was relieved to take a skied catch at square leg to dismiss Hayden for 30 off Nixon McLean shortly after lunch to leave Australia at 49 for two.

 West Indies all out for 165 on second day

MELBOURNE, December 27 : The West Indies just scrapped past the follow-on target meaning Australia will have to bat in their second innings on Thursday's third day.

Replying a mammoth Australia's total of 364, South Africa could barely make 165, all out, just saving a humiliating follow-on. With three days still to go, the Australians are firmly in the driver's seat to notch up their 14th successive Test victory. Bichel was the star performer, taking five for 60, including the prize scalp of Lara.

The Windies openers Ganga and Campbell pottered around unconvincingly, struggling to get runs on the board in spite of a very attacking field. Gillespie duly got rid of both of them, and Lara walked into bat in the twelfth over, with the score reading six for two! However, Bichel did the star turn, forcing Lara to edge an attempted drive.

Mark Waugh held on to the catch in the slips, and the Aussies heaved a huge sigh of relief. Two more wickets followed at the score of 28, and suddenly the Aussies would have been thinking in terms of another three-day match. Jacobs and Samuels had other ideas though. They added an invaluable 75 runs to take the Windies past the 100 mark.

However, a brief interruption due to rain seemed to disturb his rhythm, and upon resumption, Jacobs fell to Bichel. Samuels continued unperturbed, as he guided the tail-enders towards the first target of 165.

The Windies achieved that, but only just – last batsman Walsh was run-out when Samuels urged him to go an impossible third run, after the follow-on had been averted.

Samuels remained undefeated on a fine 60. Bichel finished with career-best figures of five for 60, while Gillespie took three for 48.

The Aussies are now well on top, with three days to go.

The Aussies are well on their way to a 14th successive win, and only bad weather can save the Windies the humiliation of another comprehensive defeat.  

 Jacobs equals wicket-keeping record for Windies 

Melbourne, December 27: The West Indies might not have had much to celebrate after just managing to squeeze past the follow-on against Australia but wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs Wednesday claimed a slice of a proud record.

Jacobs equaled the world record for the number of a dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test innings by taking seven catches as Australia was bowled out for 364 in its first innings on the second day of the fourth cricket Test here.

And to cap off a fine day's work for a player who has been one of the few players to shine for the tourists, Jacobs returned later in the day to score a hard-hitting 42 to rescue his team's first innings.

Jacobs came to the wicket with his team in desperate trouble at 28 for five but thanks to his efforts, along with those of impressive newcomer Marlon Samuels (60 not out), the West Indies narrowly avoided the follow-on by reaching 165 -- 199 runs behind Australia's first innings.

That was the exact score the tourists needed to avoid batting again straight away and that should ensure the match will go at least four days.

Jacobs said he was surprised when told he equaled the wicket keeping dismissals record for a Test innings, jointly held by England's Bob Taylor, Pakistan's Wasim Bari and New Zealand's Ian Smith.

"I had no idea I'd equaled the record," Jacobs said. "I just go out there to give 100 percent and whatever comes my way, I appreciate."

 At tea, West Indies trailed Australia by 327 runs with five wickets left

Melbourne, December 27:  Australia had the West Indies on the run in a familiar series scenario on the second day of the fourth cricket Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Wednesday.

After Steve Waugh completed his 23rd Test hundred to be unbeaten on 121 in Australia's first innings 364, the West Indies tattered as Waugh's team tightened the screws in their search for their 14th consecutive Test victory.

At tea, the tourists, with the series already over after losing the opening three Tests, were 37 for five with wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs on nine and Marlon Samuels yet to score.

Andy Bichel had 2-16 off six overs and Jason Gillespie 2-13 from eight overs with Glenn McGrath conceding just one scoring shot in his eight overs.

Gillespie removed Daren Ganga for four and Wavell Hinds, who was dropped twice in two balls before Michael Slater plucked a spectacular catch from mid-air in the gully, was out for a duck.

The West Indian champion batsman Brian Lara lasted 42 minutes before he was snapped up low down at second slip by Mark Waugh off Bichel for 16 to leave his team in convulsions at 28 for three.

