That’s it from me at the MCG
And what a lovely way for a Melbournian to finish the day, with local lad Peter Siddle ripping out a few wickets and almost claiming a hat-trick as his home crowd chanted his name. The hours that preceded his wonderful spell had descended into torpor but everyone leaves with a smile now.
Some figures to finish with: Siddle has 2-19 from his 9 overs, James Pattinson 2-36 off 10 having recovered well from some first-spell blues and Nathan Lyon 2-18 off 11 to again underline his indispensability in this side. Josh Hazlewood? He applied relentless pressure but had no luck in the wicket column, ending up with 0-16 from 11 with 5 maidens. Darren Bravo is undefeated on 13 from 75 balls, showcasing powers of concentration that a few teammates would do well to note.
That’s all from me but thanks for joining myself and JP Howcroft today. We’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow. Until then.
Stumps on day two at the MCG - the West Indies are in strife at 91-6
43rd over: West Indies 91-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 3)
Every ball of this Siddle over is now being treated with the reverence of a hat-trick delivery but Bravo holds firm, clipping two through cover to finally add to his score and leaving anything outside the line of off stump in order to preserve his wicket. The final ball is also struck crisply through the gap at cover for two (I’ve had him on 10 for the last eon but he was actually on 9. Sorry) and there ends a day of cricket in which the tourists have been comprehensively walloped.
The day started with centuries to Aussie skipper Steve Smith and his trusty lieutenant Adam Voges. After a determined opening stand by Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika, there was a shambolic collapse that has left the West Indies 91-6 at stumps on day two. Another complete farce, in other words.
42nd over: West Indies 87-6 (Bravo 10, Brathwaite 3)
Nathan Lyon’s penultimate (I think) over of the day is a maiden but lets’ be honest, we’re just here for P-Siddy at this point.
41st over: West Indies 87-6 (Bravo 10, Brathwaite 3)
Carlos Brathwaite is giving the crowd what they want now that he’s denied them what they really wanted, swinging for the fences to send an inside edge down to fine leg. The Melbourne crowd was being rocked to sleep half an hour ago but now it’s in full voice.
Reader Raymond Reardon has a craptacular Christmas gift to share. “Kris Kringle brought me “A history of Australian Cricket” by Chris Harte. It only goes up to 1992 where the last chapter, “Nervous Nineties,” only goes up to 1992 where Australia’s cricketers have just signed full time contracts for $12,000 minimum. I think that this generous gift by some family member is from an op-shop run by the same people who ran cricket at that time.”
Carlos Brathwaite keeps out the hat-trick ball!
But it’s almost a team hat-trick when the two he strikes down the ground almost becomes a run-out as they attempt three. Disaster is averted.
WICKET! Holder bowled Siddle - 0 (West Indies 83-6)
Siddle’s on a hat-trick! As is always the case now, West Indies captain Jason Holder strides to the crease with his side in dire straits and he fares even worse than the rest of them, castled by Peter Siddle’s yorker the first ball he faces. The local hero is on a MCG hat-trick! There’d only be 30,000 left in the outer, max, but this is going to be fun. Strap in.
WICKET! Ramdin c Burns b Siddle - 0 (West Indies 83-5)
Burns gets his catch and Siddle gets his wicket! There’s no doubting it this time, even if Burns had to dive to his right again when Ramdin turned to leg. It was a loose shot from the keeper and he’s departed not long after arrival.
40th over: West Indies 83-4 (Bravo 10, Ramdin 0)
What was that I was saying before about looking forward to watching Darren Bravo bat? I didn’t quite anticipate a strike rate of 15.62 but we can’t always get what we want I suppose.
39th over: West Indies 83-4 (Bravo 10, Ramdin 0)
Siddle keeps charging in and he’s got a new batsman to work over now with the arrival of Denesh Ramdin. He’s up in the keeper’s grill as he finishes the over but Ramdin has negotiated it well. There’ll be 3 more bowled today if things stick to the current script. It appears as though the Burns non-catch has gone down a treat online.
You've got to be kidding. There is absolutely no way that should be overturned... Seriously. Most inconclusive video you'll see! #AUSvWI
— Trent Copeland (@copes9) December 27, 2015
WICKET! Blackwood caught and bowled Lyon 28 (West Indies 82-4)
38th over: West Indies 82-4 (Bravo 9)
Blackwood departs! That’s most unfortunate. He’d taken the game on with Lyon back into the attack, haring off down the track and lifting the spunner over the fence at long off but a few balls later he’s tempted into another lofted stroke and he spears it straight back at the bowler and Lyon holds the sharp chance. I liked the cut of Blackwood’s jib more and more as that little cameo went on but now he’s gone.
37th over: West Indies 74-3 (Bravo 9, Blackwood 20)
That was an eventful over from Peter Siddle in the end but he finishes it without a notch in the wickets column. What’s the verdict on the Burns non-catch, people? It looked a bit iffy to me but it’s likely that Burns couldn’t tell either way.
Not out! Blackwood survives!
Geez that was close but 3rd umpire Ian Gould has ruled in the batsman’s favour and Burns’ catch is not allowed to stand. The crowd today, meanwhile, is apparently 40,516. As per yesterday a lot of them must be in the bar.
Review! The Aussies think the have Blackwood
He flicked it to square leg where Joe Burns dived to his right to grab it but there’s some doubt as to whether it carried and Blackwood is none too keen to walk.
