West Indies stand-in captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and head coach John Dyson are pleased with their team's performance against Australia, despite coming out on the losing end of a gripping first Test at Sabina Park yesterday.

"I thought we played well throughout the Test match. The bowlers bowled very well in the second innings and gave the batters an opportunity to actually chase a total that we could have (achieved), but unfortunately it didn't happen that way," said Sarwan during the post-match television interview.

After being set 287, which would have been a record for the highest victory target achieved at the ground, the West Indies were shut out for 191 approaching tea on the final day.

Dyson told journalists at the post-match press conference that the Caribbean team could take heart from having pushed the Australians. He praised the lower order for their resistance yesterday.

"I'm pleased to see the guys go out there and do their best as tailenders. I said before the series started that we would be looking for major contributions from our high profile players and some of the lesser profile players to make some contributions.

"In any Test match you want the tail to contribute to the total, that's what Australians have done so well for so long. You get them down (and) when you think they are just about down and out...the tail kicks in and all of a sudden they are that much further in," Dyson said.

Ranked eighth in the world the West Indies were clear underdogs against the world champions, who are in transition, what with the retirement of several world-class players from their stock. During the first four days in particular, the West Indies fought tooth and nail and even outplayed the Aussies on occasions.

"It was outstanding in all departments, especially in the fielding and it's the best that I've seen us field in the longest while, and it is really good for us," Sarwan said, adding: "I hope that we can keep it up and get better in the second Test match."

Dyson, too, thought the West Indies were competitive throughout. "I don't think there was a huge difference between the teams in this Test match. Ricky Ponting's 158 in the first innings was a major influence on this game. Andrew Symonds in both innings batted extremely well to get very good half centuries.

"Stuart Clark we saw in both innings, bowled the sort of stuff that turns Tests around. Who knows, he might not like the wicket in Antigua, he might have problems with the run-up. I don't think in this match there has been such a vast
difference between the two teams.

"It's not like you could walk away from here saying it's not possible that the West Indies can win," said the coach.
For Sarwan, there is a lot to take from this match into the rest of the series.

"We got a lot to take from this Test match, we got Fidel (Edwards) bowling well and Shiv's hundred.so it's important that we take a page out of his book in the way he batted and we got to continue to be positive."

Both Sarwan and Dyson suggested that regular skipper Chris Gayle (groin strain) and fast bowler Jerome Taylor (sore back), could be fit for Friday's start of the second Test in Antigua.

Said Sarwan: "Chris and Jerome will be a part of the squad that will be heading to Antigua and hopefully both of them will be fit for the game. They're much better. Chris is about 75/80 per cent and Jerome is about 95 per cent."

Dyson added: "They've been named in the 14. All indications are that they are back to fitness and will be ready to play in the next Test".

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