Smith: ‘Windies wouldn’t come to the party’
Australia Test captain Steve Smith says he tried to make day five of the third Test against the West Indies into something that could end in a positive result, but the West Indies did not accept his offer.
With most of the match rained off, day five saw the Windies still batting in the first innings. They were all out for 330. Smith said he offered to declare his side's first innings on 0/0, and then chase the deficit, but Jason Holder declined.
Smith whose side had already won the series at this point, said on the CA website: "He (Holder) said 'give me five minutes' and went over to their team and they had a little huddle and chat or whatever they were doing.
"No-one really wants to see a draw, they want to see good exciting cricket with teams winning. But he (Holder) said their boys weren't up for the challenge. That was unfortunate.
"I thought it was pretty generous, it would have taken some very good batting to get that on a day five SCG wicket.
"We want to try and win every game we play and today was a perfect opportunity to set the game up for a good chase and for the fans that stayed out this afternoon.
"I think that’s a fair game for both teams and it’s just disappointing they weren't willing to come to the party."
Holder, meanwhile, justified the call by saying they didn't need the risk of another defeat to recover from, no matter how unlikely: "It was a team vote, a team decision.
"I think we just need to take it step by step, it’s not a case where you can just jump from losing Test matches to winning in one transition, especially against good opposition like Australia.
"So we just thought at this stage of our development it was best to give Ramdin (who was in the middle overnight) an opportunity to build on what he had started and for us to bat out some overs."
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.