Lara's dismissal signalled a chaotic 13-ball spell with the West Indies losing 3-0 as out-of-form opener Sherwin Campbell was caught close to the wicket by Matthew Hayden off Colin Miller for five -- just two scoring shots off 63 balls.

Captain Jimmy Adams lasted just six balls before a delivery from Bichel appeared to glance his gloves to offer Adam Gilchrist a catch behind for a duck.

At tea, the West Indies trailed Australia by 327 runs with five wickets left.

 Despite Toothache And Cramp Waugh Piled 103 

Melbourne, December 27, 2000: Despite severe toothache and cramp in buttock muscle, Australia Captain Steve Waugh guided Australia out of trouble after scoring 103. Australia recovered from humiliating 149 for five to reach respectable 364 in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the fourth cricket Test against the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Steve Waugh completed his 23rd Test century. The 35-year-old Test skipper pinched a quick single off Nixon McLean to beat the fieldsman's throw at the bowlers' end to reach his hundred. The run enabled Waugh to join West Indian great Viv Richards as the fifth all-time greatest runscorer with 8,450 runs, which he subsequently passed. He took 263 minutes to reach his hundred off 189 balls with 13 boundaries. It was Waugh's fifth Test century against the West Indies and third scored in Tests at the MCG. Waugh is playing in his 15th anniversary Test since his debut against India here in 1985. Early on the second day, Australia were 301 for seven in their first innings with Waugh on 103 and Jason Gillespie on 15.

 Captain's knock by Steve Waugh props up Aussies  

Melbourne, December 26: A superb, unbeaten 98 by Steve Waugh, and his unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 70 with Jason Gillespie took Australia to a respectable 295 for seven at stumps on day one of the fourth Test.

Earlier, Jimmy Adams won the toss and inserted the opposition on a wicket that had a fair sprinkling of grass.

Waugh came to the crease at the fall of Langer's wicket just after lunch, and held the innings together despite losing the top-order batsmen with alarming regularity.

The wickets were shared by the West Indian pacers - Dillon, McLean and new-comer Stuart taking two apiece.

The day began well for the Aussies, who saw off the first hour without losing a wicket.

Slater had a lucky escape though, Campbell dropping a simple chance at second slip when the batsman had scored just nine. Both Slater and Hayden looked to be settling in, when a couple of rash strokes saw both depart within six runs of each other.

Mark Waugh and Justin Langer saw Australia through to lunch without further alarms, but the slide started soon after lunch. Langer’s wicket was captured by debutant Stuart and Mark Waugh departed soon after, lobbing a catch to gully of a sharp lifter from Dillon, who has now dismissed him all five times in this series.

Steve Waugh came in when Australian’s were 105 for four and in trouble. Waugh added 44 runs for the fifth wicket with Ponting and 61 for the sixth with vice-captain Gilchrist.

However, Gilchrist and Bichel departed in quick succession, and at 225 for seven, the Windies would have hoped to restrict Australia to around 260.

Waugh found an able ally in Gillespie. The specialist night-watchman did his job to perfection, presenting a straight bat to everything in his 71-ball vigil at the crease.

The two have added 70 priceless runs so far, and would be looking to stitch together a few more on the morrow.

With the West Indies bowling, Walsh was the most economical, conceding just 38 runs off 22 overs. Debutant, Stuart bowled with class at a pace of 137-140 kmph and looked dangerous when he got his direction right.

 Huge crowd for Boxing Day

Melbourne, December 26: More than 73,000 fans flocked to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch Australian cricket's showpiece Boxing Day play in the fourth Test between Australia and the West Indies Tuesday.

After two years of rain intervention for the Tests against India and England, the sun shone to attract fans in vast numbers.

Late on the first day officials announced an opening day attendance of 73,233; the fourth biggest crowd for a Boxing Day Test in the heartland of Australian cricket.

Tuesday's crowd eclipsed the 72,891 that last saw the West Indies play Australia on December 26, 1996.

Sydney, December 23: The Australian team medical staff are unlikely to risk injured Australian fast bowler Brett Lee in the fourth cricket Test against the West Indies starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Lee will fly to Melbourne Saturday to join the rest of the Australian squad knowing that his probability to play is not much.

