Australia on course for a big win

By Malcolm Conn

BRISBANE, NOV. 24. Brian Lara gave up his wicket and on his shattered team in the first Test at the Gabba on Friday as Australia steam- rolled relentlessly towards a world-record equalling 11th successive victory.

The brilliant and often baffling left-hander skied a pull to be out for just four following his first innings duck as the West Indian batsmen began to capitulate a second time in as many days.

After being bowled out for 82 in its first innings, the West Indies will resume on the third morning on 25 for two, still needing another 225 to make Australia bat a second time.

Australia was dismissed late on Friday for 332, leaving the West Indies to survive 13 overs. Unfortunately vice- captain Sherwin Campbell lasted just four balls, defensively edging a McGrath delivery to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.

Lara's first and only scoring shot was a majestic pull to the square leg boundary off a McGrath bouncer but such is the confidence and capacity of the brilliant Australian fast bowler that it merely set his greatest rival up for an ego-driven fall.

Lara is carrying the combined weight of more match- fixing allegations, which he has denied, the knowledge that McGrath has dismissed him many more times than any other bowler and the realisation he may be playing in one of the worst West Indian sides of all time.

It has all appeared too much, with McGrath strangling him for the second time in this Test and the 12th time in 14 matches. With Lara gone it appears nothing can stop Australia from achieving the victory which will have it ranked with the mighty 1984 West Indians as the most successful of all time. Even the forecast is fine for the next few days.

Should the match end on Saturday, as expected, it will be the West Indies' third loss inside three days in their past five Tests.

Just when it appeared the West Indies was going to rise above its woeful batting and earn some respect, a multi- talented young man from New South Wales added to his beaming smile with a cheeky innings of pure entertainment.

Brett Lee, better known for bowling fast balls and playing loud guitars, top-scored with a breezy and unaffected 62 as Australia's lower order flogged a tiring attack. Lee joined Adam Gilchrist with Australia unflatteringly placed on 220 for seven, largely thanks to the raw energy of debutant fast bowler Marlon Black.

Together they added 61 in 60 balls before Gilchrist (48) skied a pull off Mervyn Dillon and was caught by diving wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs running towards fine leg.

Lee, well organised at the crease for a tailender playing just his sixth Test, continued on his merry way with a mixture of lusty blows and cheeky singles.

One free swing from a full Black delivery which cleared the mid- off fence would not have been out of place had he been using a driver at Kingston Health.

Lee, who bettered his previous best Test score of 27 and first class score of 39, added 50 with Stuart MacGill before the leg- spinner was run out for 19.

Before this late flurry, Black, a powerful young man, attempted to drag the tourists back from the brink of humiliation. Playing his first Test, the raw and robust paceman claimed four for 83 and dismissed four of Australia's top seven batsmen.

Sadly the ineptitude of the West Indian batting was reflected in their fielding. Club players would be running laps at training if they dived over or around so many shots which should have been stopped.

For a 25-year-old with little experience, Black bowled with great control for the most part as well as good pace, pitching the ball up and making the batsmen play.

His first wicket was an unexpected but welcome bonus after the West Indies began the day already 25 behind. Bowling the second over, Black's first ball to Michael Slater (54) was full and wide. Inexplicably, Slater guided it with a horizontal bat straight to Campbell at second slip as if it were still catching practice during the morning warm-up.

Three balls later, night-watchman Andrew Bichel (8) gave a routine edge behind to wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs and a short time later Justin Langer (3) went the same way inside edging an ambitious drive. Black had taken 3-3 in 22 balls, Australia had slumped to 117 for four and suddenly cricket was fun again.

Steve Waugh came in to join brother Mark and mount another rescue mission, if such a things is necessary when a team is already 35 ahead on the first innings with six wickets in hand.

Attempting to ignore recent allegations of shady bookie dealings and fading international form, Mark Waugh looked comfortable enough when he began but took 20 minutes to score his first run and batted as though he was in a straight jacket.

Hindered by a slow pitch which lacked bounce, Mark was reluctant to force the ball with any authority. He went to lunch on 16 made in almost two hours and was out half an hour later pushing a delivery back to Dillon for 24, which did not contain a single boundary.

With Australia having a good chance not to bat again in this Test, Mark has now managed just one century under brother Steve's captaincy and his average in that time has dipped below 30. Boundaries were not impossible to hit, as Ricky Ponting proved with a straight drive as his first scoring shot and a mighty pull as his second which both flew to the fence.

Steve Waugh made 41 before edging a cut from a Dillon delivery which was wonderfully caught face high by Campbell at second slip. Ponting made 20 and looked in fine touch before he was caught behind driving at a ball from Black.

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