• ignores tile -�- -- to get match-winning haul By Tony Cozier possible just to see how it would physic's table, seen Walsh plug­ wrapped up as Ambrose found it react," Walsh explained after­ ging away and announced to almost impossible to land his Special Correspondent wards. Waight: "I've got to get back out feet within the limits of either Four of Walsh's five victims there." He returned in the middle PERTH - Courtney Walsh; the batting or popping crease. He were the Waugh twins, of the afternoon, just when indestructible lionheart of West sent down one over with six no­ Australia's finest and most expe­ Walsh was considering having a balls and another that included Indies cricket, bade his final rienced batsmen, Michael rest. nine, all from round the wickets. farewell to Australia with a per­ Bevan, the left-handed topscorer "I was leaving the field just formance of skill and courage of the first innings. and wicket­ before tea but the guys - Jimmy The tall Antiguan saw the funny that not only earned his team the keeper Ian Healy, century-maker (Adams), Carl (Hooper), Brian side of it, bowing to the crowd satisfaction of a sweeping victo­ in Brjsbane and an always dan­ (Lara), Sirnmo (Phil Simmons) - of 6,000 as it cheered at the ry in the final Test. It will also gerous opponent. Only Paul said you've got to stick it out over's eventual end. He could serve as an inspiration to those Reiffel of the five could be clas­ now you've come this far, try afford to smile. His two wickets who will soon have to take on sified a tailender. and hang in there," Walsh said. brought his match haul to seven his mantle. Back in the team room In fact, it took a bizarre hour and and gained him the Man of the For the better part of two days, Ambrose had looked up from the a quarter for the il nings to be ! Match award on the ground long-time team physiotherapist Dennis Waight had tended to the where he has taken 24 wickets in damaged right hamstring muscle three Tests. of his 34-year-old captain, Finally, Ian Bishop, below his strained in his ninth over of best th roughout the match, Australia's first innings on accounted for Andy Biebel and Saturday, The prognosis was not Shane Warne to catches at long­ encouraging when the third day leg and third man from top­ II0 started with the West Indies, edged hooks and cuts respective­ ahead with three first innings ly and the West Indies were left wickets standing, were strongly with a token 54 to win. plf!.ced. As they led the team off the It did not seem that Walsh's absence would be a relevant fac­ ground, Walsh and Ambrose tor in the outcome - to everyone waved their goodbyes to the but Walsh himself. In more than appreciative spectators. At the a dozen years of Test cricket, he presentation ceremony after­ had never· missed one of his 85 wards, they botlJ confim1ed they matches because of injury and he had played their last match in was determined that he would Australia. see this significant one through. Sherwin Campbell and Robert The upshot was that Walsh, un Samuels completed the victory the ground where he played his with a volley of boundaries - first Test just over 12-years-ago four to Campbell, eight to as a shy 22-year-old, batted with Samuels. It was the second for vice-captain Brian Lara as his runner at the end of the West the West Indies within three Indies first innings, convinced days but the disappointing reali­ himself he was up' to bowling ty quickly followed as Taylor, with a few speculative deliveries for the second time in successive on the outfield between innings series, was presented with the and proceeded to. deliver 20 con­ Frank Worrel Trophy. secutive overs, broken only by To have won as convincingly the intervals, off which he dis­ and with such a flawless all­ missed five Australian batsmen round performance as this was a for 75 on an unsatisfactory rock­ gratifying finale. But it was no hard pitch streaked with long, consolation for the failure of the gaping cracks. · real mission - to reclaim the " I was keen to get out there -Reuters and get st�ed but· J didn't know Trophy. Another chance won't come for another two years in what was going to happen when West Indies fast bowler Curtley Ambrose celebrate after I started to bowl. So I tried to the Caribbean. • carry it to as c!ose- to lunch as claiming the wicket of Australian captain Mark Taylor. THE GLEANER • Tuesda , FebruCl[y 4, 1997 .