THE WEST Indies and the world's number one side, Australia, launch their three-match Test series today at Sabina Park, with the hosts trying to regain the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.
This will be quite a task because, as the Aussies' ranking suggests, they are the best. Added to the handicap is that the home team is starting the relatively short series without its strongest team due to the unavailability of captain Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, two of the team's leading batsmen.
A groin injury has sidelined Gayle and Samuels has been banned for two years for breaking the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules by associating with a bookmaker.
Besides his credentials as a batsman, which bears even more significance as he's also an opener, Gayle's leadership has been a factor in the team's relative success in recent times.
Sarwan's weight
The responsibilities have now fallen back on the shoulders of Ramnaresh Sarwan, the middle-order batsman who was skipper until he was sidelined by injury; allowing Gayle to assume the captaincy.
Sarwan's revolution around the captaincy actually began long ago when he was appointed vice-captain when Brian Lara was at the helm. Now, much rests on his shoulders, specifically as it relates to run getting in this young batting unit.
Since returning from his latest injury, the right-handed number three has struck a rich vein of form and actually won the Man of the Series award in the just-concluded dual-Test series with Sri Lanka, that ended 1-1.
In the first Test he scored 80 and 72, then 57 and 102 in the second that the Windies won. Apart from Sarwan, the only other dependable batsman in the team is Shivnarine Chanderpaul who, after very average scores - by his high standards - steered the team home with an undefeated 86 in the last innings of the Sri Lanka series.
Dwayne Bravo who is gutsy, at times brilliant and always thinking, is also quite reliable.
Reflecting on standards set by the Australians, more Windies batsmen will have to stand up and be counted by scoring totals in excess of 50 consistently if the team is to enhance what appears to be a really decent shot at winning the series against a side in transition.
Great responsibilities
In this context, Devon Smith, Runako Morton and Brenton Parchment have great responsibilities, as they are among the crew expected to put up defendable totals to boost the confidence of an improving bowling attack.
Too often the batsmen make a good-looking start, then lose their way after getting settled into their 20s, 30s or 40s. That leads to a player being axed, which inhibits growth within the team as the constant changing means people are under trial all the time.
Convenor of selectors and master Windies batsman Gordon Greenidge stressed the performance pattern and attitude needed to win the series in a Caribbean Media Corporation report published this week.
He said: "The players must believe that they can step up and show what they are really capable of.
"We have to decide to be more forceful, more positive and spend time at the crease. What we want is consistency. This is something we have been fighting for over the years. This series presents an opportunity for players to be counted - new players and established players," Greenidge said.
The way the selectors have gone about picking teams in the fight for that consistency has lacked patience and put the onus on the players to make their chances count.
Parchment, for instance, was picked for the tough South Africa tour then dropped for the next series in the Caribbean in more favourable home conditions.
Wicketless overs
Spinner Sulieman Benn went for 120 in 40 wicketless overs in the first innings of his debut Test against Sri Lanka, then took three for 59 off 13 in the second and was dropped for the final game of the series.
For the bowlers, some of these decisions are based on an assessment of the pitch and there might not be room for much argument over Benn being sidelined as the pacers routed Sri Lanka 278 and 268, albeit on a more responsive pitch, and the Windies won.
Benn, too, is among the newer spin options. Amit Jaggernauth, who headlined wicket-takers with scalps in the regional first-class Carib Beer competition this season and all-round prospect Ryan Hinds, who has been in and out of the squad, are the others.
Despite the void in experience and the high rating of Australia, with classy players in captain Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds, Stuart Clark, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, etc., all away series are tough because of foreign conditions.
Ponting attested to this fact in a Gleaner report, saying: "It is always (difficult) whenever you play an opposing team in their own country. You always expect them to play in the conditions well."
If the West Indies batting, especially, produces totals in excess of 400, the team stands a good chance of reclaiming the trophy.