36th over: West Indies 71-3 (Bravo 9, Blackwood 18)
Marsh steps up with another maiden of military mediums. “Given that yesterday’s Eng v SA OBO was almost entirely dominated by advice sought and given on the techniques and benefits of early morning drinking (it was like a geek support group)” says Robert Wilson, “I’m not at all ashamed to say that I had a big old hair of the dog, 3 pots of coffee and most of the cigarettes in France for breakfast. I’m feeling the love, I can tell you. I think the Windies are gonna win this.” Calm down Bob.
35th over: West Indies 71-3 (Bravo 9, Blackwood 18)
Hazlewood’s almost worn a trench along the line of his run-up today but on account of his monotony, there’s something particularly bracing about the third ball of this over, which pitches slightly short of a length and spits off the deck to whistle past Blackwood’s ear. That was an absolute snorter. Another maiden for the Haze.
34th over: West Indies 71-3 (Bravo 9, Blackwood 18)
Okay folks, I’m getting desperate now. Email in and tell me what you got for christmas if you like. I’ll publish almost any email you’ve got, even if it’s about ham or mince pies. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh is on for his first bowl of the afternoon and five balls in he has Bravo lazily swiping his bat outside off stump and almost feathering an edge to Nevill, the latter an effective but entirely anonymous presence in this game. He’s barely had a bat this summer.
33rd over: West Indies 71-3 (Bravo 9, Blackwood 18)
Runs are coming a little easier for the Windies pair now and Blackwood picks up another boundary with a leg glance but then two balls later there’s a big LBW shout and Steve Smith seriously considers a review. It’s a no-go so Blackwood celebrates by driving four more to the boundary at long-off.
32nd over: West Indies 62-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 10)
The shackles have been released! Pattinson keeps rolling with four dots to start this over but finally errs by over-pitching to Blackwood and the batsman happily deposits him to the boundary at extra cover to wake the crowd from its slumber.
31st over: West Indies 58-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 6)
Can you believe that Josh Hazlewood has bowled another maiden? I know, shocking. He’s got 0-7 off 9 overs now, 4 of them maidens. This is the role that Peter Siddle played in Hobart while wickets tumbled at the other end.
30th over: West Indies 58-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 6)
Would I be misleading you to claim that the Bay 13 section of the crowd has been infiltrated by A-League football fans? I certainly can’t recall a Melbourne cricket crowd chanting the tune of the White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ before, but they’re getting a little restless now because it’s four overs since the last wicket. Blackwood finishes the over with a boundary, driving through mid-off in his homespun style.
29th over: West Indies 54-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 2)
Here’s an interesting one for you: Jermaine Blackwood’s Test average (35.33) is actually higher than his first-class mark (33.64), but I still don’t fancy him against this attack based on what I’ve seen so far. He gets another single off Hazlewood but that’s all that’s on offer in this over. It really is enough to drive you to drink.
MCG sketches. #AusvWI pic.twitter.com/yAb5EIxZ3T
— Cat Jones (@Cricketbatcat) December 27, 2015
28th over: West Indies 53-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 1)
The risk here for the Windies is that after a disciplined start, they’ll become demoralised by and unravel as they did against Pattinson’s pace in Hobart. The big quick pins Blackwood with another yorker and this one is one better than the last in that it literally sweeps the diminutive Jamaican off his feet but he then gets some luck to get off the mark when Voges slips at mid off, turning a defensive push into a single. Small mercies.
27th over: West Indies 52-3 (Bravo 8, Blackwood 0)
There’s two slips and two gullies now for Hazlewood as he moves in to Darren Bravo, all floppy boots and loping stride. He actually concedes a two to Bravo in this over. That’s a rarity.
"It's never a nice feeling when you've dropped more catches than you've scored runs" @BuckRogers55 assessment of Samuels on @abcgrandstand
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) December 27, 2015
26th over: West Indies 50-3 (Bravo 6, Blackwood 0)
Oof, Jermaine Blackwood cops a sand shoe-crushing yorker from Pattinson first up and nearly loses his timber, somehow managing to jam his bat down and avoid further calamity. This is fast, penetraive bowling from Pattinson. He’s on fire.
WICKET! Samuels lbw Pattinson 0 (West Indies 50-3)
Pattinson claims Samuels for a third-ball duck! Hmm, it was bad Marlon then. He really didn’t help himself there, shuffling across in front of the pegs to be pinned in line. Pattinson was the weak link of the attack in his early spell but he’s taking wickets for fun now. Worse: replays reveal that it was flying well over the stumps. Samuels had jumped across and it hit him very high on the knee roll. He should have challenged it and didn’t. Perhaps the definitive Marlon Samuels dismissal, in other words.
Updated
25th over: West Indies 50-2 (Bravo 6, Samuels 0)
Peter Siddle also gets a rest so Josh Hazlewood reappears at the Member’s end with a new pair of batsmen to try and wriggle out. He starts with a maiden, just or something totally different. Also, to be entirely fair to Geoff Lemon and his crazy statistical ramblings, he sat down next to me yesterday and foretold that Chandrika would make either a duck or 25. I doubted him but then it’s just gone and happened.
Chandrika's five Test innings: 0, 0, 25, 0, 25. He's almost Martin Guptill-like in his consistency of scores #ausvwi
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 27, 2015
24th over: West Indies 50-2 (Bravo 6, Samuels 0)
Marlon Samuels is the new man for the West Indies and let’s hope he’s a little more switched on with the bat than he was in the field. That couldn’t be a hard feat to achieve but you never know.
WICKET! Chandrika lbw Pattinson 25 (West Indies 50-2)
He’s gone! James Pattinson strikes in his first over back in the attack from the SOuthern Stand end. That one really ducked in off the seem and Chandrika couldn’t get his bat down in time. Replays flash up on the screen and show that it was definitely crashing into off stump.
