Lara bears Windies burden

By Donna Symmonds Caribbean cricket broadcaster

It was not just the much-talked-about decision to play three specialist bowlers that cost the West Indies the second Test.

It was the superior all-round ability of Australia - and not Australia at its strongest - that conquered the home side.

About 40 minutes before the start, Shivnarine Chanderpaul withdrew for fitness reasons.

And the West Indies decided then to have Dave Bernard Jr, a medium-pace all-rounder, replace him.

Lara's duel with Brett Lee on the last morning will become part of Caribbean cricket folklore

At least the chairman of selectors, Sir Vivian Richards, had the courage to admit, in hindsight, it might not have been the best course.

The West Indies found themselves unable to bowl Australia out once, far less twice.

The bowling was embarrassing for this level of the game and the demanding, consistent line and length needed to probe the skills of opposing combatants was a rarity.

These difficulties were compounded by missed chances and intermittent sloppy fielding.

The batting was spirited at times with Daren Ganga's second successive Test century.

Also worthy of praise were Marlon Samuels contribution in the first innings and the efforts of Wavell Hinds and Ramnerseh Sarwan to occupy the crease in the second.

The West Indian superstar, Brian Lara, was outstanding in his batting throughout.

However the inexperience one would expect from what is one of the youngest ever Caribbean sides was very evident.

Feature:
Lara King of the Caribbean

In the second innings, when the pressure was on and the pitch required patience and care, the old millstone returned - the over reliance on the present captain.

A team with eight batsmen collapsed from 213-3 to 288 all out - Lara, with his magnificent 122, making nearly half of those runs.

Lara achieved his 20th Test hundred, his first at his home ground in his tenth Test there, and surpassed Sir Garfield Sobers as the leading West Indian run-scorer in the Caribbean.

His duel with Brett Lee on the last morning will become part of Caribbean cricket folklore.

Justin Langer column:
Lara made life tough

Lee's spell was electrifying on a dead pitch that had allowed not just a double-hundred but five other centuries too.

It took a batsman of Lara's adeptness and capability to take the majority of the deliveries and survive with Ramneresh Sarwan - obviously short of match fitness - giving the necessary support.

It was quintessential cricket.

It was also his 12th loss as West Indies captain.

Heart may be taken from the fact that it is only the 17 Test, in 47 captained by Steve Waugh, to end outside of four days.

But the West Indies will want to salvage pride, even if they have surrendered the Frank Worrell Trophy for the fourth time since 1995.

This will not be achieved without a change in the balance of the side and a further change of personnel; clear signs of a side struggling to catch up.