Walsh and Dillon did extract some life. However the wickets that fell apart from Mark Waugh came from some injudicious shots rather Windies' good balls. This series of poor shots rendered the Australians 150-5 so that Adams may have felt quite pleased with his decision. Then Waugh and gilchrist dug in and put on a useful stand that sapped the windies bowlers spirit and concentration and when Gilchrist fell for 37 Waugh maintained the momentum til the close. This was thus an interesting day for a crowd which reached an estimated 75,000 and confirmed what marketing wizzards frequently need reminding namely that a huge prportion of cricket lovers enjoy watching the game whether or not the series is dead or intrigingly poised.
Good cricket is always worth watching and there was much good cricket to see.
The Windies would have achieved more if they had maintained a better line and several Aussie batsmen will have felt they had missed out on a big innings. Brett Lee will miss the Ansett Australia Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne and the Ansett Australia Centenary of Federation Test match in Sydney. The decision to rest Lee was taken following a clinical assessment of his back by Australian team doctor Trefor James and physiotherapist Errol Alcott on Saturday afternoon. And, as such, there is a high degree of optimism Lee will be fit for the Carlton Series of one-day internationals that follow the Ansett Australia Test series against the West Indies. Dr James and Alcott examined Lee's spinal movement, conducted a soft tissue assessment and vertebral pressures and checked out his flexibility.