REVIEW! Chandrika's been trapped in front by Pattinson
And he’s given out but reviews!
23rd over: West Indies 45-1 (Chandrika 23, Bravo 3)
Siddle continues with a stump-to-stump line in this over, which means a single to Bravo but keeps him in the game at all times because one small lapse in concentration from either batsman could lead to the loss of their wicket. Australia has conceded just 12 runs in the last 10 overs. The pressure might soon tell.
22nd over: West Indies 44-1 (Chandrika 23, Bravo 2)
Chandrika’s becoming a little impatient for runs now, I’d surmise from the ambitious foray down the wicket to Lyon first up in this over. He tries to crack a drive but only succeeds in finding the man at mid on. Better is a late cut a few balls later, which brings him two and scratches the itch somewhat.
21st over: West Indies 42-1 (Chandrika 21, Bravo 2)
Siddle’s actually cranking the speed gun up a bit now, seemingly inspired by his local crowd. He’s even breaching 140 kmph if this radar can be taken as reliable. He was barely moving it past 130 in Hobart.
Did you know that Siddle is the number one ticket holder (actually I’m not even sure that’s true but let’s just go with it anyway) for the Melbourne United NBL side? Well, that glamorous role allows him to brush shoulders with luminaries like Brendan Fevola, the former AFL famous for once cavorting around the Melbourne CBD with a dildo strapped to the front of his trousers. Looks like he’s toning things down a little these days.
20th over: West Indies 42-1 (Chandrika 21, Bravo 2)
The Australians have really put the clamps on this West Indies batting effort and Lyon’s giving Chandrika nuthin here, looping and spinning his way to another maiden on a nagging length.
19th over: West Indies 42-1 (Chandrika 21, Bravo 2)
Peter Siddle steps up with another stingy and over and Chandrika only manages a single from it. “Would you consider Eldine Baptiste as a journeyman?” asks Dave Hornsby, who has another observation; “I don’t think being in a pie queue behind Shane Warne is a laughing matter. There would be a danger in supplies being exhausted by the time your turn came.” He kept a lid on it, Dave. Only two or three. I may have gone back for a fourth. There was some party sausage rolls too. It’s a glamorous old world, cricket media.
Your palindromic Australian attack for this Second #AUSvWI Test is: Oh, so Josho. Patto got tap Yo, Banana Boy! Annoy? Lyon? Na.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 27, 2015
18th over: West Indies 41-1 (Chandrika 20, Bravo 2)
Lyon continues to Bravo, who is calm and assured in his forward defence and wanders down the track to do a bit of gardening. It looked like River Cottage out there early on day one but things have flattened out nicely now.
Ian Forth is back and it looks like I should have been editing his work. “I did make a minor accounting error in my adding up earlier,” he admits. “The West Indies are currently in second place on the all time worst team series bowling averages, statgasmic fans, on 162. In the lead by half a run on 162.5 remain (for now) Bangladesh on their tour of England in 2005.”
17th over: West Indies 41-1 (Chandrika 20, Bravo 2)
“Siiiiiiiddle, Siiiiiiddle, Siiiiiiddle” goes the chant around the MCG as the local boy charges in for his second over. It’s not quite “Liiiiilleeeee” but then what is? Bravo tucks another single to leg when Siddle’s too straight. Moments later Chandrika flicks a boundary to leg but flying just past the outstretched hand of the man at wide mid on, it wasn’t without risk.
“I just woke up,” the OBOs poet laureate Robert Wilson says in his first dispatch of the day. “I’m in stage 6 of my permanent Christmas hangover. I haven’t had coffee or a cigarette yet. And everybody knows how emotional I am about West Indies cricket. What I want to know is this. What have I missed? Should I read out the day from the morning up as usual? Or do you want to just break the bad news right in my unprotected morning face? Is this going to hurt?”
Please read down so you get the best bit first, Bob. I’ve been snacking with SK Warne. For real. We panic ate together. And he tried to tip the entire sauce vessel on top of his plate rather than just using the spoon. What a maverick. Sure he immediately shuffled away to talk to Simon Katich but I’ll still treasure the moment forever.
16th over: West Indies 36-1 (Chandrika 16, Bravo 1)
That wicket brings Bravo to the crease and I for one am very much looking forward to seeing the left-hander bat today. He may be Diet Lara but that’ll do me just fine as the afternoon session wears on. He gets off the mark with a single but that was an excellent over from Nathan Lyon, who for the umpteenth time has broken the deadlock for Australia.
Oh, Brathwaite. He messed around, they caught him out, howzat. #AusvWI
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 27, 2015
WICKET! Brathwaite c Burns b Lyon 17 (West Indies 35-1)
Oh dear. Brathwaite was excellent in the closing stages of the second session but he departs immediately here, pushing forward with hard hands in front of his pads and deflecting Lyon straight into the gleeful hands of Burns at short leg. That’s a real shame and a very soft dismissal.
15th over: West Indies 35-0 (Brathwaite 17, Chandrika 16)
Okay, we’re back in town and it’s Peter Siddle who takes the ball from the Member’s end after tea. Plenty here will have a soft spot or the lion-hearted Victorian, who bowls with the spirit of Merv Hughes and ROdney Hogg combined and no small amount of skill. His first over is probing and costs just a two to Chandrika.
This also just happened
#AUSvWI: two of the greatest captains Clive Lloyd and Ian Chappell meet up again at tea on Day 2 at MCG pic.twitter.com/UJSBPsqXoR
— westindies (@westindies) December 27, 2015
A call back to an old OBO game
...remember ‘I sat next to Allan Lamb on the train’, my increasingly tenuous segment in which I asked readers to contribute their own craptacular brushes with cricket’s greats and not-so-greats? Well I’ve just added ‘I stood behind Shane Warne in the queue for party pies’ to my list of lifetime achievements. I bet you can’t top that one today.
