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.
jamesb
Guest
"Nor bother watch and give them tv ratings via cable TV when there not playing Australia" Yep that's my point. We only take notice of the Windies when they play against Australia.
Sham
Guest
Not sure that this says much. Clearly people in Melbourne will turn up to anything.
Alex
Guest
Yeah, the SA England match is simply, GAR-IP-ING. Big crowd too, must be a couple of hundred.
Johnno
Guest
jamesb I'm really gonna spend my hard earned money flying over the Carribean and watching them in Test-Matches in from of 8,000 people, not. And I'm not gonna buy windies merchandise either. Nor bother watch and give them tv ratings via cable TV when there not playing Australia. In other words I don't care enough about windies cricket to give em my money.
jamesb
Guest
Well if you care about West Indies, care about them when they don't play against Australia. In other words, when there out of sight, out of mind, people forget about the problems of the West Indies.
Johnno
Guest
A sad sad Test-Match for cricket. This is pathetic.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
West Indies looked like they were looking to put up a fight, having batted nearly 24 overs for 1/50. Then, James Pattinson's reverse swing proved to be too good for Chandrika, and the rest of the wickets fell in a bit of a hurry. Three ducks in the West Indian innings, including Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder. Samuels didn't review his lbw, it was going over. Two wickets apiece for Siddle, Pattinson and Lyon. Can West Indies make it to day four? Know more by logging in tomorrow, always good to have your company as opposed to the other alternative which sounds bit like talking to my own self! Have a good day ahead, ciao.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And the final ball of the day has been pushed through wide mid-off by Bravo to move up to 13. West Indies end the day at 6/91 in 43 overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot. Full from Siddle and it's caressed for a couple to deep point. Smith has that fielder to allow Bravo to take a single I suppose and get Brathwaite on strike. 6/89
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Brathwaite has done well to defend out Lyon's final over of the day. Maiden. 6/87 in 42.
jamesb
Guest
West Indies have lost six wickets since tea.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle finishes off his over. Finally. Two more overs to go. 6/87 in 41.
Pottsy
Guest
Lyon will be licking his lips based on Brathwaite's first two balls.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
For those wanting to have a look at that previous Siddle hat-trick.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, what a shot. Either Brathwaite thinks he's playing golf or he has been told they need 20 runs to win this game from two overs. He has gotten a fullish ball and gone to tee off. Inside edges it to fine-leg for a single.
Pottsy
Guest
The West Indies have lost their game sense at the moment.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Debutant Carlos Brathwaite comes out to face the hat-trick ball... ...and the hat-trick is averted by the debutant. Very full and slightly on the leg-side, he does well to push it down the ground to get off the mark. They take two and Brathwaite wants to go for the third but Bravo wants nothing of that. Sends him back and almost a run-out.
dan in devon
Guest
if nothing else, one dares not take their eye off the tv!
jamesb
Guest
A shame that Holder is out. Siddle is on a hat trick.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bowled him! Siddle has Holder first ball! Full in length, bit of swing and Holder has probably gotten an outside edge on to the stumps. Two in two for Siddle and he's on a hat-trick. Remember he already has a hat-trick in Tests. Six down.