THINGS IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR AUSTRALIA

The Australian Cricket team humiliated the West Indian Cricket team at their home ground by winning a one off test match by an innings and 473 runs. This was one of the biggest wins for Australia in Test history.

The environment in the ground was great as the match started on time at Bridgetown Barbados. The Australians won the toss and opted to bat on a wicket that was a perfect for batting and offered nothing much for bowlers. Australia batted for the 1st two days scoring a record 757 against the West Indians. The bowling card looked a mess as Steve Waugh proved why he is known as one of the most talented players of modern cricket. He scored an astonishing 295 off just 339 balls with a haul of 46 fours. He was supported by the top order, Mark Waugh (121), Ricky Ponting (77). The brilliance of the batting was reflected on the bowling figures of the West Indians. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh looked very average returning with figures of 3-159 and 4-166 respectively. Ian Bishop was no better as he got figures of 2-143.

The West Indian 1st innings was not at all what it should have been. The demoralized batsmen fell all out for 173. Only Brian Lara looked in some form when he made 77 but all the others were just coming and going. Glenn McGrath proved a handful in the 3rd day when the pitch was offering something for the bowlers. He took 4-48. Warne and Robertson did well too taking 3-41 and 3-26 simultaneously.

The Australians pulled all the strings on the opposition and whooped them out for 111. McGrath, Gillespie and Warne capturing 2 wickets each. The man who really bowled well was off-spinner Gavin Robertson who returned with superb figures of 5-3-4-3.

The next match will be very crucial for Australia as they meet a reformed Zimbabwe team at home. The last time they met they won by an innings, however this time things are different as Zimbabwe shocked all by beating the No.2 team in the league, Todd's XI. Dave Houghton, Heath Streak and Paul Strang are three of their players to look out for.

Australian skipper Shane Warne said "Zimbabwe look good at the moment and we will not take them lightly but I think our side is ready to beat anyone who challenges us. We have our goal set and that is to be in the 1st three teams of the competition and Zimbabwe will be our step one".

This match is being hyped maybe more than the encounter between a demoralized Todd's XI and England the leaders of the league.

ENGLAND - Manager: Dan Thomas

England were jubilant this week to hear that the Warwick Todd XI had been surprisingly beaten by the Zimbabwe. Hopefully this will mean that their morale is down and England can beat them in the crucial clash this week that will almost certainly decide the course of the championship.

Whilst Warwick Todd XI were losing England had the best preparation for the match with a convincing 9 wicket win over Sri Lanka and best news of all picked up no injuries so can name an unchanged full strength squad this week.

Batting first Sri Lanka were dismissed for 223 with Gough and Cork doing the major damage. Only Gurusinha with a uncharacteristicly patient 60 seem to come to grips with the England bowlers.

In reply England were in some trouble at 161 for 7 before Gough and Ramps restored the damage. The English batting has been a little suspect in recent innnings so 273 and a 50 run lead was a good performance. Ramprakash completed his second century of the championship. His first seems ages ago coming as it did in the very first match.

The 50 run lead was quickly put in to context as Sri Lanka were blown away in their 2nd innings. After Cork had quickly removed both openers Croft and Tufnell took over and Sri Lanka did not even reach 100 all out for 95 with Croft taking 6-33. Left 46 to win England easily achieved this with just the loss of Atherton.

Such is the consistent form of the English bowlers that 3 of them have taken over 70 wickets in the championship. Gough 75 @ 19.73, Croft 72 @ 19.01 and Cork 71 @ 19.30. The 4th main bowler Tufnell has 44 @ 21.84. It is these bowling performances which have helped England achieve the highest bowling bonus points in the league.

Hopefully this form can be carried over to the match against Warwick Todd's XI. With England now on top of the table again, 10 points clear, victory should guarantee the title.