The world's fastest bowler is keen to play but will be guided by a series of tests on his injured back under team doctor Trefor James and physiotherapist Errol Alcott.

If he shows any signs of discomfort, he will immediately be withdrawn from the Australian squad. Lee's fitness tests will not involve bowling, with medical staff putting him through a range of movements to see whether he feels pressure on the spine or joints.

"I don't think he's at great odds of starting," Alcott said Friday. "If we assess him and he's not quite right and he needs a bit more time we won't be risking him."

If that is the case, officials would seem unlikely to risk him in the fifth Test of the series in Sydney, which starts only three days after the Melbourne Test.

Lee has been left to his own devices since Australian medical staff discovered a stress reaction in the L3 vertebra in his lower back after the second Test in Perth.

Gilchrist is the hot favourite for the biggest job in cricket

Adelaide, December 23: By leading Australia to a hard-earned world record 13th successive Test win in the third Test against the West Indies in Adelaide, Gilchrist has become the hot favourite for the biggest job in cricket. Gilchrist will step down for the next Test, starting in Melbourne on December 26, provided Waugh is deemed to have recovered from an injury which has sidelined him since the second Test in Perth more than two weeks ago.

But it could only be a matter of time before Waugh's ageing body he is only half a year short of 36 opens the door for a full-time replacement leader. Gilchrist has been under the microscope as cricket followers consider whether he has the maturity to handle the dual roles of captaincy and wicket keeping, a massive double burden in the modern game in which off-field demands are as onerous as those on it.

The 29-year-old became the first Australian Test wicketkeeper-captain since Barry Jarman 32 years ago. Jarman, while admiring Gilchrist, has expressed doubts about whether one man can do justice to both jobs in the long term.

Gilchrist declared that, while it was difficult for anyone to make a judgment on one Test, he would certainly not reject an invitation to lead his country full-time.

"This has been a great experience for me and there will be many, many different opinions on whether it's possible, but I've really enjoyed it and if I'm called upon to take it on again I would be more than happy," Gilchrist said.

"It's the proudest moment of my cricket career. Like any Test match, you forget about aches and pains when you win, but I don't feel any more drawn or exhausted than after any other game.

"I felt that it didn't affect my game technically or the way I was contributing in regards to my job as a wicketkeeper and batsman.

"It's been a huge honour and a big thrill. I've learned a great deal and if I'm ever called upon again, I'll be able to look back on this Test, particularly because it was so tough, and draw from that."

Gilchrist has had a golden run since he made his Test debut only 13 months ago. He has played in 12 Tests — and Australia have won them all. Not least because of his 55 dismissals behind the stumps and an aggregate of 746 runs at an average of 53.28 with his sledgehammer bat.

 Lee's career might be saved by an MRI scan

Australia, Dec 22: Geoff Lawson, the former Aussie fast bowler believes that early detection of Brett Lee's back problem may save his career, although he might have back problems for a while. The 24-year-old quick will assemble with the Australian team in Melbourne, and will have extensive MRI scans of the bone around the L3-L4 lumbar region of his lower back to determine his fitness for the fourth Test. 

Lawson, who is the fast bowling coach of the state side, believes that advancements in medical science since the 80s will put Lee's career back on track.

“The great thing these days is that you can be very objective about it,'' Lawson said.

"The first sign of an injury, they send them for a scan of some description, whether it's a bone scan or an MRI or whatever, and it tells them exactly what's going on. You don't have to rely on the player's report of what the pain's like."

Lee's troubles started at Perth, where he complained of back problems after taking 5/61 on the last day of the Test match against the Windies. Brett is apparently "champing at the bit'' to get back into the thick of things.  The early detection of his back problem would ensure that he doesn't suffer a stress fracture.

"The bone's the same as any other bone, they heal the same as any other bone, and they've got to it before it's a stress fracture. So it's really only a matter of taking a couple of weeks of stress off it and it's back to pretty good condition," said Lawson.

"If the next MRI is fine, he's right to play, it's that simple these days."  Lawson, who has monitored Lee's action at NSW training in recent years, said injury was part of the process of bowling fast.

