Cricket: Ambrose joins West Indies' exclusive club

West Indies 333-9 dec India 212-2 Match drawn

The fourth Test here meandered predictably to a meaningless draw yesterday despite the efforts of India's batsmen, in particular Ajay Jadeja, who fell short of an important personal landmark when he was out for 96.

The West Indies, without Franklyn Rose, down with flu, were dismissed for 333 just before lunch, leaving India two sessions' batting practice. By the close they had reached 212 for 2, with Jadeja's opening partner Venkata Laxman making 56.

The unseasonal weather that eliminated the first three days had dashed fervent Antiguan expectations that one of their favourite sons, Curtly Ambrose, would claim the five wickets he needed to pass the landmark of 300 in Test cricket. At least on the final day yesterday they had the satisfaction of seeing the beanpole fast bowler score the runs that took him past 1,000 in Tests.

When he puts his mind to it, which has been all too rare during his lengthy career, Ambrose is a reputable, if unorthodox, lower order left-hander, good enough to have once scored 53 on a difficult pitch in a Test against Australia.

Towards the end of the recent series in Australia, and now against India, he has shown renewed enthusiasm for the game, bowling with much of his old time menace and also batting with responsibility. His 37 and unbeaten 18 in the third Test in Barbados were significant adjuncts to his bowling in achieving a narrow West Indies victory.

When he came to the wicket at the start yesterday, the West Indies were 252 for 7 and India could feel satisfied with their performance on the previous day, in spite of Brian Lara's 103. Ambrose, with wicketkeeper Courtney Browne, ensured the balance tilted more towards the West Indies by batting through the first hour without bother.

When he swept the left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi for four after 20 minutes he had raised the seven runs required to carry him to his thousand in his 69th Test. Only Sir Garry Sobers and Malcolm Marshall among West Indians have done the double of 100 wickets and 1,000 runs in Tests. Ambrose, obviously, will never be classed in such an eminent all-round category but it is an achievement all the same.

He had made 22 when he was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, pulling at Abey Kuruvilla with the second new ball. Suitably inspired, the captain, Courtney Walsh, also played with rare confidence and flourish in making 21, adding 38 for the last wicket with Browne whose unbeaten 39 was his highest Test score.

Even though there was nothing in the match Ambrose and Ian Bishop then charged in and bowled an opening spell on either side of lunch with genuine speed and hostility. Twice Bishop might have had a wicket, but Roland Holder at short leg missed a sharp chance off Jadeja in the third over and the umpire BC Cooray failed to give a leg-side catch by the wicketkeeper when Laxman was 17.

TEA SCORE

Final day; West Indies won toss

WEST INDIES - First Innings

(Overnight: 252 for 7)

C O Browne not out 39

C E L Ambrose c Mongia b Kuruvilla 22

*C A Walsh c Dravid b Joshi 21

Extras (b1 lb5 nb9) 15

Total (for 9 dec) 333

Fall (cont): 8-295 9-333.

Did not bat: F D Rose.

Bowling: Prasad 24-5-65-1 (nb4); Kuruvilla 24-1-69-2 (nb2); Kumble 36- 14-93-2; Joshi 23.4-7-76-3 (nb3); Ganguly 3-0-24-0.

INDIA - First Innings

V V S Laxman not out 56

A D Jadeja not out 35

Total (for 0) 97

To bat: R S Dravid, *S R Tendulkar, S Ganguly, M Azharuddin, N R Mongia, A Kumble, S Joshi, A Kuruvilla, B K V Prasad.

Umpires: S Bucknor (WI), B C Cooray (SL).

Later details of yesterday's play unavailable at time of going to press