Tea on day two - the West Indies have reached 33-0
14th over: West Indies 33-0 (Brathwaite 17, Chandrika 14)
Nathan Lyon is providing most of the energy in this game at the moment as he hops and bobs and ducks and dives, both in his approach and in anticipation of return catches. Have a look at him. He’s prepared for a caught and bowled literally every ball. With his over done, both sides trot off for tea and that was a determined effort by the Windies openers. Good on ‘em. I’ll be back shortly. Good on me.
It doesn’t look quite as cool as this, trust me.
MCG sketches. #AusvWI pic.twitter.com/IB0F4dODmA
— Cat Jones (@Cricketbatcat) December 27, 2015
13th over: West Indies 33-0 (Brathwaite 17, Chandrika 14)
Brathwaite’s bright start continues when he calmly angles Pattinson out through gully for three and there’s two more to Chandrika when he clips the right-armer through the vacant square leg. There’s also a couple of front-foot no balls from Pattinson, who is hardly revelling in front of his home crowd. Time for some Peter Siddle, perhaps?
12th over: West Indies 26-0 (Brathwaite 14, Chandrika 12)
Lyon has a nice moment here, tempting Chandrika into a couple of big stretches forward and going past the outside edge on both occasions and a ball later, diving acrobatically to his left and almost reeling in a miraculous return catch. He did everything bar take a wicket there.
Not sure all these easy runs against this substandard Australian bowling attack should count. #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 27, 2015
11th over: West Indies 25-0 (Brathwaite 13, Chandrika 12)
The other thing that Lyon’s early appearance has achieved is to allow Pattinson to change ends and he reappears now on the Member’s side of the ground. Chandrika is growing in confidence now and drives him handsomely through cover to pick up three but moments later there’s a big LBW shout against him. The Aussies can’t be completely certain because when it’s turned down they don’t review it.
10th over: West Indies 21-0 (Brathwaite 12, Chandrika 9)
Lyon returns at the Southern end of the ground with a slip and short leg in place and Khawaja half-way out to the boundary at deep mid-wicket. With the field spread, both batsmen find singles but then Brathwait has a rush of blood and tries to heave him to cow, only succeeding in sending a top edge over the head of the man at point. Dicey.
9th over: West Indies 17-0 (Brathwaite 9, Chandrika 8)
Smith’s pursing his lips now and making slight adjustments to the field as Hazlewood continues to plug away on an off stump line, finishing the over with an energetic but ineffective bouncer.
I’m disappointed that nobody has thought lateral and nominated Franklyn Stephenson as a West Indies journeyman...
8th over: West Indies 15-0 (Brathwaite 8, Chandrika 7)
Steve Smith’s read the tea leaves here and decided there’s not going to be a heap of joy for his quicks so brings Nathan Lyon on for a speculative and early trundle. There’s two for Brathwaite as the offie establishes his range.
7th over: West Indies 13-0 (Brathwaite 6, Chandrika 7)
What’s been notable so far and a little pleasing in the context of this game as a proper contest, is that our eyes weren’t deceiving us earlier; there’s no real gremlins in this pitch. Even Hazlewood’s barely beating the bat as he stacks up dot balls. A single to Brathwaite is the only damage in this over.
6th over: West Indies 12-0 (Brathwaite 5, Chandrika 7)
Did I mention that I had my Buck’s party at the Hobart Test? Well, a very small portion of it, anyway. We bought tickets for day three and got there an hour late, missing the four tail-end wickets of the West Indies’ 1st innings but catching their 10-wicket, four-hour capitulation thereafter. We had to go and see the new Rocky film to sober up and fill a few hours. Compared to that, Chandrika and Brathwaite have been rock solid so far.
5th over: West Indies 10-0 (Brathwaite 5, Chandrika 5)
The Haze steps up with another maiden and apparently this game has deteriorated so far as a realistic contest that Jim Maxwell and Dirk Nannes are discussing the impact of global warming on the local ABC radio broadcast. Weather chat. That’s what we’ve been reduced to.
Another marvelous performance from Richie Benaud. #AUSvWI #WWOS https://t.co/oQVsBwBtEP
— Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) December 27, 2015
4th over: West Indies 10-0 (Brathwaite 5, Chandrika 5)
Pattinson’s had enough of easing in to things and sends down a bumper that has Brathwaite ducking out of the way. He’s up in the mid 140s, Patto, but that one was slightly slower at 138. Still a step up from the Windies attack. Pattinson’s got four slips, the last of them at about 5th or a fine-ish gully, plus Khawaja at short mid-wicket. Brathwaite is watchful but tucks three to the off-side to keep things ticking over.
3rd over: West Indies 5-0 (Brathwaite 2, Chandrika 3)
The Haze bowls another tidy over, conceding only a single to Brathwaite, but reader Richard Woods has stopped by. “Hi Russell, I would like to raise the stakes a little and nominate Suleiman Benn, a player who has been ignored, overlooked and dropped on more than a few occasions and been fairly anonymous when he has played, as a fitting recipient of the coveted West Indian “Journeyman amongst Journeymen” accolade. What say you?”
I say that’s orright, Rich. Bonus points for being a tall spinner, which everyone loves, and also for his terrible sunglasses. He’s no Roger Harper though.