"His action's fine to generate pace, it's just that fast bowling puts stress on your back," Lawson said.  "There's this theory going around that if you've got the perfect action you won't get injured. It's not like that. Fast bowlers are going to get injured, and some get injured more than others." One thing is for sure – the Aussies are not going to play him at Melbourne unless he's 100% fit.

 Brett Lee, Steve Waugh included in squad for Boxing Day Test 

Australia, December 20: The CEO of the ACB, Malcolm Speed announced today that Brett Lee and Steven Waugh have been included in the squad for the Boxing Day Test against the Windies, at the MCG. However, both will have to pass a fitness test, before being included in the final 11.  

In the event of Waugh playing, Gilchrist will once again be vice-captain of the team, and the luckless Damien Martyn might have to step aside. Steve Waugh, who missed the Adelaide Test with a torn muscle in his buttock, seems to be fairly confident of recovering sufficiently to play in the fourth Test.

Steve said from Melbourne: "I've done a fair bit of work over the last ten days and the buttock is feeling good."  When quizzed as to whether he would play in Melbourne, Waugh replied: "I hope so.

I will have a fitness test in four days time and if it's good then I'll play but I'm confident at the moment.''

Brett Lee on the other hand will have a scan just before the Test, which will be the judge on him. If the stress is still to be found in his back, Lee will not be risked as it could lead to a career-threatening stress fracture.

If both Waugh and Lee are fit to play, the Aussie selectors will face the embarrassing problem of whom to drop. Their replacements at Adelaide, Miller and Martyn, starred in Australia's victory in the third Test. Miller in particular will be difficult to omit, after securing the man of the match prize at Adelaide for his ten-wicket haul.  

 Australia's consecutive 13 Test win 

Adelaide, Australia, Dec 19: Australia won the third test against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval to wrap up the five-Test series 3-0 and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy. Set a victory target of 130 after bundling out the tourists for a paltry second innings 141, the home country finished with 130 for five to extend to 13 their world record of consecutive Test wins. They were guided home by Damien Martyn (34 not out) and acting captain Adam Gilchrist (10) after Justin Langer had been dismissed for 48.

Despite a much improved performance in Adelaide, West Indies have now lost 16 of their past 18 away games. The most heartening feature for the Windies here was that champion batsman Brian Lara at last found his best Test form, with knocks of 182 and 39. But the rest of the tourists' batting remained below par. The next best contribution came from skipper Jimmy Adams, who hit a patient 49 in just over three hours in the first innings.

Australia's match-winner off-spinner Colin Miller, who captured five scalps in each innings for a match return of 10-113 -- the first time he has captured 10 wickets in a Test.

It was Miller, won the man of the match award, who put Australia firmly on the victory path Monday when he mesmerised the Windies' batsmen as they faltered disastrously on a wearing pitch.

 Lara was key wicket for Australia

Adelaide, December 19: Australia off-spinner Colin Miller, who celebrated his first 10-wicket test haul on Monday, said it had been vital to dismiss Brian Lara early.

At the close of the fourth day of the third test, Australia needed only 32 runs to clinch the series with six second innings wickets in hand.

Lara, who scored 182 in West Indies first innings, fell to Miller for 39 on Monday as his team collapsed to 141 all out. One of his victims, opener Daren Ganga, was at the centre of a row before lunch when he was given not out by Srinivas Venkataraghavan after wicketkeeper and captain Adam Gilchrist had claimed a catch off Miller.

Ganga exchanged words with some of the fielders and Lara marched down the pitch to get involved before the umpires stepped in to restore calm. Miller, who eventually trapped Ganga for 32 after lunch, was quick to play down the incident.

"I thought we had a wicket and Venkat didn't think we had a wicket so that was basically it. Not a lot was really said between the players, just the normal banter that goes on when a team thinks they've had a batsman out." Miller explained.

 Australia back in command as Miller destroys the West Indian second innings

Adelaide, December 18: Veteran off-spinner Colin Miller destroyed the West Indies second innings as Australia made a bold bid for victory on the fourth day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval here on Monday. Miller, 37 early next year, who captured 5-81 in the first innings, claimed 5-32 in the second to complete a Test 10-wicket match haul for the first time.

