The series between Australia and West Indies was dead rubber and with the series easily won and a dead Test still to play, Australia coach Darren Lehmann on Wednesday talked up the West Indies for finally finding some fight.
The tourists have failed to bowl out Australia once over the first two Tests, having long lost their world-beating reputation as the “Calypso Kings”.
But Lehmann noted that they played well while still losing by 177 runs in Melbourne.
“I was really pleased the way they fought back, yeah, after being six for 90 day two and then obviously bat really well on day three,” he said.
The West Indies crashed to an innings defeat in Hobart and lost the series on Tuesday in Melbourne, but captain Jason Holder and former skipper Denesh Ramdin both made battling half centuries.
“I thought they played really well and that’s what they’re gonna need to do going forward to improve as a side, they know that now… Back end they took the game to us,” Lehmann told reporters.
Sydney Morning Herald cricket commentator Malcolm Knox also celebrated the West Indies finding their heart despite another defeat.
“Finally, the tourists showed some grit and in so doing mounted an argument for why their mooted demotion from Test cricket’s top division would be a retrograde step,” he wrote in a column published Wednesday.
“The longer they play in Australia, the more they learn and the better they get.”
Lehmann said Australia were still weighing up selection options ahead of the final Test starting Sunday in Sydney, with bowler Peter Siddle notably carrying an ankle injury.
But ominously for the West Indies, Lehmann stressed Australia could still improve.
“I still think there’s areas on any given time we need to improve on… no-balls this game for example,” he said.
“I think our fielding was a lot better this game than it was in the previous couple of Test matches.
“Our batting’s been very good all summer.
“It’s coming together nicely but you’re always aiming for perfection and trying to strive to be the best team you can be.”
(with inputs from AFP)