Windies in trouble - 182 for six:
McGrath the ripper
BRISBANE, Friday (Reuters) - Glenn McGrath gave the new generation of
West Indies pacemen a lesson in accurate bowling to put Australia in
complete control of the first test on the second day on Friday.
McGrath ripped through the tourists' batting with a perfect display
of line and length, leaving the tourists struggling at 182 for six in
reply to Australia's 435.
Shane Warne and Brett Lee also captured a wicket each after making
identical scores of 47 to help Australia's lower order lead their side
to a daunting total.
The only West Indian batsman to offer real resistance was diminutive
opener Devon Smith, who scored a courageous 88 despite being thumped on
the helmet by a vicious bouncer from Lee.
The 24-year-old left-hander sank to his knees and was treated by the
doctor but recovered to bat for more than four hours and register his
second highest test score.
He was eventually dismissed in the last half hour of play, clean
bowled by McGrath who finished the day with figures of four for 58 from
18 overs.
The lanky paceman dismissed Chris Gayle in his opening spell for 10,
the opener slashing at a ball outside off stump, and then removed
Ramnaresh Sarwan for 21.
Brian Lara showed only a few glimpses of his genius as he crawled to
30 before being trapped lbw by Lee and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul
tried to hit his way out of trouble before being brilliantly caught by a
diving Bracken off Warne for two.
The West Indians had the Australians in trouble early on the first
day but a brilliant 149 from Ricky Ponting and erratic bowling allowed
the hosts to finish with a hefty total.
Warne and Lee put on 75 for the eighth wicket and Nathan Bracken kept
the tail wagging with an adventurous 37, although they were helped by an
attack that bowled far too short and gave away 46 extras, including 22
no-balls and six wides.
Play was delayed for half an hour because of rain but the Australians
made up for lost time, scoring at a run a minute before the innings
ended after lunch.
The highlight of the morning session was a massive six from Lee off
Daren Powell that sailed through a gap in the second tier of the
grandstand into an adjoining street.
Lee was also wayward in his opening spell but McGrath stuck to a
nagging line that undid the visitors with three of his four victims
edging catches to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. |