The West Indies were all out for 141 shortly before tea after losing eight wickets in less than a session, leaving Australia a victory target of 130 in four sessions.

Australia is chasing a 13th successive Test win after establishing a world record of 12 consecutive victories in Perth two weeks ago.

The West Indies collapsed dramatically in the second session after appearing to be reasonably well placed at lunch with 82 for two, holding an overall lead of 70.

Miller was well supported by champion paceman Glenn McGrath, who captured three for 27. The delicately poised game swung Australia's way soon after lunch when the home team took the vital wickets of left-hander Brian Lara (39) and opener Daren Ganga (32).

Miller, who troubled all the batsmen on the wearing pitch, trapped both the wickets. The prized wicket of Lara, who made a classic 182 in the first innings, came when the threatening left-hander had added only five to his lunch score.

Before lunch, Lara had hammered the Australian attack again, racing to 34 in 41 minutes from 32 balls, helped by three fours and a massive six.

Ganga fell leg before to Miller when the 36-year-old earned a verdict from neutral umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan, from India.

That gave Miller his 50th wicket in his 15th Test. The wickets kept on falling with leg-spinner Stuart MacGill ousting Marlon Samuels (3) and Miller snapping up skipper Jimmy Adams (15) and Nixon McLean (0) and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs (2) McGrath mopped up the tail by dismissing Mervyn Dillon (19) and Courtney Walsh (0) in quick succession.

 MacGill says sorry to Sarwan over collision

Adelaide, December 18: Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has apologized to West Indies 12th man Ramnaresh Sarwan over an incident on the third day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval Sunday, match referee Alan Smith said here on Monday.

The players collided in the player’s race, just off the field, as MacGill was returning to the Australian dressing room after being controversially dismissed late in the day.

Smith interviewed both players after play Sunday night. In a statement issued on Monday, Smith said he had warned MacGill he should be more careful in future.

Smith said in the statement, "MacGill regrets the collision, which he did not intend. However, he has accepted responsibility for the accident and has apologized warmly to Sarwan; this apology has been equally warmly accepted."

"The captains, players and management of Australia and the West Indies are determined that the good relationship between the teams should carry on as before.

"Having completed my inquiry into the incident, I am satisfied the teams have sorted it out amicably, but I have warned MacGill he should be more careful in future." The incident occurred shortly after MacGill had been ruled out, caught behind the wicket, by Australian umpire Steve Davis. TV replays showed the ball had struck MacGill's helmet, but made no contact with his bat or gloves.

 West Indian bowlers fight back 

Adelaide Dec17: Australia, with 355 for five at tea, appeared to be coasting towards a big first innings lead. However, the Windies lifted in the final session to snatch four wickets, leaving Australia with 403 for nine, with a lead of 12, over the tourists first innings 391.

Ponting had reached 86 not out at tea, with Australia a handsome 355 for five, only 36 runs behind the tourists 391, at Adelaide Oval. Damien Martyn was partnering Ponting with an unbeaten 25. Ponting slammed nine fours in his 139-ball assault.

Ponting, who will be 26 in two days, had reached 86 not out at tea, and appeared well on track for his eighth century in 37 Tests.

The tourists struck back again to remove Ricky Ponting (92), acting captain Adam Gilchrist (9), Stuart McGill (6) and Colin Miller (1).

Veteran speedster Courtney Walsh took the vital wicket of Ponting before Nixon McLean trapped Gilchrist and Miller and Mervyn Dillon accounted for McGill.

It was Walsh's second wicket of the innings, boosting his tally of Test scalps to 488. He is already the greatest wicket-taker in the history of the game and now has a reasonable chance of reaching the magic 500-wicket total before the end of the series.

Mac gill departed controversially, ruled by Australian umpire Steve Davis to have been caught by Jacobs off Dillon. He appeared mystified by the decision and TV replays suggested the ball had struck his helmet rather than bat or glove.

As he entered the player’s race after he had walked off the field, MacGill collided with West Indian 12th man Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was walking in the opposite direction.

