Waugh eyes historic whitewash
By JON PIERIK
in Port of Spain
Stabroek News
April 25, 2003

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STEVE Waugh's Australians will continue their unrelenting path towards becoming the first team to whitewash a Test series in the Caribbean when this lop-sided contest resumes in Barbados next week.

While they may be guaranteed of retaining the Frank Worrell Trophy after going 2-0 up against the West Indies in this best-of-four battle, Waugh and his men are also keen to win the series outright and erase the disappointing memory of four years ago when the teams tied 2-2.

That was Waugh's first series as captain and rectifying that blemish was one of the key reasons why the captain decided to extend his international career having considered retirement last summer.

After what ultimately proved to be an emphatic 118-run win in Port of Spain on Wednesday, there's no reason why the Australians who, two years ago won a record 16 straight Tests, won't leave the shores of Barbados and Antigua victorious.

No touring side in almost 75 years of Test cricket in the Caribbean has won every match.

"It would be a great achievement, there's no doubt about that," Waugh said. "It's probably in the back of our mind now. There's two Tests to go, we've got the best bowler in the world (Glenn McGrath) coming back into our side and we're playing good cricket.

"There's no reason why we can't win the last two Test matches, but in sport, anything is possible.

"We want to create our own history now to win the next Test match, to win the trophy and to continue to improve.

"We've played excellent cricket in the first two Tests but we certainly won't be letting up in Barbados."

A win in Barbados would also leave Waugh equal with West Indian Clive Lloyd's all-time captaincy record of 36 Test wins, although he is well ahead in terms of winning percentage.

The Aussies have won 35 of their 47 Tests under Waugh (74.46 per cent) while Lloyd, who led the Windies during their dominant years of the 1980s, won 46.65 per cent of his 74 Tests in charge.

On a flat Queen's Park Oval pitch which held up remarkably well, Waugh's decision to declare Australia's second innings closed with a lead of 407 surprised some.

While it would have taken a world record performance from the Windies to win, they were given at least 127 overs to overhaul the target, prompting coach Gus Logie to describe the declaration as "generous".

Considering that the Windies scored at 3.5 runs per over in their first innings, and Brian Lara was in another ominous mood, it was a calculated risk by Waugh, despite his unremitting faith in his bowlers.

"You've got to risk something to gain something," Waugh said.

"If the West Indies were good enough to get 407, then congratulations, but I'll back our bowlers to take 10 wickets.

"My thoughts were I wanted enough overs to win the Test match. I knew it was going to be tough to take 10 wickets and I wanted as many overs as possible.

"I worked out that the average scoring rate was about three-and-a-half, four per over in the match. It was always going to be harder in the last innings to get the runs."

Australia's hopes of banking four wins will be strengthened by the return of Glenn McGrath, who joined the team in time to celebrate in the post-match celebrations.

The Bridgetown wicket traditionally suits the pacemen but following the success of playing five specialist bowlers in the first two Tests, the Australians may be loathe to tamper with their attack.

"The only certainty is that Glenn McGrath will come back in to the side unless he gets injured in the next game (against a Vice-Chancellor's XI in Barbados beginning tomorrow)," Waugh said.

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