Australia may be leading the West Indies 2-0 and are zooming in on their 20th consecutive one-day international victory but the perfectionist World Cup champions are fretting over their deteriorating fielding.Ricky Ponting’s Australians beat the West Indies in the weekend double-header in Jamaica and will take a throttle-hold on the seven-game series should they come away with another victory in the third match here tomorrow. The Australians hammered Brian Lara’s team by eight wickets in Sunday’s second match at Kingston’s Sabina Park, but such are their lofty standards that they were dismayed at putting down three catches in skittling the Windies for 163.‘‘It was certainly a lot better performance than Saturday’s two-run win, although we put down some catches which is becoming a bit of worry,’’ Ponting said after Sunday’s triumph.Australian team coach John Buchanan said: ‘‘Obviously, we are dropping a lot of catches at the moment, principally because there is no time to put into our fielding work.”Gilchrist had been expected to rest last Sunday but the injury to Lehmann prompted selectors to play the vice-captain.The Australians remain unbeaten in one-day internationals since losing to Sri Lanka by 79 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 9 this year. Since then Australia’s dominance has taken in the World Cup in South Africa when they beat all comers, culminating in their 125-run demolition of India in the final in Johannesburg on March 23.‘‘I would like to think it’s something that will be unbeaten for a long time,’’ Ponting said of the streak. ‘‘What we have been able to achieve I think is outstanding.’’The West Indies have more problems with express bowler Jermaine Lawson joining batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (broken finger) on the sidelines for the series.
