West Indies great Sir Vivian Richards described it as the worst fielding performance he had seen by an Australian side in the Caribbean.
After some superb catching in the first innings of the third Test at Kensington Oval, Australia spilled three straight forward chances today as they stumbled slightly while trying to close out a series-sealing win.
The West Indies rode their luck to 3-235 at stumps on day four, having been set a world record 475 to level the three-Test series.
A miraculous fourth-innings run chase would still appear a long shot for the home side tomorrow, particularly with opener Sewnarine Chattergoon not expected to bat due to an ankle sprain.
But Ricky Ponting’s men blew any prospect of a quick kill today with a series of fielding errors – highlighted by dropped catches from Simon Katich, Beau Casson and Brad Haddin plus a fourth chance that split Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting at first and second slip.
It perfectly summed up a Jekyll and Hyde performance by Australia in the field this tour – several feats of brilliance blighted by as many as nine grassed catches, four from the usually reliable Katich.
It also demonstrated further the continued teething problems for Ponting’s new look side following the many retirements of the past 18 months.
“It is the worst display by any Australian team I’ve seen in the Caribbean,” said former Windies skipper and radio commentator Richards.
Matthew Hayden’s tour-ending Achilles injury was always expected to have an influence but, in an unusual twist, the master batsman’s absence has been most sorely felt in the field.
Katich has done a wonderful job replacing the broad-shouldered Queenslander at the top of the order.
But as Hayden’s first-slip replacement he has unfortunately fallen well short – so much so the NSW skipper was moved to mid off in the afternoon after putting down Xavier Marshall at third slip when the opener was on one.
Unlike Katich’s previous three drops, including two in the first innings of this Test, Marshall made Australia pay for the extra life – and another from Haddin while on 22 – to reach his highest ever first class score of 85.
Ironically, he was denied a chance of a maiden Test ton by a brilliant bat-pad catch to Phil Jaques to give debuting spinner Casson (1-59) his first Test wicket.
Casson had earlier dropped Chris Gayle, but the Windies skipper failed to make the most of his opportunity, departing off Stuart Clark (1-29) for a lacklustre 22.
“Personally I felt horrendous dropping that catch,” Casson said.
“Chris Gayle is an explosive player and every time he hits a four or a run it certainly eats you up.
“But when you see the back of him, it makes you fell a bit better.
“It was a little bit frustrating (the dropped catches), but no one means to drop them.”
Lee (0-50) was the unluckiest of Australia’s bowlers, the paceman having two catches dropped off his bowling as well as having an appeal for caught behind off Dwayne Bravo (30 not out) turned down by umpire Mark Benson late in the day, despite the ball appearing to brush the allrounder’s glove.
Tensions flared a few times during the Windies innings, with Clark and Gayle exchanging words, and Mitchell Johnson and Marshall doing likewise.
Australia declared their second innings at lunch at 5-439 after Simon Katich (157) added just nine to his overnight score and Clarke (48no) and Haddin (42no) put on an unbeaten 79 for the sixth wicket.
Sulieman Benn was the pick of the Windies bowlers in the morning session, taking 2-47 today to claim innings figures of 3-154 from 47 overs.
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