West Indies managed to chase down 418 in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Antigua as they achieved a monumental feat against the world champions.
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In the early 2000s, the Australian cricket team was a juggernaut that was dominating all aspects of cricket. In ODIs and Tests, Australia redefined the definition of dominance. They had won 21 ODIs in the year 2003, which included their third World Cup win in South Africa. After their success in the World Cup, Australia arrived in the West Indies for a four-Test series and seven ODIs. From 1995, the West Indies were in decline, having been whitewashed in South Africa and Australia in 1998 and 2000.
In 1999, when Australia toured the West Indies, they were undone by a tour-de-force performance from Brian Lara who smashed them in Jamaica and Barbados. The Aussies was very close to losing the Frank Worrell Trophy. However, they put up an inspired show in Antigua to draw the series 2-2. In the 2003 series, there was no such problem.
Australia had dominated the first three Tests. In the first Test in Georgetown, Australia won the match by nine wickets. Justin Langer hit 146 and 78. Despite a 70-ball century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and tons from Brian Lara and Darren Ganga, West Indies were blown away. In the second Test in Trinidad, Lara was once again was in fine form with 91 and 122 but Ricky Ponting’s double ton helped the visitors take a 2-0 lead.
Ponting and Steve Waugh helped Australia clinch the series in Barbados with sparkling tons. Despite Jermaine Lawson becoming the fourth West Indies player to take a hat-trick, West Indies still lost. Stuart MacGill took nine wickets as Australia looked to whitewash the West Indies for the second consecutive time.
In Antigua, Australia were restricted to 240 with Lawson taking 7/78. However, West Indies could only manage to draw level with Australia as they too were bowled out for 240. Australia reached 417 with Langer hitting 111 and Matthew Hayden chipping in with 177. The stage was set for a formality as Australia reduced the West Indies to 74/3.
On the fourth day, there was an intense sledging battle between Ramnaresh Sarwan and Glenn McGrath. The Aussie pacer had made some unpleasant remarks but Sarwan responded with a remark on McGrath’s wife. That angered McGrath and he was abusing Sarwan. At that time, McGrath’s wife Jane was undergoing treatment for Cancer and that unsettled him. To top it all, McGrath had missed the first two Tests and was not bowling well. Sarwan was not aware of the Jane’s condition. The reverse chirp, though, had unsettled Australia and the tide began to turn.
Lara hit 60 and the strokeplay of Chanderpaul and Sarwan guided West Indies. Both batsmen hit centuries, with Chanderpaul hitting 104 and Sarwan hitting 105. However, both batsmen fell and West Indies were in need of some determined batting.
With West Indies needing 46 runs, Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes stitched an epic seventh wicket stand. Drakes hit a six off MacGill and the equation boiled down to under 20 runs. Australia threw everything at them, but both players hung in. Drakes and Banks chipped away at the runs and in the 129th over, West Indies chased down the highest successful total in Test history.
Australia were beaten on the field and off the field as well. The incident involving McGrath and Sarwan had not made for good viewing. McGrath genuinely apologized to Sarwan for the outburst and both players made up. West Indies had avoided the whitewash in grand style. In the subsequent ODI series that followed, West Indies lost the first four matches but bounced back to win the next three.
Sadly, this would be the last time West Indies would win a Test against Australia anywhere. Australia has surged ahead in all aspects against the West Indies. But, on May 13, 2003, West Indies had achieved the ultimate glory against Australia. The record of 418 still stands and it is something that West Indies can be proud off.
