Sarwan BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:
NEW WEST Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan says he is confident of a draw in the crucial third Cable & Wireless Test against Australia on the final day today despite a looming tall order.
Following-on with a deficit of 277, West Indies, who trail 0-2 in the four-match series, closed the fourth day on 187 for three in their second innings - still 90 runs adrift with seven wickets intact.
At the crease are Sarwan on 58 and under-the-weather captain Brian Lara on 41 in a 93-run partnership, which has lasted two-and-a-quarter hours.
"I am pretty confident (of a draw). I think we are in a position where we don't have much of a choice," Sarwan told reporters at the post-day Press conference.
"I am happy to have Brian at the crease and I am sure if we are able to bat the first session tomorrow and then take it to tea, we stand a good chance of drawing the game."
Sarwan also gave an assessment of the Kensington Oval pitch, which has been heavily criticised for its dour nature.
"I don't think it is much different from yesterday. It is still keeping low and playing two-paced. I think you need to look at the ball very closely and that is what I think myself and Brian did today fairly good and I think we need to adopt the same style tomorrow.
"You need to be patient and look at the ball closely. I am pretty pleased with the way I batted.
"Sarwan said Lara, who batted at No. 8 in the first innings because of a suspected bout of chicken pox, appeared to be improving.
"I think he is feeling a lot better today than yesterday. I am not sure what has happened to him but he is feeling a lot better and that is why he stepped up and batted at No. 5."
Sarwan said he was aware Lara was likely to bat higher in the second innings after the ace batsman spoke with team manager Ricky Skerritt during the luncheon interval.
He said the Australian bowlers were "very consistent and you have to be patient with them".
At the same time, Sarwan conceded that Australia, who amassed 605 for nine declared, enjoyed better batting conditions after they were put in.
BETTER WICKET
"I must say the Aussies got the better part of the pitch and obviously I think if we had batted first we would have had the better part of the wicket as well but these things do happen. I don't think we can look back. We just have to look ahead and hope for the best."
Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who has picked up five wickets including four for 107 in the first innings and who could be the trump card on the final day, was open on the outcome of the match.
"There is only one team that can win and I guess from Australia's point of view, we've got nothing to lose. So we can go out and just push as hard as we can for victory and even if the West Indies should escape with a draw we are the No. 1 Test-playing nation again," MacGill said.
"From a personal point of view, the wicket is probably better than the other two (in Guyana and Trinidad) have been for me, simply because there is a little bit more pace in the turn.
NOT GREAT
"Unfortunately, that doesn't mean it's a great wicket. I think when the bowlers try and bang the ball in, it really shows there is not much below the hard surface.
"Without appearing too critical, there really should be a lot more bounce in a Test pitch from my point of view and that would have helped the West Indian bowlers out a whole lot as well."
MacGill said the presence of Lara could be key to the outcome.
"One thing that batsmen always seem to benefit from is slight illness or discomfort. They always seem to concentrate a whole lot harder when they are battling something out. It may well have worked out in his favour. He seemed very, very patient this evening and if he shows the same temperament tomorrow, it could be a long day at the office for us," MacGill said.
