LONDON, Dec 31 (AFP): While Aus-I tralla maintained । their supremacy J in Test cricket in 1997. the once-great West Indies slumped to new lows, sparking fears that a malaise is turning into a terminal condition.

The Australians enjoyed series wins over West Indies (3-2). South Africa (2-1). England (3-2) and New Zealand (2-0) and they went Into their series against South Africa as the undisputed kings of the five-day game

If the narrow margin of their triumphs suggests that the gap between them and the rest of the world has been closing, the truth is that they habitually failed to kill off their opponents at the end of dead rubbers.

Mark Taylor's side lost the last Test against West Indies. England and South Africa and managed only a draw in the final match against hapless New Zealand, comfortably the weakqsf side,in,world cricket at the end of IW., '

■ South Africa,. tyho started the year at the top of the unofficial world rankings, confirmed that they remain Australia's • closest rivals with victories over India (2-0) and Pakistan (1-0).

Taylor has warned that Australia faced a tough challenge in the three-Test series against South Africa, which started in Melbourne on December 26. The winners of that series will have full justification in claiming they are the world's best.

The series over there earlier this year was tough enough, but this will be even tougher." says Taylor. "I know they are very keen to beat us so I am expecting tougher opposition."

South Africa are currently

In the middle of one of the most gruelling schedules ever undertaken with 16 Tests and a minimum of 22 limited-overs internationals to be played in under a year.

Having already played three Tests in Pakistan, they face three more in Australia, three against Pakistan in South Africa, two against Srl Lanka in South Africa and five against England in England.

England, typically, enjoyed a year of ups and downs with a comfortable triumph In New Zealand (2-0) before raising hopes of regaining the Ashes with a one-day whitewash and a first Test victory over the Australians.

But the joy was short-lived as the Australians took ruthless control of the series with emphatic wins in the third Test (by 268 runs), the fourth (by an innings and 61 runs) and the fifth (by 264 runs).

England, though, head to the Caribbean in January confident of their first series victory over the West Indies since Ray illtngworth i side triumphed 2-0 way baric in 1969. ' 1 ’

England finished the year on a high by winning the Champions' Trophy in Sharjah with impressive victories over West Indies (twice). India and Pakistan.

The bookmakers offer England at 3-1 to win the five-match series — morale-boosting odds based partly on England's steady improvement in recent seasons and partly on the West Indies' gradual demise.

It was not long ago that the West Indies were the most feared team in world cricket, but they recently plumbed new depths of failure when they crashed to a 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Pakistan.

It was their first whitewash since they were beaten 3-0 by England in 1928 and arrived amid endless stories of widespread indiscipline and dressing room bust-ups between top players.

TTie current team is in stark contrast to the near-invincible side led by Clive Lloyd, and then Vlv Richards, who went three years unbeaten and a record 27 Tests without tasting defeat.

The Australians took over the mantle of the West Indies previous invincibility, following up an historic triumph in the Caribbean in 1995 with another series victory down at the start of this year.

Since losing to Australia on home soil, they have won Just two of their last eight Tests and could find themselves with a full-blown crisis on their hands if they lose to England.

Lloyd, now the West Indies manager, says the West Indies Cricket Board must unearth

new stars if the calypso kings are to return to the top of the sport they dominated so comprehensively for so long.

But he refuses to accept that the previously bottomless well of talent is starting to run dry up as the islands' younger generation turn their Interest to other sports.

"It. is really a very serious matter and they should look seriously to find new talent which is others." says Lloyd.

The West Indies batted poorly against Pakistan with the one-time legend Brian Lara again just a shadow of his former sparklingaelf. scoring Just 129 runs In the entire series.

But the main worry is that the production line of worldclass fast bowlers appears to be slowing down.

West Indies coach Malcolm Marshall conceded the problem shortly before leaving Pakistan. saying. "We batted miserably in the whole series and Courtney Walsh did not get the needed support from the other end" . ■< • .