2nd over: West Indies 4-0 (Brathwaite 1, Chandrika 3)
James Pattinson pairs with Hazlewood and over-pitches his third delivery, allowing Chandrika to whip three through mid-wicket. What action is big Patto using today? The newer, safer one or the old one that he reverted to in his five-wicket haul down in Hobart? Either way, he’s bowling too straight to start with and Brathwaite gets off the mark by turning to leg as well. A very hopeful LBW shout rounds out the over.
Reader Ian Forth has done some statto work that is too compelling for me to properly fact-check. He’s a good egg so I’ll just trust him. “I could have this wrong but according to my fossicking amongst statsguru comfortably the worst team series bowling average – and that was in a 2 test series – was the 78.24 Sri Lanka conceded in Pakistan in 08/09. Next worst is 62.8. West Indies are on target for smashing those with a Beomanesque/Bradmanesque tally in the series so far comfortably above 150.” Blimey.
1st over: West Indies 0-0 (Brathwaite 0, Chandrika 0)
Sorry folks, I know I said I was going to give you a wrap of the Aussie innings but let’s be honest, we all know how it went down at this point and anyway, I’m a very easily distracted individual and this time around, free espresso coffee was enough to drag me away from my duties to you.
The Windies innings is under way now with Josh Hazlewood wheeling away at Kraigg Brathwaite, the man who counter-punched so gamely in Hobart. The Haze has three slips, a conventional gully and Joe Burns at short leg. His over is a probing maiden as he gradually ratchets up the pace.
Australia declare on 551!
135th over: Australia 551-3 declared (Smith 134, Voges 106)
Jomel Warrican is back to replace Roach from the Members end, with Holder clearly of the view that the Australian pair will have more difficulties with him than the innefectual Brathwaite. But if so, why wasn’t he bowling already? Smith gets really funky now, reverse glancing him from an audacious, patently disrespectful boundary down to third man.
And with that, somewhat surprisingly, Smith declares and sprints of the ground with Voges. These blokes clearly don’t want to be here on day four as much as I do. Back in a minute with a full wrap of that innings but it’s safe to say that the West Indians have been pounded here. Only David Warner failed to flog them for a century.
Updated
134th over: Australia 542-3 (Smith 126, Voges 105)
Again Smith and Voges show that the only realistic hope of a dismissal is a lapse of concentration as they run between the wicket but a close shave on that front when they take two off Kraigg Brathwaite is followed by a rasping boundary between fine leg and deep square leg when Smith smashes it around the corner. Surely the spinner will now be banished from the attack? Smith is filling his boots. Don’t rule out a double-century by tea.
Adam Voges currently averaging 540 in Tests against West Indies. #ausvwi
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 27, 2015
Voges brings up his century!
133rd over: Australia 530-3 (Smith 115, Voges 104)
Smith gets off strike with a three to start the Roach over, which brings Voges on strike. He’s on 98. He takes guard and waits for the bowler to bound in and the ball is full and on his toes, so he quickly whips is off his legs and through the on-side for four to bring up a well-earned century.
It took him 166 balls and featured 12 fours and his hearty celebrations momentarily remind you that yes, this is indeed Test cricket and means a lot to at least one of the sides currently playing it. Voges is delighted and so he should be. After struggling in England he can’t stop making runs now. Australia has four centurions. It’s all just a bit too easy.
132nd over: Australia 520-3 (Smith 111, Voges 98)
Jason Holder moves across to consult with Kraigg Brathwaite at the start of this over. “Are you sure you want me doing this?” should be the bowler’s contribution but it appears as though it’s only a case of minor field changes. Voges moves to 97 with a single and Smith gets him back on strike, so he clips another to long off to make it 98. Smith sweeps a single off the over’s final ball to keep the strike.
131st over: Australia 516-3 (Smith 109, Voges 96)
With Carlos Brathwaite told to cool his heels, Kemar Roach returns with his all-action bowling stride. Is he really only 27 years old? That sounds like Afridi years to me. Anyway, he’s offering up plenty of scoring chances and the Aussie pair stealthily loot five singles from the over.
130th over: Australia 511-3 (Smith 107, Voges 93)
This Kraigg Brathwaite over is much like the rest of them, which is to say completely uninspiring in all senses other than the blank canvas it provides Smith when he improvises a stylish late pull around the back of Ramdin for two. The West Indies aren’t bowling for a declaration, they’re bowling like they hope a sink-hole will open up in the middle of the MCG.
Updated
129th over: Australia 506-3 (Smith 104, Voges 91)
Argh, West Indies’ bad luck continues here when Voges drives at Rajendra Chandrika at short mid-on and he’s struck on the wrist trying to stop it. There’s a delay in play as medical treatment is sought and at the end of that Chandrika departs the arena with the physio for further treatment. As ever, there’s plenty of run-making opportunities off Carlos Brathwaite.
Can’t see many other differences here, really.
Adam Voges 1000 Test runs @ 36y-84d in 2015 Don Bradman 1000 Test runs @ 21y-318d in 1930 #justsaying #AusvWI
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 27, 2015
Steve Smith reaches his century!
128th over: Australia 501-3 (Smith 101, Voges 89)
Voges takes a two balls to get off strike to the spin of Kraigg B, at which point Jason Holder starts shifting his field around to build some buzz. Smith cuts but it’s straight to point. Three balls left. He only needs one! Smith drives cautiously out through cover and though there’s a man swooping around in the deep the Aussie pair get back for two and Smith brings up his hundred from 153 balls.
There was 6 fours and a lot of hustle and perhaps it didn’t come against stiff opposition, but you’ve still gotta make ‘em. Just ask David Warner. The 500’s up to boot. He’s been bagged out for his form this summer, Smith, but this is exactly what he’ll have wanted today.
