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Several controversial umpiring decisions have helped set the scene for a fiery final Test after tensions boiled over late on day four of Australia’s second Test against the West Indies in Antigua.
Brett Lee was floored by a Fidel Edwards bouncer while Andrew Symonds became involved in a lively exchange with fieldsmen as frustrations grew during a dramatic day at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Australia were poised to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy after reaching 6-244 at stumps to hold an overall lead of 371 runs.
Victory or a draw tomorrow would ensure the trophy remained with Ricky Ponting’s side after they took a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series with a hard-fought 95-run win at Sabina Park.
But even if both teams head to Barbados next week with the series already in Australia’s keeping, it would seem unlikely the third and final Test would be played out like a dead rubber given the intensity of this afternoon.
Lee, who collected Shivnarine Chanderpaul on the back of the helmet in the first Test, was visibly shaken after receiving a jaw-rattling delivery from Edwards, but had no complaints about either the bouncer or the on-field sparring.
“I haven’t got a problem with what happened this afternoon,” said Lee, who turned the match with an inspired spell of reverse swing bowling today.
“I think it was definitely played in the right spirit. There was heaps of passion out there, heaps of commitment to the side, so it’s all hard tough Test match cricket.
“I know as a fast bowler I’ve dealt plenty out (of short balls), I’ve been dealt my fair share plus some tax as well I think on top of that, but I’m definitely not going to sit here and whinge about it.” While nowhere near the ferocity of last summer’s Indian Test series, it was the first time this series tensions had really come to a head on the pitch.
Both sides were on the receiving end of umpiring bloopers, although it was the Windies who suffered most, with Dwayne Bravo’s contentious dismissal – which sparked the Windies collapse from 4-314 to all out 352 – looming as particularly vital in the outcome of the match.
Bravo (45) was given out caught behind off Lee by umpire Russell Tiffen, despite replays clearly showing the ball had come off his thigh pad.
Lee (5-59) went on to take two more wickets in the next three balls – both LBW and both perhaps pitching outside off stump – before collecting two more scalps a few overs later to claim the amazing return of 5-5 in 18 balls.
Australia also seemed to have the rub of the green when they came in to bat, with Ponting surviving a confident LBW shout, and Symonds given not out despite appearing to have gloved a ball to the ‘keeper off Jerome Taylor.
Symonds was adamant he didn’t hit the ball, shaking his head and then exchanging a few words with the fieldsman before umpire Mark Benson was forced to intervene.
Tiffen had earlier appeared to tell Runako Morton to calm down after the fiery Windies batsman laboured too long on an appeal.
Lee was also on the wrong end of poor decision from the final ball of the day when he was given out caught behind of Edwards, despite the ball hitting his arm.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to trial an extended use of video technology during an international series later in the year.
Despite the events of today, Lee said he was happy to keep the human element in Test cricket. “It has definitely got merits in maybe Twenty20 cricket, maybe try it in that or domestic cricket back home but in Test match cricket … we don’t want to change too many things,” he said.
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