Windies chase more one-day success

ST GEORGE’S: Australia are looking for a return to winning ways after their 21-match streak came to an end in Trinidad. One loss in 22 matches is a record to make any captain proud, but for Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting his team is only as good as their last match.

The visitors have already secured the one-day series, but hope to go out on a high in the two remaining games, both at the National Stadium. “The loss was a wake-up for us,” Ponting said after the West Indies won by 67 runs last Sunday. “If we don’t play at our best then you can be beaten and that’s what happened. “We’ve had a few days off before (today’s) game so we’ve had plenty of time to freshen up and make sure we’re a better team. I’m disappointed it ended — it would have been nice to continue it a bit longer — but I’m very proud of how we’ve done it and how we’ve gone about it.”

Aussie fast bowler Brett Lee sent the camp into a panic during Wednesday’s net session when he was struck on the back of the head, suffering mild concussion. Australia are also yet to make decisions on the fitness of Michael Bevan and Glenn McGrath, both of whom suffered groin strains on Sunday. But experienced middle-order batsman Darren Lehmann is expected to have fully recovered from a calf strain. There is an air of expectancy in Grenada for the two matches with schools being given a day off and employers asked to give leave to every worker who has a match ticket.

No Grenadian has played an international game at Grenada’s National Stadium since it was opened four years ago.  But locals will have to wait until Sunday at least to see young opener Devon Smith, who will serve as 12th man for today’s match. And young all-rounder Ryan Hurley, who injured his shoulder in taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jimmy Maher in Trinidad, was replaced by fast bowler Vasbert Drakes.

Teams : WEST INDIES (from): Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (capt), Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, David Bernard, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore.
AUSTRALIA (from): Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting (capt), Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie.