Australia captain Michael Clarke believes his team can still force a win in the first Test against the West Indies despite a poor day’s showing in Barbados on Monday.
At stumps on day three Australia are 5-248 in their first innings, still 201 runs behind the Windies’ 9(dec)-449 after a day where the hosts took control of the match at Kensington Oval.
Clarke made 73 to guide Australia away from the ignominy of following-on in an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket with Michael Hussey (47no) but his dismissal in the day’s final session has left the veteran left-hander facing a crucial first hour on Tuesday.
Hussey ended the day alongside debutant Matthew Wade (19no) with the Windies one wicket away from Australia’s tail but Clarke was still bullish about his team’s chances.
“I think we’re going to have to bowl better than what we did in the first innings and we’re going to have to try to make as many runs as we can in this first innings to see how close we are to them,” he told reporters.
“I certainly think we can still win the Test match from here.”
A victory seemed as far away as possible as Shane Watson’s (39) demise in the first over after lunch left Australia 4-133.
Clarke himself had been fortunate to reach that break after he successfully challenged a caught behind decision off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (1-77) when there appeared little video evidence to support him.
Clarke’s reprieve came after Ed Cowan (14), David Warner (42) and Ricky Ponting (4) had all fallen in the morning session.
Cowan and Warner both fell to impressive Windies skipper Darren Sammy (2-33), who drew the openers into outside edges with his nagging length.
But it was Ponting’s demise, stranded after a horrendous mix-up with Watson to be run out for four following some sharp fielding by Kraigg Brathwaite, which was the lowlight of a disappointing day.
Watson turned and sprinted for a tight second run, surprising a relaxed Ponting who had settled for a single at the striker’s end.
The former captain’s surprise turned to fury as he was caught short in the confusion while Watson slumped to his haunches in despair.
A buoyant Sammy said the first hour of the fourth day will go a long way to determining the result particularly as the Windies have the second new ball at their disposal.
“We’re one wicket away from Peter Siddle and the way the ball is spinning, we have the new ball which is also due, the chances for us look good,” he said.
“If we can get early breakthroughs it will set them on the backfoot.”
The match resumes at 9.30am on Tuesday (2330 AEST).
