Tony Becca

THE SECOND Test between the West Indies and Australia ended in Antigua on Tuesday and, once again, hats off to the West Indies.

Especially to their batsmen and more so to Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan for another wonderful effort.

Well-deserved draw

After taking the first Test into the fifth day, the West Indies, despite losing that one, also took the second into the fifth day. This time, however, they took it right to the end and in doing so they earned a well-deserved draw.

As improbable, if not impossible, as it will be, they have also left themselves in with a chance to draw the series.

As well as the West Indies have played, it is unlikely, however, they will win the third Test.

Although Australia's bowling appears to be dependent on Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, it seems so for the simple reason that the tourists, who won the first Test by 95 runs, are better than the West Indies.

The truth, however, is that but for some poor umpiring, the second Test probably would have ended in a tame draw.

Sarwan, it is true, could have been ruled out leg before wicket at 60 in the West Indies second innings. He was very lucky not to be ruled out stumped at 92.

Mistakes made

Andrew Symonds was ruled out when the ball clipped his glove on the way to the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was ruled out leg before wicket when he was not out and Lee was given out caught when the ball came off his forearm and not his glove. The mistakes that left Australia with a great chance to win the match, however, were those in the West Indies first innings when, with the West Indies on 314 for four, they lost six wickets for 38 runs.

With Chanderpaul batting well, Dwayne Bravo was given out caught by wicketkeeper Haddin off Lee when he did not touch the ball. Denesh Ramdin was ruled out leg before off the very next delivery and, one over later, Daren Sammy was also ruled out leg before when, like Ramdin, he should not, based on the rules, be given out.

But for those three decisions, which left the Windies reeling at 318 for seven, after losing three wickets for four runs in 10 deliveries, the West Indies probably would have batted longer in their first innings.

They probably would have got close to Australia's first innings and, with them failing to get a substantial lead and having less time to bat before declaring their second innings, the match would have died before the dawn of the last day.

Stuck to the job

To the Windies credit, however, they took the disappointments in their stride, they stuck to the job and although they have not yet turned the corner, although, as far as their batting is concerned, so much still depends on Chanderpaul and Sarwan, they did the region proud.

In congratulating the West Indies for a generally good effort, it must be noted that they did not bowl as well as they did at Sabina Park, that they did not field or catch as well as they did at Sabina Park and that but for a gem, an encouraging performance by Xavier Marshall in the first innings and a good knock by Bravo, before he was erroneously ruled out in the first innings, their batting, but for Chanderpaul and Sarwan, was disap-pointing - especially that of Devon Smith and Runako Morton.

Chanderpaul scored 107 not out and 77 not out, Sarwan scored 65 and 128, and that was great.

Just as they need a good spin bowler, however, the West Indies, if they really hope to turn the corner, definitely need at least another good batsman in the middle of the order. The West Indies probably need a number six batsman. What they really need, however, is one good enough to bat at number four.