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Gradually and grudgingly, Australia appear to have accepted the irrefutable evidence and are prepared to drop leg-spinner Shane Warne for the decisive Fourth and final Test.

A month ago, it would have been an unthinkable proposition. That is now the most likely option with Australia, 2-1 down in the series and needing outright victory to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy they have held since 1995.

Test cricket's most successful spin bowler and the cornerstone of Australia's status as the strongest team of the day, Warne's threat has been so diminished by a shoulder operation nine months ago that he has managed only two wickets in the previous two Tests.

They have been the left-handed wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs in the Second and Courtney Walsh, the No.11 with more ducks than anyone in the history of Test cricket, in the Third Test. Both were caught in the outfield and their wickets have been earned at a cost of 288 runs. Swayed more by sentiment than statistics, Australian captain Steve Waugh, in his first series at the helm, had loyally stuck by his vice-captain but hinted yesterday that the tide was turning against him.

``Everyone's got to be able to accept that in professional sport, no one's guaranteed a spot and you've got to be able to accept it if you're not doing the business,'' Waugh said.

``There's a possibility Shane won't play and I'm sure he'll be able to accept that,'' he added. ``He'll be disappointed if it happens but he'll understand the situation.''

The use of Warne and fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill unbalanced the attack and threw too much responsibility on the fast bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.

The upshot has been a back strain that has eliminated the pacy Gillespie from today's Test and a workload that left McGrath exhausted after 77 overs in the thrilling third Test in Barbados that captain Brian Lara's masterly, unbeaten 153 secured for the West Indies by one wicket.

Adam Dale, the Queensland swing bowler, will replace Gillespie on the ground where he earlier took 15 wickets at under 10 runs each in two tour matches against the Board XI and West Indies ``A''. Colin Miller, the 35-year-old Tasmanian who suddenly emerged from the oblivion of 15 years state cricket to make his Test debut in Pakistan last year, would provide Waugh with two options as he is capable of both lively pace and off-spin.

Dale has had one Test, Miller six and MacGill, likely to be preferred to Warne, 11. It is a serious lack of experience.

Teams:

West Indies (from): B.Lara (Capt), S.Campbell, A.Griffith, D.Joseph, W.Hinds, C.Hooper, J.Adams, R.Jacobs, N.Perry, C.Ambrose, P.Collins, C.Walsh and C.Collymore.

Australia (from): S.Waugh (Capt), M.Slater, M.Elliott, G.Blewett, J.Langer, M.Waugh, R.Ponting, I.Healy, S.Warne, C.Miller, A.Dale, S.MacGill, G.McGrath.

Umpires: S.Bucknor (WI), D.Orchard (S/Africa).