The West Indies secured their first big breakthrough after lunch when paceman Dillon removed Mark Waugh for 63.  Waugh, playing from the crease, was rapped on the pad, and umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan ruled him lbw.

Waugh had occupied the crease for three and a half hours, hitting six fours, and sharing in a stand of 123 in 151 minutes with Ponting.

The West Indies only pre-lunch success came when Walsh removed nightwatchman Jason Gillespie for four after the right-hander had added two runs.

Damien Martyn, unbeaten with 46, and Glenn McGrath will resume on Monday at the start of the fourth day of the enthralling five-day game.

Leading 2-0 in the five-match series, Australia will clinch the rubber and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy if they win, as well as extend their world record sequence of 12 successive Test wins.

 Windies strike thrice after huge opening stand 

Adelaide, Dec 16, 2000: West Indies teenager Marlon Samuels made a scintillating debut here on Saturday by snatching two late wickets as Australia ended with 180 for three on the second day of the third Test.

It left the Aussies 180 for three, still 211 runs behind the West Indian first innings score of 391. Together at the crease were Mark Waugh (10) and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie (2).  

Openers Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden hit out boldly, smashing 156 runs in 165 minutes before Hayden was run out for 58 in the 38^th over off Sherwin Campbell. Then Samuels, a batsman/off-spinner from Jamaica who joined the touring squad only a week ago, maintained the West Indies impetus by ousting Slater (83) and Justin Langer (6) in the space of eight balls. In his next over, Samuels then removed little left-hander Justin Langer, as Lara held a sharp catch at slip.

The Slater-Hayden run-surge followed a superb 182 by Windies batting superstar Brian Lara, who hit the fourth-highest score of his illustrious 73-Test career. Resuming with an unbeaten 136 when the West Indies went back to the crease with 274 for four, Lara battered another eight fours, most of them off luckless leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

Lara cracked his world Test record 375 against England in St John's, Antigua, in 1994; 277 against Australia in Sydney in 1993; and 213 off the Australian attack in Kingston last year. He is also the holder of the record for the highest score in first-class cricket: his 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in an English county championship game in 1994.

The West Indies lower-order had crumbled again after Lara had been dismissed. The tourists crashed from a formidable 354 for five immediately before Lara's dismissal to 391 all out, losing their last five wickets to off-spinner Colin Miller. Lara was at the crease for almost six hours, finishing with 29 thundering fours and one six.

He finally fell when he drove at a delivery from Miller, edged and was snapped up by Mark Waugh at slip.

Lara received wonderful support from Samuels. Paceman Jason Gillespie struck the first blow of the day for Australia in the opening over when he trapped nightwatchman Mervyn Dillon (nine) to have wonderful figures of 5-89.

Miller, a veteran of almost 37 who is playing in only his 15th Test, then took over, capturing 5 for 11 off 8.5 overs as he snatched the wickets of Lara, Samuels, Nixon McLean (0), Ridley Jacobs (21) and Courtney Walsh (0).  

 I owed this to the team: Lara  

Adelaide, Dec 15, 2000:   Brian Lara said he felt he had repaid a debt to West Indian cricket after scoring a magnificent 136 not out on the first day of the third test against Australia on Friday.

Lara smashed 21 fours and a six to help the tourists finish the opening day at Adelaide Oval on 274 for four after losing the first two tests. "I think I owed the team badly after the first two test matches,'' Lara said.

"We’ve been under a lot of pressure and we've been working pretty hard as a team to try and pull things back."

"It's been a rough ride for me. The runs have been coming but not in the right matches so I'm happy to have got some runs in the test today.''

Despite struggling with a chronic hamstring strain that has plagued him for five months, Lara showed his determination to regain his touch with a double-century last weekend against Australia A.

"My hamstring has been bothering me for five to six months but I've only missed one one-day international because of it,'' Lara said.

"The main thing is you're there to play cricket for your country and whatever the circumstances are you've got to stick it out.

"We know we played badly in the first two test matches. As a team we batted badly and as a batsman I've got to work on my game to make a contribution. Lately, Lara has been badly out of form this series with scores of 0, 4, 0 and 17 and this has been mirrored by the team's dismal performance.

