'It was a very flat track' - Windies coach disappointed with unresponsive WACA pitch
Published: Thursday | December 17, 2009
Australia's captain Ricky Ponting ducks as he is clobbered on the elbow by West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach (out of photo), during first-day action in the third and final Test at the WACA. - Digicel photo
PERTH, Australia (CMC):
West Indies coach David Williams denounced the WACA pitch yesterday, after watching his bowlers toil on a wicket that had been projected to be a haven for pace.
Batting first after winning the toss, Australia closed on 339 for three and Williams said he was 'disappointed' that the pitch was not as fast they had anticipated.
"After the first 20 minutes we realised it was a very flat track. There was a lot of hype about it being a lot quicker and maybe assisting the fast bowlers a little bit more," Williams said. "That didn't happen so we had to resort to the spin of Narsingh Deonarine and (Sulieman) Benn, who did a fairly good job."
Outside of a briefly fierce battle between young pacer Kemar Roach and Australia captain Ricky Ponting, the Australians fended off the Caribbean side's bowling attack and enter Thursday's (last night Jamaica time) second day in a sturdy position.
Second ball
Roach's second ball to Ponting - a short, 146kph delivery - crashed into the experienced batsman's elbow and forced him to retire.
Ponting refused to leave the field initially and batted on for 40 minutes before he eventually retired hurt on 23. X-rays showed no fracture and Ponting is expected to bat later in the innings.
Williams admired the engaging battle but conceded that Ponting was not defeated, since he did not lose his wicket to Roach.
"We know for a fact that Ponting, not that he's scared of Roach, respected Roach as a fast bowler who can also hit you in your head as well as hit your edge," Williams said.
"It was a keen contest. Ricky I think got the better of him at the end. But at the end of the day it was good for cricket to see a fast bowler running in on a flat deck, bowling to the No.1 batsman in the world," Williams said.
"(Roach was under) a little bit of pressure, coming in with all this hype and stuff. He probably bowled a little bit too short and maybe at times a little bit too full but he's a young guy and he's learning quickly," Williams added.
Roach removed Shane Watson and finished with one for 67 off 13 overs.
Wicketless
Pacers Ravi Rampaul (0-38), Dwayne Bravo (0-56) and debutant Gavin Tonge (0-65) went wicketless, while Deonarine (1-52) and Benn (1-61) were the other successful bowlers.
Simon Katich (99), Watson (89), Mike Hussey (81 not out) scored heavily for the Aussies. Watson believes West Indies made a huge blunder by using Roach for the bulk of his spells from the wrong end, bowling into the wind.
"As a batsman, facing Kemar Roach bowling at the wrong end was nicer anyway," Watson said.
"I thought he definitely would have bowled downwind, with the breeze going across. I was surprised he bowled into the wind with the second new ball as well.
"The West Indies are very unpredictable at times with some of the decisions and things they do. It will be interesting to see what Chris Gayle's thinking was at that time," Watson said.
Williams played down the issue and said it was the bowler's call.
"Roach is right now our No. 1 bowler and it's up to him to pick which end he's going to bowl," Williams said.
"He chose that end. That was Roach's decision. Normally your strike bowler is going to get the end he prefers and that was the case," Williams said.
AUSTRALIA 1st innings
| S Watson c wkp Ramdin b Roach | 89 |
| S Katich c Roach b Benn | 99 |
| R Ponting ret. hurt | 23 |
| M Hussey not out | 81 |
| M Clarke c Gayle b Deonarine | 11 |
| M North not out | 23 |
| Extras (w1, nb12) | 13 |
| TOTAL (3 wkts, 90 overs) | 339 |
To bat: +B Haddin, M Johnson, N Hauritz, D Bollinger, C McKay. Fall of wickets: 1-132 (Watson, 35.2 overs), 1-175(Ponting, ret. hurt, 43), 2-260 (Katich, 67.2), 3-277 (Clarke, 72.3). Bowling: Roach 13-0-67-1 (nb4), Rampaul 14-4-38-0 (w1, nb1), Tonge 13-0-65-0 (nb7), Bravo 13-0-56-0, Benn 19-3-61-1, Deonarine 18-3-52-1. WEST INDIES -C Gayle, T Dowlin, R Sarwan, N Deonarine, B Nash, DJ Bravo, +D Ramdin, S Benn, R Rampaul, G Tonge, K Roach. Toss: Australia. Umpires: B Bowden, I Gould; TV - Asad Rauf.
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