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It was rather like pouring salt on a wound to make a dejected Australian side wait for half-an-hour on the plane carrying them here from Barbados, while the West Indies team did yet another lap of honour in their motorcade outside the airport.

Psychology has its part to play in modern Test cricket and it does the Australian psyche no good to be so publicly reminded that they are very much second best - as well as 2-1 down - in the series.

Brian Lara was noticeable by his absence. He returned home to Trinidad with the blessing of his management, who explained that his mother was not well. He is expected to rejoin the side in time for practice today, before the final Test begins tomorrow.

With shoulder trouble again ruling out Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies have called up young Jamaican left-hander Wavell Hinds, but they are unlikely to change a winning side.

Australia's selectors, by comparison, have to confront a mountain of problems, and only three games into his captaincy Steve Waugh faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his career - the the need to consider axing friends who have come up with him through the ranks.

Shane Warne, as vice-captain, is a fellow selector. After a series in which he has taken two wickets for 268 runs, will he be man enough to vote for his own omission?

Ian Healy, now approaching 35 with 114 Tests behind him, has a batting average of five in this series. He is far short of his own high wicketkeeping standards and dropped Lara in the second innings in Barbados when West Indies were still seven runs short of victory. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist joined the Australians here last night, but Healy is not yet willing to step down.

Then there is opener Matthew Elliott (series average 11), Justin Langer (18) - and even Mark Waugh (21). The signs are that the captain will stand by his men. But with Jason Gillespie struggling with back strain, Adam Dale is likely to come in for his second Test.