Australia Wins 1st Test

Sammy kicked down his stumps

It was fitting that Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris were at the crease as Australia posted another marvellous victory in their campaign to recapture the past by securing an even better future. After conceding more than 400 hundred in a drab West Indies first innings, it was the bowlers who bought Australia back into the match and finally pushed them over the line for a three wicket victory in the gloom at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

The West Indies folded in the first session, doubling their score and losing five wickets but setting Australia a target well less than ODI pace of 192 off 64 overs. Harris took two of the five wickets and the other quicker men took one each. Only Kemar Roach lasted any length of time as the hosts surrendered their advantage in a meek batting performance before Harris bowled him in the same way he had Narsingh Deonarine lbw, with a vicious off cutter. Darren Sammy was out in bizarre fashion, playing with soft hands to drop the ball at his feet and as the ball ran back to the stumps, his attempted kick sent it cannoning into the stumps. It adds to the back catalogue of Shane Watson dismissals that only the big blond can conjure. He may be unlucky in injury, reckless in running but he picks up wickets with luck that should be shared around rather than concentrated in one player.

Roach had no luck

The Australians set out at a constant three an over, pacing themselves within the limits of the available overs and respectful of a wicket that was playing at two heights. Dave Warner and Ed Cowan saw off Fidel Edwards opening fire works, only for Darren Sammy to remove Warner, caught behind when he tried to play a one day run shot to third man. Watson joined Cowan in a partnership of 75 which would set up the win but not before they barely survived a blistering attack from Roach and Sammy. For a period of six overs, both men were under the pump. Watson survived several very close lbw appeals from Roach and a caught behind decision which umpire Ian Gould correctly called as a flick off the batting pad. Before they had added a run, Cowan was dropped at the wicket when Carlton Baugh standing up to Sammy couldn't do the impossible. Standing up to quick men, they either stick or they don't. Watson was dropped in the next over when the best hands in the side, Sammy, dropped him at gully of the rampant Roach.

Prosperous in luck, they survived and got Australia to three figures as the Australia innings was purring to victory still early in the last session. The match took a sudden, painful turn for Australia when the part-time off spinner Deonarine tore through the top half of the batting order, removing Watson, Cowan, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke in a five over spell. Matt Wade and Michael Hussey added 37, before and after a rain interruption which had the Australians nervous enough that Hussey set his foot firmly on the accelerator. Both were out to Roach as the target shrank: Wade cutting to Bishoo in the deep and Hussey bowled by one that came back at him from outside off stump, but Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus, both batting above Peter Siddle, managed the final three required as the light faded and the umpires held discussions. A perverse ICC ruling passed down to umpires was narrowly avoided.

Hilfenhaus & Harris celebrate the win

It was yet another remarkable victory in which Clarke drew on reserves from his men which have been placed there through twelve months of Test match experiences which have convinced this group of players that anything is possible. It's an approach that reminds the players that even in the depths of their greatest disaster - the capitulation against South Africa at Newlands last November - Nathan Lyon could top score. That sort of positivism goes in the psychological bank account and can be drawn on when it counts.

It counted today.

For the West Indies, Sammy must ensure that this isn't seen only from the angle of defeat. Darren Bravo came back with better form here and the returning Kirk Edwards and Shiv Chanderpaul all stiffened the batting line up. His bowlers did their job for large parts of this match. The issue of indifferent batting in the second innings and the over use of bouncers at the Australian tail are the areas which need addressing. The burning issue, however, is for the West Indies Board to answer. How Sunil Narine was in India after bamboozling the Australians in the ODI and T20 matches is a matter of grave concern. Cricketers must always be available to represent their nation or nations. No private contract should, in any circumstances, outweigh the priority of international cricket responsibilities. Deonarine's four second innings wickets are the knife to drive into the lack of guts of the WICB, as he is at best a part-timer in the Andrew Symonds mode. Three wickets short of a victory screams of the ineptitude of not playing the bowler who even Mike Hussey said publicly was concerning the Australians.

Ryan Harris was named MOTM for his five wickets and heroic first innings 68 not out in a match which had many heroes but few stand out performances. Three more wickets might have given the award to Shiv Chanderpaul.

The second Test begins in Port of Spain on Sunday.