… Trinidadian player eclipses George Headley’s 79-year-old record
BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) – Adrian Barath rewrote the record books becoming the youngest-ever West Indies player to score a Test century but the Caribbean side imploded spectacularly on the third day of the opening Test against Australia, staggering to a painful innings and 65-run defeat at the Gabba yesterday.

The diminutive right-hander unleashed a scintillating 104 but the innings proved in vain as the Windies capitulated for 187 in their second innings, after being forced to follow on by 252 runs.

At 19 years, 226 days old, Barath eclipsed the 79-year-old record held by the legendary George Headley who was exactly a year older when he battered an England attack to reach three figures in Bridgetown in 1930.

Barath also inducted himself into the pantheon of greats to have scored a century on debut, joining the likes of Headley, Lawrence Rowe and Gordon Greenidge as the 11th West Indies batsman to achieve the feat.

Oozing confidence even as his teammates buckled under the Aussie pressure, Barath stroked 20 glorious boundaries off 138 balls in a breathtaking innings that lasted a shade over three hours.

Showing a penchant for the off-side, he was severe on anything fractionally loose and cut and drove with an audacity and style that betrayed his maturity. The opener reached his maiden Test half-century with a daring uppercut for four off fast bowler Peter Siddle and raised a deserved century with a full-blooded square drive off medium pacer Shane Watson.

Barath was the only bright spot in the Windies batting, however, as it again collapsed spinelessly in the face of disciplined Australian bowling led by seamer Ben Hilfenhaus who finished with three for 20.

Only Dwayne Bravo with 23 showed any resistance and he was only one of four batsmen to reach double figures. He and Barath engineered a stay of execution for West Indies with a crucial stand of 66 for the fourth wicket after the tourists had stumbled to 39 for three.

Once Bravo went recklessly hooking in the final over before tea, West Indies’ end came swiftly as they lost their last six wickets for 82 runs.

Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 228 after they resumed the day at 134 for five in their first innings, still 346 runs adrift of Australia.

They appeared up for the fight early in the morning session as Dowlin stroked 62 and Denesh Ramdin hammered 54 to take the attack to Australia as they extended their sixth wicket stand to 78 with a positive approach.

But the tourists lost their last five wickets for 94 runs as off-spinner Nathan Hauritz captured three for 17 and left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson claimed three for 75 to undermine the innings.

Dowlin, playing with a calm head and a straight bat, faced 150 balls in just under four hours at the crease while Ramdin needed just 55 balls for his 54 in an innings laced with nine fours.
AUSTRALIA 1st innings 480 for eight decl. (Simon Katich 92, Marcus North 79; Dwayne Bravo 3-118)
WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 134 for five)
C. Gayle lbw b Hilfenhaus 31
A. Barath c Watson b Johnson 15
T. Dowlin c Watson b Hauritz 62
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Siddle  2
D. Bravo c Watson b Johnson 0
B. Nash c wkp. Haddin b Watson 18
D. Ramdin c North b Johnson 54
S. Benn c Siddle b Hilfenhaus 28
J. Taylor c Katich b Hauritz  8
K. Roach c Clarke b Hauritz 0
R. Rampaul not out 1
Extras: (b-1, lb-3, nb-5) 9     
Total: (all out, 63 overs) 228
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-49, 3-58, 4-63, 5-96, 6-174, 7-212, 8-221, 9-221. 
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 16-6-50-2 (nb-1), Siddle 13-4-51-1 (nb-4), Johnson 19-4 -75-3, Watson 9-0-31-1, Hauritz 6-3-17-3.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings (following on)
C. Gayle lbw b Hilfenhaus 1
A. Barath lbw b Watson 104
T. Dowlin b Hilfenhaus  4
S. Chanderpaul c Katich b Hilfenhaus 2
D. Bravo c Hilfenhaus b Hussey 23
B. Nash lbw b Hauritz 7
D. Ramdin c wkp. Haddin b Hauritz 16
J. Taylor c Hilfenhaus b Watson 0
S. Benn not out 15  
K. Roach c Hussey b Siddle 5
R. Rampaul c wkp. Haddin b Johnson 0
Extras: (lb-4, nb-6) 10 
Total: (all out, 52.1 overs) 187
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-18, 3-39, 4-105, 5-141, 6-154, 7-158, 8-170, 9-187.      
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 7-3-20-3 (nb-1), Siddle 10-3-41-1, Johnson 9.1-1-35-1, Watson 10-0-44-2, Hauritz 14-1-40-2 (nb-5), Hussey 2-0-3-1.