4th Test: West Indies v India at Antigua, 10-14 May 2002 CricInfo Live Report

4th Test: West Indies v India at Antigua, 10-14 May 2002
Anand Vasu

West Indies 1st innings: Lunch - Day 4, Tea - Day 4, Stumps - Day 4,
Live Reports from previous days

HOOPER MAKES INDIA SWEAT
If you like the drip-drip approach of Chinese water torture you would have appreciated India’s approach to the last session of the fourth day. Apart from the wicket of the well set, and thoroughly bored, Carl Hooper (136 runs, 278 balls, 13 fours, 3 sixes) India made no dents as West Indies reached 405/5.

Hooper, coming down the track to a short Tendulkar leggie could only manage a top edge as he attempted an inside-out over covers. There was no power in the stroke and the high catch was taken by Ashish Nehra at cover-point.

In a situation like this you really can’t find a better man that Shivnarine Chanderpaul. A mixture of drives that masqueraded as nudges and defensive shots that resulted in singles saw the little man reach 80 (268 balls, 12 fours). A century beckons, and one thinks Chanderpaul will not go the Sarwan way.

The bowling has been less than inspiring and Ridley Jacobs is the ideal man to take toll in situations like this. A plethora of bowlers were used, none bothered him as he reached 18 (46 balls, 1 four, 1 six).

KING CARL STANDS TALL
Before this series Hooper had never scored more than one century in a series. He now has three centuries in this series with one match to go. Captaincy certainly has done Hooper a world of good. Inspired by Hooper’s 111 (215 balls, 10 fours, 3 sixes) West Indies reached 340/4 at tea on the fourth day.

It was a session of hard toil for the Indians. Wicketless, without hope and full of runs. Why Sourav Ganguly even resorted to asking Zaheer Khan to bowl left-arm spin. Such was the domination of the Guyanese pair who have already posted two 200-plus partnerships in this series.

Today, it has been just 144 runs that the pair has added. You can be sure that wont be the end.

Chanderpaul, making full use of every loose ball thrown up, and there were a few, with part-time bowlers operating, reached 61 (166 balls, 10 fours). He’s not the most glamorous of batsmen. He’s not the man the crowds come to watch yet he’s the one that bolsters the West Indies more often than not.

The follow-on has been avoided. And in all reality, that means a result in this match has been avoided.

IT'S HOOPER AND CHANDERPAUL AGAIN
Riding the crest of a wave of luck Carl Hooper took West Indies towards safety at 266/4. Notching up 72 (134 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) Hooper saw to it that there were 6 West Indian wickets still to be taken when lunch was taken. The hosts still need 48 to avoid a follow on that in all likelihood will not be enforced anyway.

There’s much talk of Hooper’s luck. It’s true that there were three occasions when Hooper could so easily have been dismissed on the third day. One very close shout for lbw, caught off a no-ball and half a chance at slip all went abegging. There’s been as much talk about Anil Kumble as well. After his shock appearance to take the wicket of Lara, there was talk of his continuing in this match. Taking the flight out back to India, Kumble will play no further part in this match.

Even luck though is not enough to carry a batsman. It needs the sweet shots, the calm composure, the calculated risk taking that Hooper brought to the table. Starting the day off with two slashed boundaries through third man, Hooper went on to play a delectable cover drive off Sachin Tendulkar that sailed over the cover-point fence. From then on there was no stopping Hooper.

Even the wicket of the well set Ramnaresh Sarwan did not deter the West Indian captain. After playing solidly for a half-century, Sarwan added just one to his overnight score before being trapped lbw for 51 by a full delivery from Zaheer Khan.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (28 not out, 79 balls, 4 fours) joined Hooper and the pair tormented India once more. Adding 70 for the fifth wicket the duo took West Indies closer to the follow-on mark.