Updated
127th over: Australia 496-3 (Smith 98, Voges 87)
The bigger Brathwaite attempts a bouncer to the Voges but the batsman gets enough on his hook shot to feather it high and wide of Ramdin and down to the rope at fine leg. There follows a dicey single when the batsmen disagree over a run to square leg but Voges, running down to the non-striker’s end, makes his ground.
Then Smith’s on 98 and on strike. Brathwaite charges in and pitches full. Smith drives but the bowler cuts it off. Then Smith defends the final ball of the over. Oooh. Ahhh. You could cut the tension with...a very old and blunt butter knife.
126th over: Australia 491-3 (Smith 98, Voges 83)
Oof, this is some park-grade off-spin from Kraigg B. His name sounds better that way I think. He could be a 90s R&B artist. Not a successful one but certainly signed to some tac-dodge subsidiary label. Voges and Smith pick him for ones and twos here but it could have been worse when he was dragging it short and flat. Smith finishes the over with two more to get for his milestone but Voges will be on strike.
125th over: Australia 485-3 (Smith 95, Voges 80)
Jugs Brathwaite continues to fire them down at 130 clicks to give Voges some practice but the batsmen are for now content to refocus their gaze and warm up again after their lunch break.
124th over: Australia 482-3 (Smith 94, Voges 78)
With a single to started Kraigg Brathwaite’s over, Adam Voges becomes the third-fastest Australian to reach 1000 Test runs, behind only Bradman (13), Neil Harvey (14) and Sid Barnes (17). What esteemed company. Reader Chris Winter nominates Bernard Julien as a Windies journeyman. “His stats don’t look too hot now - but I seem to remember he was pretty useful at the time.” I reckon he was better than a journeyman, actually.
123rd over: Australia 480-3 (Smith 93, Voges 77)
If they made a movie about Carlos Brathwaite’s abilities, surely it would be a gritty road movie called ‘Net Bowler’, right? Voges brings up the 150-run partnership between he and Smith (232 balls is what they required) by flicking one square of fine leg for three.
Meanwhile, the Windies journeyman nomninations are flying in thick and fast. George Wright has a belter to start with. “Dave Mohammed. Partly on the glorious concatenation of cultures in his name, and partly for his nickname –according to Cricinfo it’s tadpole. No explanation offered.” And none needed, really.
Shout out also to Tom Wright, who added to his Mohammed nomination this approporiately crap video.
122nd over: Australia 477-3 (Smith 93, Voges 74)
We’ve got duelling banjos Brathwaite’s here with Kraigg operating from the Southern end with his gentle tweakers. Smith fences a couple of runs square of point and looks to cut a few more that way but there’s nothing else doing as his rather inevitable march towards a century continues.
Smith has only been dismissed once in the 90s (Abu Dhabi, 97) since his first ton. Not even worried about a #mozz with this one. #AUSvWI
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 27, 2015
Updated
121st over: Australia 475-3 (Smith 91, Voges 74)
With the review done and dusted there’s a a single and a leg bye to round out the Brathwaite over, which was by default a lot more exciting than nearly anything else he’s done so far in the game.
Not Out! Smith survives
121st over (incomplete): Australia 473-3 (Smith 90, Voges 74)
That was sailing almost a foot over the stumps, that one. Ambitious.
REVIEW!
121st over (incomplete): Australia 473-3 (Smith 90, Voges 74)
Carlos Brathwaite resumes after lunch and has a throaty appeal for LBW against Smith with his second ball. There being no real harm in trying now, Holder reviews the not out verdict.
Updated
A little bit of West Indies history
You may think that Jason Holder is the most unheralded West Indies captain to tour Australia but as the MCC Library’s brilliant Day 2 fact sheet reminds me, G.C. ‘Jackie’ Grant’s CV was hardly compelling when he led the first Windies side here in 1930-31. He was 23 years old and had never played first-class cricket in the Caribbean. 26 appearances at Cambridge University was what he brought to the table. He did okay in the end though, topping the batting averages and leading with some style. Perhaps there’s hope for poor Holder.
Related to all of this...
It has now come to my attention that there exists a YouTube clip titled, “Junior Murray, West Indies greatest of all times Wicket Keeper, takes 3 brilliant catches”. You’re welcome.
We might have to make our own fun this afternoon
Which is not to say that Australia piling up runs isn’t a little bit fun, but there’s only so many times in a summer you can enjoy it and I’m running a little dry on enthusiasm. So.... I have a game for us.
Nominate me your favourite West Indian journeyman cricketer. No stars. No proper heroes. I want the also-rans and the never-quite-was guys. The rules are thus: must have taken under 100 wickets in Tests or ODIs, must have made fewer than 2000 runs in Tests or ODIs.
In other words, hello Kenny and Winston Benjamin...
Hello OBOers
It is indeed Russell Jackson here to take you through the rest of the day’s play, where the Milo kids are currently skipping about the outfield with far greater enthusiasm than the tourists, but you can’t entirely blame them given the pounding that they’re copping. Remember when we thought the pitch looked a bit green and dicey? Those were the days.
Russell Jackson is your man for this afternoon’s run-fest. It’s time for me to quarter my cucumber sandwiches and steel myself for the evening shift tomorrow, if it gets that far!
Lunch Break - Australia 473-3 (Smith 90, Voges 74)
Guess what? It’s been Australia’s morning. Smith and Voges have each enjoyed slices of luck but they’ve been largely untroubled, conservatively nudging and nurdling their way to a massive total. Centuries to both seem inevitable in the afternoon session.
After that it’s declaration watch. There’s been little urgency so far, indicating Smith is happy to bat the once in this match, satisfied with an hour or so of a dash before tea to push the total near 600.
