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The West Indies looked like they wanted to put up a fight on Day 2, batting nearly 24 overs for 1/50, but when James Pattinson’s reverse swing proved too good for Rajendra Chandrika, their wickets started to fall in a hurry.
REPORT: AUSTRALIA DECLARE, WEST INDIES CRUMBLE
There were three ducks in the West Indies innings – Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holier – though Samuels might have survived if he had called for a review on his lbw call.
Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle took two wickets a piece for Australia leaving the West Indies on 6/91. Australia had declared at 3/551 after centuries from Steve Smith and Adam Voges earlier in the day.
Scores at end of day
Australia 3/551d
West Indies 6/91
Boxing Day didn’t go as the West Indies would have envisaged, with Australia putting themselves into the driver’s seat following centuries from Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja at the MCG. You can follow all the second day’s action from 10:30am (AEDT).
It wasn’t the most competitive day’s play for a Boxing Day.
Australia cruised to 3-345 from their 90 overs thanks to excellent tons from Burns and Khawaja.
More vitally, the West Indies bowling attack dished out the kind of fare opposition batsmen would have queued up to face.
As a result, David Warner will be disappointed not to have made it count. He got away to a start befitting a T20 match, but failed to convert that into anything of note.
The West Indian body language has come under criticism all tour and it was no different on this opening day. The shoulders dropped quickly and tactics turned defensive before they were given a chance.
To be fair to Jason Holder, there was no seam or swing for the quick bowlers, and nothing in it for the spinner either.
With Kemar Roach bowling at underwhelming speeds and almost all bowlers straying on Khawaja’s pads consistently, they were unable to make Warner’s early loss count.
As a result, Khawaja and Burns were involved in a 258-run stand for the second wicket, a partnership that didn’t flinch through most part of their duration. By the time Khawaja had offered a real chance – and it was Marlon Samuels who dropped him – the pair had added a lot.
Soon after Burns departed, and Khawaja tired out into nudging one on his pads to the keeper, but Steve Smith and Adam Voges ensured there would be no late hurrah for the West Indies, who saw off the remaining 35 balls without a problem.
It remains to be seen if the West Indies can show any kind of a fight – with either ball or when it’s their chance to bat.
By by the looks of things, they are facing adversity on similar lines to what they did in the first Test. A score of 500-plus – even nearing 600 – looks likely. And under the pressure of all those runs, will the West Indies show more wherewithal with the bat?
It’s a tough job on their hands.
Follow the second day of the Boxing Day Test from 10:30am (AEDT), and post your comments in the section below.
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