Rain Ruins 4th Day

Less than a third of the allocated overs were able to be bowled on the fourth day of the second Test at the famous Queens Park Oval in Port-o-Spain as rain twice stopped play. The second interruption, at 1:30pm local time, proven terminal, with Australia having built a lead of 127 thanks to large slices of luck in their second innings.

Michael Beer took just four balls to end the West Indies first innings at 257 when he trapped Carlton Baugh in front. He survived the initial on-field appeal but the third umpire reversed the decision. The DRS process took as long as Beer had to bowl his partial over.

Ponting had a good share of luck

Fidel Edwards began with a maiden to Ed Cowan and off spinner Shane Shillingford conceded  one run to Dave Warner off the second over. The Australians, intent on building their lead were cautious on a wicket that had been difficult to score on since the first day and was now much harder to survive on. Cowan had a life when Darren Sammy dropped a sitter at slip off Edwards. Its obvious that media pressure is building on the captain. Normally a splendid fieldsman, he has dropped a succession of easy catches in this series and despite his team building expertise, his own performances have been poor in the Test matches and questions are now being asked by former players. This is largely what's wrong with West Indian cricket, a lack of patience by former players who have run through management positions themselves and left and enjoy the hallowed life of former champions and the rights they assume it gives them to white ant any progress. For an apparently laid back, casual loose federation of nations which breeds hedonism, this lack of patience is staggering. Get behind de mun! Advise, don't criticise. Dean Jones Syndrome is alive and well in the Caribbean.

Watson gets "poled" by Roach

Edwards bowled five good overs before giving way to Kemar Roach. It took the lively quick just a handful of deliveries to have Australia reeling, removing Warner caught by Darren Bravo at slip and then knocking Shane Watson's off stump out of the ground with his fifth. The Australian vice captain had aimed a monster drive at his first delivery and went close to inside edging and was completely done by the third. At 2-27 with Ponting coming to the wicket needing a score on a wicket far removed from his favourite surface, Australia were shaky. After surviving a tight over from Shillingford, Cowan went close to running Ponting out in Roach's next over. He pushed to mid off Edwards who swooped and threw at the batsman's end where a despairing Ponting had given up. Had Baugh been able to get to the stumps in time, Ponting's run of ill luck would have continued. An over later, Ponting pushed at Shillingford and was dropped at short leg by Adrian Barath. Six more overs were negotiated before the rain set in and the players didn't return until after lunch.

There was more trouble in the second over after lunch when Cowan dropped a ball from Shillingford to square leg. Ponting called and set off immediately on a short single that was his call. The opener hesitated and would have been run out at the bowlers end if wicketkeeper Baugh's throw had been true. Cowan finally went when Roach cut out the middle men and trapped him in front of middle and off. The Australians pointlessly used a review to prove what was obvious.

Play only lasted another six overs until the rain swept in again and blanketed the ground for the remainder of the day but not before more dramas as Ponting had another close call running between the wickets. He drove Shillingford slowly to Shiv Chanderpaul who was deepish at mid on and then appeared to saunter the single. Chanderpaul's throw hit the stumps and with Ponting moving casually and not sliding his bat, replays showed his foot landed astride the crease in the nick of time.

In between close calls, Ponting looked secure against the spin of Shillingford, who opened the bowling and was unchanged when the rain came. An on drive just before play ended was vintage Ponting.

Rain will decide the Test

Given the lack of runs scored in four days owing to pitch and atmospheric conditions, its hard to see a result on the last day but then, that was the forecast in Barbados. A lead of 200 would be enough but even if the weather was good enough - which looks unlikely - it would take all of the first session to raise that lead. In Australia's favour is the freshness of the bowlers who have hardly been taxed in their work so far in this Test. The pitch will be at its most deadly tomorrow, with spin and pace capable of triggering collapse. Kemar Roach proven that today. The West Indies first seven batted with grit in the first innings but the Australians can be like a mob of fleas on a wet dog when even a scent of victory floats across an oval.

Clarke's adventurous captaincy will play a large hand, especially as he is at the wicket when play resumes.

The weather, unfortunately, will decide it.