The West Indies? They’ve been poor, again. Sloppy and rudderless in the field and lacking penetration with the ball. Jason Holder and his men are in for another hard slog.
120th over: Australia 473-3 (Smith 90, Voges 74)
Kraigg Brathwaite with the final over before lunch and Australia navigate it safely.
119th over: Australia 469-3 (Smith 87, Voges 73)
Smith looks a little proppy, worried about something to do with his right leg or foot. With lunch and a century in sight he won’t be too concerned.
Carlos Brathwaite (0/90) back on and he forces Voges and Smith into tip and run cricket to keep the game moving.
118th over: Australia 464-3 (Smith 85, Voges 70)
Warrican’s spell extends into a ninth rapid over. If nothing else the West Indies are going to reach their full compliment of overs this session. They might not be very good overs, but overs nonetheless.
Twelve batsmen have a career average of more than 100 against the West Indies. Three are in this Test. Two are in this partnership. #AusvWI
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 27, 2015
117th over: Australia 456-3 (Smith 79, Voges 68)
Kraigg Brathwaite replaces Carlos and he suffers the curse of West Indian fielding with overthrows ricocheting from the stumps to disturb his figures. Australia content to just find gaps, run ones and twos and watch the scoreboard climb slowly.
116th over: Australia 449-3 (Smith 76, Voges 64)
Warrican doing his thing. Maiden.
115th over: Australia 449-3 (Smith 76, Voges 64)
Voges gets a life on 56. He throws the kitchen sink at a slower wide one from Brathwaite that would have been a regulation first slip catch but Bravo, the only man in the cordon, is stationed at second slip and he can only sting his fingertips diving to his left.
114th over: Australia 440-3 (Smith 76, Voges 56)
Warrican milked like it’s the middle overs of an ODI. This pair are in for the long haul.
West Indies' worst ever collective bowling average for a completed Test series is 67.31. So far in this series it's 145.28. #ausvwi
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 27, 2015
113th over: Australia 434-3 (Smith 72, Voges 54)
Fifty for Adam Voges! His stellar year continues with Brathwaite’s shackles finally broken. Voges averaging over 80 in Test cricket. If only he could lay the West Indies home and away every year.
Smith also creeps closer to another century with a three that would have been four on any other ground in the world.
Updated
112th over: Australia 426-3 (Smith 69, Voges 49)
Another neat over from Warrican.
111th over: Australia 424-3 (Smith 68, Voges 48)
Another maiden! Brathwaite bowling good lines and lengths to join up 12 dot balls in a row. Voges looking a little edgy as he tries to force his fifty. Skipper Smith comes down the pitch to calm his vice captain down.
Updated
110th over: Australia 424-3 (Smith 68, Voges 48)
Still no great urgency from the Australian batsmen. It’s almost a century partnership but neither looks to be upping the tempo. Warrican toils away at speed, keeping the over rate respectable.
109th over: Australia 420-3 (Smith 67, Voges 45)
Carlos Brathwaite into the attack and he opens with a creditable maiden.
108th over: Australia 420-3 (Smith 67, Voges 45)
Another rapid over of very little from Warrican.
107th over: Australia 419-3 (Smith 67, Voges 44)
The strokeplay hasn’t been blistering this morning but the running has been spot on. Voges turns two into three before Smith guides a Roach full-toss back past his follow through for four. Then a glorious late cut to the vacant third-man fence. Foot to the floor time?
Hands up who's live-tracking Voges' average against the West Indies? Currently on 480. #AusvWI
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 27, 2015
106th over: Australia 407-3 (Smith 56, Voges 43)
Voges sweeping Warrican well, fetching the ball turning away from him from around off stump.
Smith’s 50 his fifth in 2015, to go with five tons. Not a bad year’s work, and it’s still not finished yet.
5 50s and 5 100s in 2015! Captain Smith continues the onslaught on day 2 at the @MCG. Aus 397/3 #AUSvWI #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/AWrFw03NiJ
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) December 27, 2015
105th over: Australia 403-3 (Smith 56, Voges 39)
Smith gets away with an inside edge that does everything but cannon into his stumps. Roach follows that decent delivery up with a rank wide long hop that Voges slaps for four behind point. 400 up for Australia.
104th over: Australia 397-3 (Smith 55, Voges 34)
Warrican whirls through an over before drinks.
Australia cruising through the first hour of the day. Taking no chances but still on course for 100 plus in the session. Surely an acceleration is on its way.
First hour of day 2: Aus 0-52 off 14o (3.71rpo). #AusvWI
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 27, 2015
Updated
103rd over: Australia 396-3 (Smith 54, Voges 34)
Fifty for Steve Smith. Effortless. Hardly played a false shot and caressed his way to a half century from 86 balls. Lots of ones and twos with deliveries worked into gaps. Barely struck out in anger and well set for a big score.
102nd over: Australia 391-3 (Smith 49, Voges 34)
Time for spin with Jomel Warrican called into the attack. Sensible batting and some sloppy fielding keeps the scoreboard ticking over. There is no intensity in this West Indian performance.
101st over: Australia 384-3 (Smith 47, Voges 29)
Smith finding the gaps on the legside as he nurdles his way to his half-century.
It’s sessions like this that make you wistful and nostalgic for cricketers of yore...
I truly do miss Watto. Imagine the frisson if he was due in next. What might happen? Literally anything. (But most likely LBW Holder 23).
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 27, 2015
100th over: Australia 381-3 (Smith 44, Voges 29)
A good offside four from Voges is followed up by a genuine edge that drops well short of the cordon. On this surface and with Holder bowling that’s to be expected. An ugly swipe for four to the last delivery of the over suggests Voges has his eye in and it’s time to up the tempo.
