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West Indies Loses First Test Series in 15 Years

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- An Australian side of rare discipline and commitment became the first team to defeat West Indies in a Caribbean series for 22 years with victory by an innings and 53 runs in the fourth and final test.


Mark Taylor's team dismissed the home side for 213 in its second innings to finish the test in under four days Wednesday and win an enthralling series 2-1, inflicting the first series defeat on the West Indies in 15 years.


The platform for the fourth test victory was constructed by the Waugh brothers Steve and Mark, who made a double century and a century respectively in Australia's first innings of 531.


West Indies had hoped to improve on its first innings 265 with a fighting second term at the crease when it resumed at 63 for 3 Wednesday.


But four wickets each by Paul Reiffel and Shane Warne ensured Australia was not required to bat again on the Sabina Park wicket, as the visitors had regained the Frank Worrell Trophy for the first time in 19 years and nine attempts.


Australia also inflicted the first international test series loss for West Indies in 29 contests since 1979-80 and became only the seventh Australian team to beat the Windies by an innings.


Australia was comprehensively the better side in the series, winning the first test by 10 wickets, playing better cricket in the drawn second test and bouncing back from a nine-wicket defeat in the third test on a wicked Queen's Park Oval track in Port of Spain.


West Indies' paltry batting here reflected its struggle throughout the series.


"It hurts real, real bad," captain Richie Richardson said of the loss. "This is the weakest Australian side we have played against. We have just allowed them to outplay us. If we had played them to our potential we would have beaten them convincingly."


Taylor had no hesitation in claiming the unofficial world champions title after the series victory, which he put down to "variety and teamwork."


"The West Indies have been the world champions for 15 years and now that we've beaten them, then we are now a better team," he said.


Windies' coach Andy Roberts said the senior players had let the side down. "There is an attitude problem with several of the team and that is what we are working on," Roberts said.


Roberts, once a bowler himself, said the fast bowlers were failing to act on his advice. "They are getting older and on good batting tracks they are getting slower. They have got to listen to me."

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