Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

Timothy Thwaites caught in a patriotic mood on the mound at Sabina Park last Friday. - Photo by LeVaughn Flynn

MANY TIMES, when the West Indies would lose a Test match, their fans would be mad and say, "I don't mind them losing but not without a fight."Although I agreed with them, I did not believe them.

Between last Thursday and Sunday, however, at the end of every day's play, there was praise for the West Indies. There was hope of a victory and, on Monday when that victory did not materialise, although some of them were disappointed and 'cussing' the West Indies for surrendering, the vast majority of fans boasted a smile and were saying, "well played, fellows".

And I totally agreed with them.

Based on the history of the game, and the pitch, the odds were against them winning the match.

Lest it be forgotten, only a few, a very few at that, around 30, of the 1,876 Test matches have ever been won by the side batting last and seeking a similar or bigger score to win. The pitch, from start to finish, was always in favour of the bowlers, the West Indies' batting is weak and was weaker than it usually is.On top of that, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the team's best batsman, carried almost all the team's hopes, he had made a century in the first innings - a performance that steered the West Indies to 312, in all those matches, only 46 times had a batsman who scored a century in the first innings come back to score one in the second innings and, had the West Indies won the match, as they did with a different batting line-up and on a different type of pitch when they made 418 for six at the Antigua Recreation Ground in 2003, it would have been surprising - at least to me.

Had they won the match, they would have a right to be celebrating to this day.

For the first four days, however, they were wonderful.

Without Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke, Australia were not at their best, but even then they were good, they were still the best in the world, and the West Indies competed against them like equals.

To many, the match would have been over in three days or so. It went to five days, and it went to five days because of the West Indies who made their presence felt from the beginning when, thanks to Fidel Edwards, they had the world champions in trouble at 37 for two with appeals for leg before wicket echoing around the ground almost every over for a long time.

To me, the disappointing performances by the West Indies, by this West Indies team, were the stroke by Ramnaresh Sarwan when he was dismissed in the first innings and when, after cruising along at 260 for four in that innings, they lost four wickets for eight runs in six overs and failed to challenge Australia's 431.

That apart, with Chanderpaul scoring 118, with Runako Morton surprising and coming up with 67, with Edwards bowling like a man inspired, with Australia, despite the absence of Hayden and Clarke, made to tremble in their boots, it was a lovely performance by the West Indies, and one which I will never forget.

Stuart Clark of Australia pulled down a great catch at mid-on to dismiss Morton, and so did Symonds at cover to get rid of Sarwan in the second innings.

I will never forget, however, the brilliant catches by the West Indies - by Dwayne Bravo twice, by Brenton Parchment, by Runako Morton twice and by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin; and most important, I will never forget that the West Indies, this West Indies team, had Australia, the mighty Australia, in this day and age of covered pitches, for the first time since 1936, reeling at 18 for five before Andrew Symonds led what can be described as the great escape.

I cannot recall ever seeing, from any team, anywhere in the world, so many magnificent catches in one Test match, and nor can I remember the West Indies, any West Indies team, cornering any team and knocking them so dizzy so early in an innings.

The second Test began at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday and hopefully the Windies will rise to the occasion again.

West Indian paceman Fidel Edwards (right) is congratulated by teammates after claiming one of his five first innings wickets. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrates his first innings century against Australia. - Photo by Dellmar

West Indies' Darren Sammy (top) collides with teammate Daren Powell but takes the catch to dismiss Australia's Andrew Symonds on day four of the first Test. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting on his way to a fine 158 against the West Indies. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The Australians celebrate their hard-earned victory at Sabina Park on Monday afternoon. - Photo by Dellmar

The Australian flag flew proudly at Sabina Park. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Australia's Andrew Symonds on the go on day four. Symonds made an invaluable 79. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Man of the match, Australia's Stuart Clark, with his US$3,000 cheque. Clark took a career-best five for 32 in the West Indies' second innings to end with match figures of eight for 91. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (second right) receives attention after being struck on the back of the head by a Brett Lee bouncer. - Photo by Dellmar

West Indies' Dwayne Bravo (right) unsuccessfully appeals for a leg-before verdict against Australia batsman Brad Hodge on the fourth day. - AP