INDIA - Manager: Mat Kenneally

Last weeks success was a relief to the Indian side, however they are still in a form slump. India clearly should have buried South Africa three or four times but allowed the tail to survive. Pollock and Klusener were extremely pesky. Manager Mathew Kenneally said "With all due respect they are coming last we should've done better." India, in Mathew's opinion, are still not safe from the wooden spoon but may still make the top four. Azharuddin and skipper Ganguly found some form in round 14 as did Prasad. India are excited about pulling off a win against the Windies who will be fired up about the miracle India performed last time the two sides met.

NEW ZEALAND - Manager: Ben Buchanan

PAKISTAN - Manager: Nathan Porter

The second successive defense of the Warwick Todd trophy was at the cost of injuries though. Waqar Younis is still out and has been joined on the sideline by his replacement Mohammad Zahid and one of the form batsmen, Azhar Mahmood. Replacements Yousuf Youhana and Mohammad Akram will finally get their chance to push into the first 11. Good performances here may see them retain a spot in the selectors eyes for the future.

SOUTH AFRICA - Manager: Steve Hill

SRI LANKA - Manager: Keith McLeod

One would think that the Sri Lankan cricket team would be able to relax somewhat going into this weekend's home match against the New Zealand team. Although the Sri Lankans have suffered consecutive losses against tough opposition in recent weeks, the New Zealand team has been at an even lower ebb. The Kiwis have only won two games this season, the very reason they are dangerous, believes Sri Lankan manager Keith McLeod. "As a New Zealander myself, I know how hungry they must be for victory", said McLeod, "Believe me, we won't take them lightly."

The last time the two teams met was nine weeks ago, at Eden Park in Auckland, with the Sri Lankans winning by ten wickets after a mammoth 640 run innings. Going by the form-guide, the Sri Lankans have to be hot favorites to win this weekend's match, despite the protestations of their manager.

Sri Lanka will certainly want to forget the lesson they received at the hands of Dan Thomas' England squad last weekend. Although both teams appeared reasonably evenly matched after the first innings batting efforts, it was when Sri Lanka came out to the crease the second time that England really took control.

In a marvelous spell, spinner Robert Croft took an impressive 6 wickets for 33, as the pitch deteriorated and the Sri Lankans were removed for a meagre 95. Set a target of 46 runs, England quickly polished off the deficit. Sri Lanka were once again left to wonder what went wrong, in a season with as many troughs as peaks, where the only thing that has been consistent about the team has been its lack of consistency.

WEST INDIES - Manager: Joshua Johnson

A massive first innings from the Australian side ensured another massive defeat for the West Indies. The Waugh brothers both managed triple figures, with Steve Waugh managing a huge 295! The West Indies bowling attack was useless and the Australians managed to make 757 runs for their first innings! The whole Australian squad played well and the innings was typified by the 150 run 10th wicket partnership between S.Waugh and G.McGrath.

In response the West Indies only managed 173. Lara was the only one to get any decent runs with 77. 6 members of the squad didn't make double figures. As a result the side needed an impossible 584 runs to avoid the innings defeat. This was never going to happen as the Australians handed the West Indies their worst defeat of the competition, bowling them out in the second innings for 111 and winning by an innings and 473 runs!

ZIMBABWE - Manager: Dave Hickey

Zimbabwe hosted competition leaders Warwick Todd's XI in Round 14 and their hopes of springing an upset were boosted when stand-in captain Andy Flower won the toss and elected to bat first, preventing the Todd XI of using their preferred tactic of batting the other team out of the match by the end of Day 1. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe failed to take advantage of the conditions to be dismissed for 195 just before stumps, with Houghton top-scoring with 59.

Knowing that their chances depended on restricting the Todd XI batting, Streak claimed the wicket of Marsh with the last ball of Day 1 and then dismissed nightwatchman May in his first over on Day 2 to have the Todd XI reeling at 2/2. Boon and Jones survived a tense hour against the new ball before Streak picked up the wicket of Boon before taking a well-earned rest. Strang replaced Streak and immediately dismissed Jones to have the Todd XI at 4/34. Todd and Border survived until lunch but Strang dismissed Todd in the first over after lunch and the score was now 5/66. Huckle joined the attack and picked up Border and the Todd XI were in deep trouble at 6/82. Zimbabwe's hopes of wrapping up the innings and taking a substantial first innings lead were thwarted by a solid innings of 53no from Tim Zoehrer with support from Greg Ritchie. The Todd XI innings ended at 183 to leave the match evenly poised.

