West Indies tour of Australia 1993, this was the last time when West Indies won the test series against Australia in Australia so far. Both the teams were filled up with great players who performed exceptionally throughout the test series to keep the drama alive till the fifth test match. Led by the captains Richie Richardson (West Indies) and Allan Border (Australia). West Indies were playing without Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge. In the 5-match test series, Curtly Ambrose picked up 33 wickets and received player of the series award. Brian Lara with 466 runs was the second highest run-scorer in the series after David Boon 490 runs. But what happened after second test match in the series, “remain one of the greatest moments in the test cricket history”. West Indies bowling attack destroyed the opposition, humiliated them and won the test series after trailing by 1-0. In the first 3-matches, two test matches were ended up in no result while one test match won by Australia with 139 runs. The third test match Australia could've won after scoring 503 runs in the first innings but brilliant double hundred from the flamboyant left handed batsman Brian Lara (277) ended with no result.
Coming into the decider fourth test match, West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first but only managed to score 252 runs in the first innings with the half-century from Brian Lara (52). The man with best form in the series Curtly Ambrose, produced another class spell of 6 wickets for 74 runs to restrict the hosts to 213 runs in the first innings. With the lead of 39 runs in the first innings, West Indies couldn't able to score more than 146 runs in the second innings after at one stage from 49/1. The wicket of Phil Simmons triggered the collapse and opened the floodgates for the hosts. Richie Richardson (72) was the highest run scorer from West Indies in the second innings. As other West Indies players able to touch the mark of 20 runs expect carl hopper (25). The target for Australia was 186 runs with almost two days to go in the test match. The Australian openers David Boon and Mark Taylor began the chase but both were sent back to the pavilion at the score of 16/2. Justin Langer and Mark Waugh added on 38 run-partnership for the third wicket and looked set to easily chase down the small target without any hiccups.
But Courtney Walsh picked up the crucial wicket of Mark Waugh caught by Carl Hopper at slip position who was looking dangerous. This wicket turned the tables for West Indies and with the addition of 48 runs on the scoreboard Australia lost their 8 wickets. The scoreboard was 102/8 from 54/2, but debutant Justin Langer and Tim May looked to fought till last as both added on 42 run-partnership for the ninth wicket before Justin Langer (54) was out but Tim May added on another 40 run-partnership for the tenth wicket with Craig McDermott to almost took Australia close to victory but couldn't able to score 1 more run as Walsh picked up the final wicket McDermott at the score of 184 runs and West Indies won the test match by 1 run. With the victory in the fourth test match, the last and the final test match of the test series at Perth, West Indies won by 25 runs and an innings with another destructive spell of Curtly Ambrose 7 wickets for 1 run.
Take a look at the highlights test match between West Indies and Australia, 1993 at Adelaide