Lara and West Indies captain Jimmy Adams steadily rebuilt the innings after the tourists had been reduced to 86 for three, putting on 183 together.

"I really enjoyed batting with Jimmy. We had a significant partnership again today and we played an important part,'' Lara said.

"Hopefully tomorrow I can go on and help the team get a very big score and put some pressure on Australia because they are the best team in the world.

"They're playing very good cricket and it's going to take a very good cricket team to beat then, not just a good batting performance but a good bowling performance.

"We’ve had a good day today but we need to bat for at least two more sessions, if we do that then I think we can get a good score.''

 Lara's unbeaten ton takes West Indies to 274/4

A relieved Lara said late on Friday, "I enjoyed that. I rate the innings pretty highly. Hopefully, tomorrow I can go on and get what the team needs we need a very big score to put pressure on Australia.

Lara said he was pleased that, for the first time this southern summer, he won a fascinating duel with Australia's champion paceman Glenn McGrath, who has trapped him three times so far here and 14 times in all Tests.

"Glenn is a very good bowler, but today was for batsmen more than bowlers, with the hot weather and the flat pitch. I am certainly happy to get one up on him."

The West Indies needed to bat for another two sessions to put Australia under heavy pressure and forge a potentially winning position, Lara said.

Lara and Mervyn Dillon (3 n.o) will resume when the game continues on Saturday.

Lara and skipper Jimmy Adams carved out a West Indies record fourth-wicket stand for Adelaide of 183, beating the 123 made by Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards in 1988-89.

Lara's century was his first in nine innings since he took 112 from the England attack in Manchester in August.

 Steve Waugh advices the new skipper Gilchrist to be himself 

Adelaide, Australia, Dec 15: Injured captain Steve Waugh, who led Australia to a world record 12 successive Test wins, has advised Adam Gilchrist to be his own man when he takes over in the third cricket Test against the West Indies starting on Friday. Waugh is sidelined with a strained muscle in his left buttock. He is expected to be fit for the fourth Test, starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day (December 26).  

Gilchrist, 29, the first Australian wicketkeeper in 32 years to lead his country, said he did not consider there were any special pressures facing himself or the team as they attempt to extend their winning run to 13 Tests and wrap up the current five-Test series 3-0. "We have had a tremendous run and Steve has done a great job as captain, and I am thrilled to be given this challenge. We will go out and play the same way, we have planned the same way and hopefully we will execute those plans in the same fashion," he said. "Winning has become a habit for this team, and it's a nice habit to have." 

Gilchrist said he had also been advised by former Australian captain Richie Benaud to do the job his own way. "We are not cut and dried on a decision here yet. and I certainly won't do it just because Steve has been doing it. I'll go on what I think in consultation with vice-captain Ricky Ponting and the other guys."

Referring to champion West Indies batsman Brian Lara's return to form, with a double century earlier in the week, Gilchrist said:" They were first-class runs, but they were not Test cricket runs.

It is an opportunity to let others see whether I can cope with it. It's a great opportunity for me to work out if I can take on the responsibility and continue to contribute to the team in the manner I have so far in my career.

 Lara declared fit for Adelaide Test  

Perth, December 15: Enigmatic batting star Brian Lara passed a rigid fitness test here late on Thursday and will play for the West Indies in the crucial third cricket Test against Australia.

The outcome is a massive relief for the Windies, 0-2 down in the series and needing a draw at least here to retain a serious interest in the five-match rubber for the Frank Worrell trophy.

Lara, 31, has hamstring and shoulder niggles. The hamstring problem has plagued him from before the tour, but the shoulder worry developed during his classic 231 against an Australia A side in Hobart, Tasmania, early in the week. Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was also declared fit after previously being said to be in doubt with a foot injury.

Nagamootoo, 25, is the only specialist spinner in the squad and appears to have good prospects of being called up for only his second Test as the Adelaide pitch is predicted to be responsive to spin over the past couple of days. Lara's double century against Australia A could turn around the rattled squad after their four-game losing streak in Australia, Harper said.

Two of the losses were in the Brisbane and Perth Tests, in which Lara was dismissed for 0, 4, 0 and 17 during a