Windies exhibited marked improvement against Australia: Roebuck

Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck has said that the 2-0 scoreline of the Frank Worrell Trophy between Australia and West Indies does not reflect the marked improvement in the temperament of the combative tourists.

He said the West Indians can be proud of their performance, as it reflected improvement in fielding, running between wickets and lower-order batting.  

“On the face of it, a 2-0 defeat has not significantly improved their reputation, but the result conceals a substantial improvement reflected in sharper fielding, improved running between wickets and more committed lower-order batting,” Roebuck wrote in a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald.
 
“The players looked like cricketers and performed with their hearts and heads. As much could be told from Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge's audacious and ill-starred last-wicket thrust,” he added.

Roebuck further appreciated individual performances of the inexperienced team led by Chris Gayle.

“Hardly any of them had previously toured Australia. Roach's sizzling pace, Sulieman Benn's stilted legs and climbing tweakers, Adrian Barath's daring strokeplay and bright fielding, Dwayne Bravo's skills and gusto, Narsingh Deonarine's pluck, Travis Dowlin's grit and Denesh Ramdin's promise all attracted high praise. The West Indies can build around these players,” Roebuck said.

“Australia have lost some lustre but remain hard to conquer. These blokes had a good crack at it. Chris Gayle deserves credit for awakening of his side. Plain and simple, he saved the series,” he added.