- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
John Dyson claimed the West Indies had delivered a “wake-up” call to Australia after pushing the world champions to five days in the opening Test.
More cricket
Ponting backs Johnson and MacGill to return to form
England complete remarkable victory
Australia completed a 95-run win at Sabina Park, but not before being seriously challenged by the eighth-ranked Windies, who fought valiantly to the death despite the absence of skipper Chris Gayle and strike bowler Jerome Taylor through injury.
Coach Dyson said the Windies would take many positives into the second Test following their impressive showing at Sabina – as well as being armed with the realisation that their oppositon were not “superhuman”.
“It might have been a bit of a wake-up to them (Australia),” said Dyson.
“They haven’t walked in here and just dominated the match and walked away within three days as I think a lot of people expected might happen.
“We’re playing against the strongest unit in the world and I think we have put on a pretty good show in this match.
“I don’t think there was a huge difference between the teams.
“It’s not like you could walk away from here saying it’s not possible that the West Indies can win.
“If we can just improve in a couple of areas, we will put on another good show in Antigua, and who knows … if we can apply enough pressure at the right times and continue doing the good things that we can do, they might falter just enough to give us that opening.”
“(This Test) has made us realise that they are human, they are not superhuman.
“They are just human and they can falter.”
While the final day was largely a disappointment, the Windies will still have plenty of reason to believe they can cause a major upset in the final two Tests.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s courageous 118 was the highlight with the bat, but it was with the ball the Windies most troubled Australia.
Fidel Edwards (5-104 and 3-40) was the standout, with Daren Powell (3-36) and allrounder Dwayne Bravo (4-47) also impressive in the second innings as Australia’s top order was rendered helpless in crumbling to 5-18, their worst start to an innings in 72 years.
With Taylor likely to return from a back injury in Antigua, the West Indies may well have a quality four-pronged pace attack able to sustain consistent pressure against Australia.
Dyson said he also expected Gayle (groin) to be fit for the second Test after both the skipper and Taylor were included in a 14-man squad announced today.
Spinner Amit Jaggernauth was the only player from the first Test XI dropped from the squad.
Squad: Chris Gayle (capt), Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Runako Morton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Darren Sammy, Brenton Parchment, Xavier Marshall.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.