Zimbabwe started their 2nd innings steadily with Grant Flower holding things together until he was joined by Houghton. The day then belonged to Houghton as he reached 125no in taking Zimbabwe to 5/273 by stumps on Day 3. The Zimbabwe lead was now 285 and interest was now beginning to centre on when Flower would declare, with a 400 lead generally regarded as the minimum against the strong batting of the Todd XI.

Houghton and Guy Whittall continued their partnership on Day 4 and just after lunch Zimbabwe had established a 400 run lead. With Houghton on 182 and Whittall on 78 the message was sent out that the declaration would be delayed to allow them the chance to complete their centuries. A burst of runs followed before Houghton on 193 offered Border a very difficult chance which he could not hold onto. Houghton repeated the shot on the very next ball and Border again spilled a very difficult chance. Frustrated and tiring, Hughes lost it completely, bowling a wide and was replaced by Alderman. Alderman's first ball was smashed past Border for 4 but his second ball trapped Houghton in front for 197. Whittall was now on 89 and again the declaration was delayed to allow him to complete his century. Hughes replaced McDermott and helped Alderman to wrap up the tail to remove any question of a declaration. The Zimbabwe innings ended on 434, to set the Todd XI a target of 447 to win in just over four sessions. Whilst this would normally be an imposing target for most teams, the strong batting line-up of the Todd XI would be one team who could give this run chase a real shake.

Marsh and Boon saw off the initial threat of the new ball but when Strang bowled his first ball to Boon, he found an edge and the first wicket fell at 30. Two overs later, Strang found the edge of Marsh's bat and then in the very next over Mbangwa had Jones caught behind to leave the Todd XI on 3/35. Todd and Border then came together and took the score to 3/195 to give the Todd XI a glimmer of hope. Border was then trapped in front by Huckle and then Strang bowled superbly, gradually making his way through the tail. At the other end, Todd stood defiantly and when he was dismissed for 146, there was no further addition to the score and the Todd XI were dismissed for 282 to see Zimbabwe win by an impressive 164 runs.

Zimbabwe manager Dave Hickey was delighted with the result and predicted a big finish for his team. "Last week we wrapped up fourth place but with today's win I think we can get up into the top three before the end of the year. It's a shame that we have had such a bad run with injuries because we could really have given this comp a shake."

Zimbabwe's next match is against Australia, who beat Zimbabwe in the first round, and who have been in pretty consistent form in recent weeks. Zimbabwe will need to get their minds back on the job quickly if they are to continue their recent winning run.

WARWICK TODD'S XI - Manager: Warwick Todd

Warwick Todd refused to comment this week after his team were soundly beaten by Zimbabwe to surrender the competition lead to England ahead of their all-important Round 15 clash. Unconfirmed sources report that Todd was furious that Zimbabwe should even be allowed to play Test cricket.

In any case, the Warwick Todd's XI v England match in Round 15, which was always likely to decide the outcome of the series, will be eagerly awaited. However, as the Zimbabwe loss shows, the series will not be decided by just one match - the top teams need to win every week. Complacency could see a loss to a team lower on the ladder which could be enough to hand the title to the opposition.

England will no doubt have greeted the news of the Todd XI loss with great joy. However, if they expect that the Todd XI are ready for the taking, they should be warned that the Todd XI are unbeaten in Sydney and that Warwick Todd and Allan Border are in great form with the bat. Also, Graeme Wood and Greg Matthews will return from injury to allow a full-strength squad to be fielded for the first time in a number of weeks. Not forgetting that these aging warriors love nothing better than beating the Poms!