An aggressive Michael Clarke declaration left West Indies with a target of 392 but the hosts lost two wickets in the eight overs they were left to play on day three. You can follow the live scores and blog of the fourth day of this second Test from 1am AEST (Monday).
They could easily have been a third wicket down had it not been for the Hawk-Eye which deemed that a Nathan Lyon delivery was going over the stumps. Lyon looked to have trapped Darren Bravo plumb in front in a manner not too different from the first innings but he opted to take the review and was saved.
Still, the manner in which Mitchell Starc ran through the opening pair and the fact scoring wasn’t easy even when the Aussie openers had raked up a century-run stand points to a difficult fourth day for the West Indies.
They have Clarke to thank for a target that’s not even 400. It could have easily been 500 had the opposition captain decided to grind them further down given the amount of time left in the game. But having batted the way they have in this Test and in the series in general, the brittleness of this West Indian line-up is a well-known issue that might not disappear overnight.
True there was that stand between Marlon Samuels and Shane Dowrich in the first Test which might have brought hope home for the hosts but the absence of one of those for this game makes it even tougher. With no Shivnarine Chanderpaul in this middle-order either, there’s no stabilising factor, no banker and that’s not made things any easier.
So when Bravo and Dowrich resume their innings on day four, they will have a fair idea about the mountain they need to climb. Their tactics, whatever those might be against some pretty hostile stuff from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, will be anything but to look at the final target. Battling overs, hours and sessions will be the way to go.
But they also have an interesting template from what had happened early on the third day for them. Jason Holder, West Indies’ ODI captain, showed what can be done with the right dose of aggression against the older ball.
He attacked when he got the chance against the quicks and threw them off their persistent lines and lengths and for the time he was at the crease – and he blasted his unbeaten 82 from 63 – there was a first-time sense that West Indies could take the attack to the opposition. The assault had come in too late in that West Indies had lost eight wickets by then.
Now they have a better chance. They are just two down, and if they can take a leaf off Holder’s book, we might still have a fighting fourth day.
Because otherwise, this could get over quite quickly.
Follow the live scores & blog of this West Indies v Australia 2nd Test match from 0100 hours AEDT on Monday and post your comments in the section below.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That will be that from me. Cannot say I have enjoyed covering this series given the terribly one-sided nature of it. It had its moments but for a change, I am glad this wasn't a three-match series. I will hopefully be back for the Ashes, which begins next month - have a great time ahead! Ciao!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
One-way traffic this series. After West Indies registered a win against England last series, there was hope this would be a fighting one. Instead, the West Indies have lost their Tests in three days & three days and a session. Really, a below-par display. Australia will be glad but I wonder if they would have preferred to be tested before the big one next month, the Ashes. It was Steven Smith's 199 that set up this win following which Josh Hazlewood picked up seven wickets in the game to sent the West Indies side packing to a 277-run defeat.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bowled him! Lyon ends the series... That was floated up again and Jerome Taylor, let's just say he's a better bowler than he's a batsman. Goes for a hoick, misses and bowled. Game, set & match to Australia.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And out! Lyon also gets a wicket first over! Tossed up, Roach was looking to defend and inside-edges it to the short-leg fielder. Lolly-pop. 9/114
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four from that Johnson over but a wicket too. Lyon will now take on the proceedings. 8/114 in 41.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Kemar Roach is in at 10. Joins Permaul.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep, he's gone! Johnson has a wicket... ...he had looked dangerous and he's picked up the captain. First over after the break too. Length ball, on the off-stump and angling away. Ramdin jabbed away and gets an outside edge, flies to the slips where hes's taken.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden from Hazlewood for a change. Runs had begun to flow rather quickly. Starc's now off and Johnson, who was looking a tad frightening before lunch, comes on.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another costly over. Seven from it, Starc losing his direction, giving away four byes. And then bowling a no-ball. 7/110 in 39
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
24 runs have come from the last two overs. 7/103 in 38
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And now four off the pads. Down the leg-side and Haddin cannot get close to it. 7/103 in 38
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And another edge that goes to the fence through the third slip. For some reason, there is no third slip! Twice now in as many overs Clarke's decided to remove the third slip.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Things are going West Indies way for the time being. They are looking to play aggressively and getting away. Four byes, then a couple of twos and then an edge that goes through the cordon off Permaul's bat. 7/93 in 37
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Down the leg-side, too much pace but bad direction and it's beaten Haddin too. Got glove on it but goes to the fence for four byes.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Up and over for a couple of runs. He was hitting it on the up there, Ramdon and gets it away. And then one keeps low at him.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Josh Hazlewood starts proceedings from the other end. And he, much liked Starc is getting some swing still.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A drive from Ramdin's bat gets him a single and then Permaul flicks it through square-leg for three. Not too bad from the number nine. At the other end, Ramdin's almost yorked by Starc. In fact, he's yorked but it misses the off-stump, with the round the stumps angle from Starc making it tough for him. 7/76 in 35
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Mitchell Starc will start things off, with the 35th over of the innings and Ramdin will face.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Welcome back to the start of the second session of today's play. Australia are three wickets away from cruising to another clinical win, West Indies have continued to show no fight and it's hard to see anything change now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Just three more wickets remain and this should be over very quickly. West Indies never recovered from their overnight score of 2/16, kept losing wickets regularly and enter the break at 7/72. Starc added a wicket, Hazlewood got two and both Johnson and Watson got one apiece. Back in 35 for the last rites.