| Series Name: | WSC Australians in the West Indies |
| Team2 Image: | Windies WSC.png |
| Team2 Name: | WSC West Indies |
| Team1 Image: | Aus WSC.png |
| Team1 Name: | WSC Australians |
| From Date: | 20 February 1979 |
| To Date: | 13 April 1979 |
| Team2 Captain: | Clive Lloyd |
| Team1 Captain: | Ian Chappell |
| No Of Odis: | 12 |
| Team2 Odis Won: | 8 |
| Team1 Odis Won: | 2 |
| Team2 Odis Most Runs: | Gordon Greenidge (304) |
| Team1 Odis Most Runs: | Martin Kent (278) |
| Team2 Odis Most Wickets: | Colin Croft (16) |
| Team1 Odis Most Wickets: | Jeff Thomson (13) |
| No Of Tests: | 5 |
| Team2 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team1 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team2 Tests Most Runs: | Roy Fredericks (363) |
| Team1 Tests Most Runs: | Greg Chappell (620) |
| Team2 Tests Most Wickets: | Michael Holding (24) |
| Team1 Tests Most Wickets: | Dennis Lillee (23) |
The World Series Cricket tour of the West Indies took place between February and April 1979. It was the second tour event of World Series Cricket after the World XI New Zealand tour earlier in the season. It was the first tour to feature the WSC West Indies and WSC Supertests. The five match Supertest series was drawn 1–1. It ran in parallel with the ODI series which the West Indies won easily, 8–2.
Note: Number of Supertests and One-Day matches in brackets
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Compared to previous international tours to the West Indies the schedule of the WSC tour was rigorous. The previous year the official Australia side had conducted a tour of the West Indies that took in five Test matches, two ODIs and six tour matches in 75 days from 17 February to 3 May 1978. The WSC tour featured five Supertests and twelve ODIs in just 52 days from 20 February to 13 April. What made the tour so physically demanding were the back to back ODIs and constant travelling between Islands with only a day between fixtures. On top of the gruelling itinerary, the cricket was intense and of the highest standard, unlike traditional tours that feature matches against weak opposition.
| Date | Fixture | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 1979 | 1st ODI | Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | |
| 21 Feb 1979 | 2nd ODI | Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | |
| 23 Feb 1979 | 1st Supertest | Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica | |
| 3 Mar 1979 | 3rd ODI | Mindoo Philip Park, Castries, St Lucia | |
| 4 Mar 1979 | 4th ODI | Mindoo Philip Park, Castries, St Lucia | |
| 6 Mar 1979 | 5th ODI | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados | |
| 7 Mar 1979 | 6th ODI | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados | |
| 9 Mar 1979 | 2nd Supertest | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados | |
| 16 Mar 1979 | 3rd Supertest | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 25 Mar 1979 | 4th Supertest | Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana | |
| 29 Mar 1979 | 7th ODI | Albion Sports Complex, Berbice, Guyana | |
| 31 Mar 1979 | 8th ODI | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 1 Apr 1979 | 9th ODI | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 2 Apr 1979 | 10th ODI | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 4 Apr 1979 | 11th ODI | Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica | |
| 6 Apr 1979 | 5th Supertest | Antigua Recreation Ground, St John's, Antigua and Barbuda | |
| 13 Apr 1979 | 12th ODI | Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts |
The Australian newspaper reported that never before had an Australian XI led by Ian Chappell been so humiliated in defeat. Australia had started well reducing the West Indies to 119–7. But Clive Lloyd as he had done so often before, resisted scoring a vital 56, aputting on 40 runs for the last wicket with the capable Wayne Daniel (17*). Chappell was delighted with his bowlers performance on a first day that closed with Australia 33/2, Ian out along with Bruce Laird and brother Trevor retired hurt. Twelve wickets would fall on the second day, Australia were bowled out for just 106, the four pronged West Indian attack making mince-meat of the Aussie batting card. With a lead of 76 the West Indies batted positively, compiling a total of 481 at a remarkable run rate of 4.39 runs per over. Clive Lloyd was again the star scoring a brilliant 197 before being the eighth batsman dismissed. Requiring an unlikely 558 runs to win in their second innings, the aggressive Ian Chappell chose to open the batting, protecting Trevor from the new ball. Ian made 41 but his side were only 83–4 at his dismissal and on the verge of a crushing defeat. Ray Bright made a good 47 not out, but the Australian tail were blown away by the four quicks, complemented by the medium pace of Richard Austin. The West Indies completed a 369 run win on the fourth day.[2]
Play was suspended midway through Day 5 after the crowd threw bottles onto the ground. This was to protest against the umpire's decision to dismiss Roy Fredericks by leg before wicket.[3] [4] The match was abandoned at 2:30 pm and ended in a draw.[5]
A result was never likely in the 4th Supertest at Bourda. When the Australians landed at Guyana they discovered it had been raining for days. On the scheduled first day play was abandoned before the players had even left for the ground. That evening the pitch was still underwater. On the second day the rain had stopped and it was hot and sunny. Yet the two captains, Chappell and Lloyd, decided the condition of the outfield was unfit for play, Greg Chappell describing it as a "quagmire". Unfortunately for the cricketers and officials at Bourda, thousands of spectators had been allowed into the ground that morning. Ian Chappell recalls how he was visited in the dressing rooms by the local chief of police and told, "If there is no play today, I am afraid to tell you that I can no longer guarantee your safety at the ground." The consensus was that there must, therefore, be some sort of play. The captains and umpires agreed to start play at 4 pm and play for roughly an hour until the light faded. However a misinformed PA announced to the crowd that play would begin at 3 pm. This enraged the volatile Chappell, who then reneged on the deal and refused to play. The crowd, many of whom had been drinking rum and partying all day, sensed no play and began a riot.[6] Both teams and the officials were locked in their dressing rooms. The Australians donned their new batting helmets and took guard with their bats, behind the bolted door. The rioters attacked the pavilion causing major damage and a couple of unnamed West Indian cricketers suffered minor injuries from broken glass. Chappell recalls a conversation after the event with West Indian wicketkeeper Deryck Murray. Murray insisted that the riot was a result of growing unhappiness at the Guyanese president Arthur Chung and that they used the abandoned cricket as an excuse. He believed that the rioters would never have intentionally harmed any of the cricketers. The words reassured some of the Australians, but many wanted to leave Guyana immediately and head to the next island, while some (about eight, which is half the squad) were considering returning to Australia. Chappell demanded his players stay and play, making a statement to the West Indian fans that they are not intimidated and will play to win.[7] Play proceeded on the third morning as if nothing had happened. The ground was cleared of broken glass and the game played out to a draw with a century from Greg Chappell confirming his status as the outstanding batsman of the series.[8]