Australia take series: Windies a match for Afghanistan?

ODI#3 at the SCG was a washout where only one over, delivered in in two instalments - seven balls (including two wides), punctuated by a long rain break, then the sixth legit one - could be bowled as the West Indies began to chase down Australia's 225.

Today Australia won ODI#4 comfortably, more so than the scorecard indicated. After Chris Gayle, for reasons which eluded me, chose to field after winning the toss, Ricky Ponting's 106/112b (2x6, 6x4), his best ODI innings of the season, led the charge against a modest attack. 7/325 was always going to be too many for the uneven Windies batting to chase unless Gayle matched Ponting though they gave it a good shake, which might have been even better had Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith come in earlier.

Australia now leads the series 3-0 with one to play. Would, I wonder without too much of my tongue in my cheek, Afghanistan who have just qualified for the ICC World Twenty20, provide a more even contest if they played the West Indies? We may soon find out.

Gayle's quickfire century ruffles Australian bowlers' feathers as Windies chase big total

West Indies 2/214 (46 ov, C Gayle 102, T Dowlin 55) trail Australia 7/520 dec (130.4 ov, S Katich 99, Watson 89, Haddin 88, Hussey 82, North 68) by 306 runs on first innings with 8 wickets in hand: T3 D2 at Perth.

Watch as much of Chris Gayle's 102/70b (6x6, 9x4) as you can on TV or YouTube (where he already features prominently, though mostly in coloured clothing ). The six with which he brought up his century (the fifth fastest in Test cricket in terms of recorded balls faced) by driving Nathan Hauritz onto the roof of the Lillee-Marsh Stand was the most memorable of many strokes and, deservedly, the one most likely to be replayed.

For the second successive Test Gayle has energised his team, keeping them competitive in the face of a large Australian total, albeit one which did not include either a century or substantial contributions from the captain and vice-captain. Today it was Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin and Marcus North who couldn't reach three figures. Hussey, who probably didn't sleep too well overnight, was caught behind off the diligent Ravi Rampaul for 82/176b (9x4), Haddin drove well for 88/91b (2x6, 11x4) which might have been the day's batting highlight but for Gayle, while North hit a slow full toss back to the bowler when looking well set on 68/117b (8x4). This was as soft a dismissal as you're likely to see in any form of cricket.

The Australian bowling wasn't as bad as Gayle and Travis Dowling made it look. Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz (who had Gayle dropped at slip) and Clint McKay had their moments while Mitchell Johnson, as so often happens with him, had one when he enticed Dowling to hit a catch to gully for an assured 55/116b.

The West Indies have made a bold start by batting positively and, at least for a while, ruffling the Australian attack's feathers. Toward the end Ramnaresh Sarwan looked in good nick but they are still a long way behind. Still, 6/395 in a day's play gave the spectators their money's worth and may even deflect some media attention from an on field incident .

Scorecard

Draw

West Indies 451 and 317 (99.5 ov, C Gayle 165*, M Johnson 5/103) drew with Australia 439 and 5/212 (76 ov): T2 D5 at Adelaide Oval.

It wasn't unexpected (see my comments re D4) that the West Indies didn't declare overnight, nor that Chris Gayle carried his bat for 165*/285b (1x6, 16x4) out of 317.

It was unexpected that neither of the two best West Indian bowlers took a wicket as Australia chased ... well occasionally thought about chasing... 330 from 80 overs. The Adelaide pitch, which has developed a reputation for producing D5 results this time didn't give the bowlers the assistance they and most commentators expected.

A few reflections

Australia showed that some of the cracks which were exposed during the Ashes have only been papered over. The batting on paper looks solid, though IMO anyone who'd seen Hussey's 41 in the first innings (not just the highlights) you'd be questioning his long - or short - term future, so scratchy was he.

The Australian "spin" bowling is also deficient: Hauritz and North are steady rather than penetrating. As for the quicks. Johnson is inconsistently mercurial (is that a tautology?), and Siddle an honest trundler, though Bollinger looked good here even if his petulance needs to be reined in.

Not that the Windies should be complacent: IMO Benn is less of a threat then he's depicted to be. While he obtained some good bounce (not surprising for such a tall guy) and occasional turn he usually bowls at least one bad (short) ball an over. Roach is a good prospect, Bravo a good allrounder (including being a great asset in the field). The batting is sufficiently strong to post competitive totals with the aid of the tail (Nash showed how to do this in the first innings) though Sarwan needs a big innings.

As for the umpiring, Asad Rauf's howler in giving Chanderpaul out was 5 star incompetence. Benson's response (if most of what's been reported is not too far from the truth) was 5 star dummy spit. Doesn't the principle that you should always accept the umpire's decision apply to the umpires themselves?

Scorecard

Masterful captain's innings keeps initiative with West Indies, but where to from here?

West Indies 451 and 8/284 (93ov, C Gayle 155*) lead Australia 438 by 296 runs with 2 second inns wickets in hand: T2 D4 at Adelaide.

Today was overcast. At one point it rained near the Bradman Stand but fortunately didn't extend far enough onto the playing area to interrupt play and Chris Gayle's masterful innings which kept the possibility of a victory for his team alive.

Gayle's 155/271b (1x6, 16x4) included several shots from his limited overs repertoire but the dominant theme was prudent accumulation. Channel 9's wagon wheel (replayed by Foxtel in the late night highlights) showed strokes all round the wicket. The next highest score was Shiv Chanderpaul's 27, though several other players supported Gayle in 50+ partnerships, which kept the total advancing, if not always a rapidly as a side more confident of pushing for victory might have wished.

The Australian bowling, an occasionally petulant Doug Bollinger excepted, lacked hostility and penetration until late in the day when Shane Watson bowled a good spell and Mitchell Johnson rediscovered his touch. Peter Siddle and Watson were not fully fit but the spinners couldn't match Sulieman Benn's menace.

I was disappointed to hear West Indian broadcaster Fazeer Mohammed suggest that the West Indies, given their recent record in Test cricket, will be satisfied with a draw. If this is so it will be a shame. Not only will will suck the interest out of D5 but it will surrender the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Of course, victory isn't guaranteed, as the Windies attack is limited (and Benn was hit on the foot by a sandshoe crusher when he batted today) and the Australian batting still quite strong, so a draw looks the likeliest result. So why shouldn't the visitors continue to give it their best shot?

Scorecard

Update 10 December

A wagon wheel of Chris Gayle (and every other player's) innings can be found here