Well into the third session on day four and the Windies are 265 behind and have seven wickets in hand. Their two best players are at the crease, both settled and playing nicely, and if these two can make a few runs tonight and keep their wickets then this will be an interesting match going into the final day, played at the lowest levels of course

The wicket is really turning. Shame Australia have nobody who can turn the ball

Hey OP, your last comment was over 3 days ago. Why waste your time writing a match thread if you are not remotely interested in the game? Don't worry though, I will do your work for you

OK lets have a look at what is going on here today as Australia do their very best to lose this test match.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has become the 10th batsman and the second West Indian to pass 10,000 runs in Test matches

Shiv cruises past yet another 50

Shiv and Bravo now go past the century partnership and are making a cracking game of this

These 2 boys are doing a great job against this weak Australian attack.

The Windies are 225 behind and still have those seven wickets in hand, and all the time in the world.

Ryan Harris - It's a long slow lazy delivery but it's the best I can do

hmm strangely enough talking to myself on here gives me more pleasure than I am used to on ja606

217 needed and 7 wickets in hand .

C'MON YOU WINDIES

Really hope they don't collapse

Mychesthurts, my warm regard for contributing to this thread.
But unlike you often point out wrongly,Australia are a really strong side.Infact currently one of the rare team(the other is South Africa) who are good alround the world.
BTW,How did your Great Britain team fared the last time they played against the poor team in their home ground?
Hmm?

What an incredible catch by the captain marvel Michael Clarke.
Wow.
Australia is slowly reclaiming the height that they are so accustomed to and known world-wide for.

Hei OP and nice to see you again :p When you say Great Britain team, do you mean England?

We lost mate but have played some pretty good stuff since then? but surely we should be talking about the Windies and Australia on here now? Anyway, Australia are about to win, but have made a hell of a hard job of this. Getting Chanderpaul out with the very last delivery of the day yesterday was a huge blow for the Windies, although I suggest they would have lost anyway.

I admire your support of your team and am glad you are impressed with how they have played this series I am also really looking forward to giving this current Australian team another good hiding, because it is going to happen

Michael Clarke has a fivefer. Is that even possible?

99 to win now lol Only 1 wicket left mind but this could get tasty because Darren Sammy, who has passed his half century, is going down fighting, and right now he is hitting this weak attack all over the park

Drop catch

Some entertainment for a great Dominican crowd.
Been a thoroughly enjoybable test series this.If only Ponting had some score to his name, would be perfect.

Lyon finishes on a high despite some initial criticism from cricket pundits like Mychesthurts.

Some really promising stuff from the West Indies all through the series. Yes Australia were the strongest side and deserved their win, but there were no thrashings or innings defeats. And the Australian top order were really challenged by the West Indies talented bowling attack.
I think the Aussies had only one century in the entire series from Matthew Wade (who is very impressive in my eyes).
Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford had excellent series and with the prospect of Narine, a fully fit Edwards and Ravi Rampaul, they have an excellent bowling unit.

As has been the case in in recent years though the top order batsman were found wanting in this series (as were the Aussies unusually). And the West Indies failed to get any real dominating scores on the board.

I am looking forward to the tour of England next month and am hoping to see a West Indies victory in the flesh when they play England in an ODI at the Oval. With Pollard, Narine, Samuels, Gayle in the One Day squad I think we will be a force to be had.

The test team though is still a "work in progress" and we are crying out for Talented guys like Barath, Kirk Edwards and Kiaran Powell to mature into controlled disciplined players.

Its worth noting that both Brendan Nash and Sarwan are in England already playing First Class cricket for Kent and Leicestershire and both have scored centuries.

I doubt very much that the West Indies selectors will show enough wisdom to call on them for the Test Team, or Chris Gayle for that matter who (as long as RCB don't make the playoffs) will be available from the 2nd Test

SPOOK

I honestly dont think Gayle should play for the WI again

Whilst I completely agree with the principle and after all, where are we without our principles, the trouble is they kind of need him.

The disrespect shown to Ottis Gibson was unacceptable and unprofessional. It may well have been deserved but you do these things behind closed doors. But maybe it's best for all parties to put it behind them draw a line and never cross it again.
If i'm not mistaken Kevin Pieterson was similarly unprofessional to Peter Moores and England have more than "moved on" since then, winning two Ashes series!

Spook

There is also rumour amongst these parts that he isn't a fan of Sammy being captain. I also find that when he plays, we become a bit too reliant on him a la Brian Lara in his 2nd stint in the team. Now it seems the team is more oriented and the cliques and stuff have been irradicated. There is no doubt that on his day Gayle is a devastating batsman, but he has to learn that when he is playing he is W.I and not Team Gayle.

Your boys showed plenty of signs of improvement Denis, and gave Australia several frights during this series.

I grew up idolising Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Viv, Clive Lloyd, Desmind Haynes, Malcolm Marshall, Big Joel and dozens upon dozens of others. It would be great to see your team getting back to those heights, especially at the expense of Australia

Chest

I'll be honest with you, I guess we have improved in some aspects, as before the Aussies would have wrapped up the match in 2/3 days, the fact we took them to the 5th day means we seem to be doing well. But for me there are still many glaring concerns, especially in our top order and the ability to keep the pressure on in our bowling/fielding when we get past the 6th wicket.

I guess only time would tell if this current crop will learn from this series and push on or like the prior generations continue to fluctuate playing excellently one innings and poor the next.

Agreed mate. You don't make it easy for yourselves by being 28 for 2 or even 3 wickets but at least this time you have been shown better attitude, and a little fight whilst being out on the pitch.

You need that lad Barath to become a star but I am not sure he will be. What do you think?

What a shame Gayle is such a lazy greedy sod because he could really have given your team that little extra.

I am really looking forward to the series against youm but have a feeling we will be winning these games inside 3 days. I hope to god the Windies get their act together and come back.

Chest

I don't know what the selectors are on, some questions were raised about the selection of this squad as they weren't even performing in the regional competition for the most part. Adrian Barath isn't my forte, I can only speak with authority on Bajan players, but the commentators seem to like what they see in him and echo your sentiments. Given how the WI selectors chop and change I wouldn't be too surprise if the next time he is in the squad is 2-3 years in the future.

I agree on Gayle, absolutely devastating on his day, but he has baggage...I guess we have our own Mario Balotelli

England v WI is a series I will look forward to. I remember once we had an ODI series and it seemed for the 5 matches whoever won the toss automatically fielded 1st and won the game. It was a good laugh to see the game seemingly decided by the coin toss

Sarwan might be back for that series so that may add some steel to our batting line up, and if Brathwaite can get himself together you might find yourself being frustrated by a Chanderpaul-Brathwaite partnership which frustrates your bowlers.

Chanderpaul is definitely going to play well against us and I remember not so long ago we had trouble getting his wicket. Braithwaite looks like a walking wicket to me, but you know him better than I am maybe he can pick up his game a little.

I am watching the IPL at the moment and there are some excellent West Indian players playing in that. Will you be picking them in your test team or have they all fell out/been banned from playing for you?

You have some great players and they simply have to play. It's a shame picking a weakened side because you will have no chance against anybody, as you have seen for ages now.

God this T20 lazy attitude annoys the hell out of me.