99th over: Australia 372-3 (Smith 43, Voges 21)
Kemar Roach finally back into the attack for just his 11th over. He brings a little more hustle with him, varying his approach to the crease while maintaining a good length. Roach averaging 73 with the ball in 2015. Five of the previous six years he averaged under 30. Significant drop off.
98th over: Australia 369-3 (Smith 40, Voges 21)
Holder keeping things tight again. Not much to report in terms of action at the moment. The pitch is not misbehaving, the ball is not moving in the air or off the seam, the batsmen are happy to keep things ticking over and the West Indian bowling is lacklustre. As you were then.
97th over: Australia 367-3 (Smith 39, Voges 20)
Taylor coming around the wicket now to Voges and it almost brings an immediate reward with a good delivery cramping the batsman who inside-edges past his stumps and away to the fine-leg boundary.
Speaking of politics and cricket, one of my favourite crossover memories involved watching Kevin Rudd escort a Chinese delegation around the Gabba during the 2010-11 Ashes. He was serenaded by a gang of blokes dressed as bananas. “We love you cos you’re a Queenslander!” They chanted. I wonder what Kevin’s guests made of it all?
96th over: Australia 360-3 (Smith 37, Voges 15)
A rare maiden as the watchfulness continues. Solid lines and lengths from Holder and Smith’s taking no chances. Presumably waiting until the MCG is fuller before he switches on the fireworks.
95th over: Australia 360-3 (Smith 37, Voges 15)
Australia in no obvious hurry this morning. Smith in particular is watchful, ignoring some juicy wide deliveries from Taylor. Taylor, by the way, is what a friend of mine would call ‘gym fit’. Powerful upper body, narrow waist, firm glutes. He’d be a show stopper at a pool party.
94th over: Australia 359-3 (Smith 36, Voges 15)
Four leg-byes the lowlight of another over of Holder slower balls.
Ian Healy describes Steve Smith as ‘Bradmanesque’ on commentary - drink!
93rd over: Australia 354-3 (Smith 35, Voges 15)
Taylor threatens to find a rhythm with three good dot balls but his fourth is short and wide and carved over gully by Voges for the morning’s first boundary.
Continuing the Spitting Image conversation...Big cricket fan John Major, board member of the MCC and Surrey CCC. Cricket and politics go hand in glove don’t they, especially in England and Australia.
@JPHowcroft I bet John Major would've loved those old grey West Indies ODI kits
— Theo Finigan (@theofinigan) December 26, 2015
92nd over: Australia 350-3 (Smith 35, Voges 11)
Jason Holder shares the newish ball and he also begins with a delivery on Smith’s pads. Ugh. Holder again only bowling around 125kmh. Something has to be amiss if the captain of the West Indies, as tall as the Eiffel Tower, can only reach medium pace.
So not only was Roach ignored for second new ball but also to start day 2. Last bowled in the 40th over. #AusvWI
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 26, 2015
91st over: Australia 348-3 (Smith 33, Voges 11)
Jerome Taylor opens the day’s proceedings to Steve Smith and the first delivery sets an ominous tone, on the pads and away for a leg-bye. More middle and leg floaters are bunted away with both batsmen improving their overnight scores.
It’ll be a West Indian hands in the pockets day at the MCG with temperatures starting around 14C and peaking at 21C. A gusty southerly is the culprit but it’s not bringing any rain today so we should have a full day’s carnage play.
I think even most Australians would welcome Mr Ambrose into this attack. Jason Holder was only reaching 125kmh yesterday, surely Curtly could be faster than that off two paces?
@JPHowcroft Can someone persuade Curtly to have a bowl please?
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 26, 2015
Here’s your surface. About as dynamic as John Major’s Spitting Image puppet. (One for the kids, that one).
Welcome to day two at the @MCG #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/KwD29uNHtD
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 26, 2015
This would have been an entertaining chat to eavesdrop. These two have a colourful history.
#AUSvWI: Dean Jones and Curtly Ambrose meet again on the field. "Time To Talk" about the good old days pic.twitter.com/miavXDEfKX
— westindies (@westindies) December 26, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jffp7hDzNZM
Preamble
Welcome to live coverage of the second day’s play of the second Test between Australia and the West Indies from the MCG. Australia will resume at 345-3 with Steve Smith (32) and Adam Voges (10) at the crease. Play will get underway in about half-an-hour.
I’m Jonathan Howcroft and I’ll be nursing your 48-hour compound hangovers until the lunch interval. If you want to get in touch (and I encourage you to do so, it can get lonely in here) you can tweet me @JPHowcroft or email me at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk.
In the grandest of Christmas traditions the first day of the Test was all about three wise men bearing gifts. I’m talking of course about Australia’s National Selection Panel of Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh and Trevor Hohns, who, along with coach Darren Lehmann backed in centurions Joe Burns (128) and Usman Khawaja (144) ahead of Shaun Marsh.
The second coming of Khawaja this summer was a thing of rare beauty. There are few batsmen in international cricket with the left-hander’s grace at the crease. The long sleeve shirt buttoned to the chin and the languid fly-fishing cast of the willow gives Khawaja the air of a mod stylist but his ability to accumulate runs without breaking sweat ensures there’s plenty of substance in his make up.
Joe Burns is a more limited technician but his application at the crease was equally rewarding. Punishing anything short or overpitched, Burns was happy to stay leg-side of the ball and leave confidently outside his off-stump. He will face tougher assignments than this but Australia’s selectors will be delighted to have unearthed a right-handed foil who can nestle comfortably between David Warner and Khawaja.
The West Indies were ragged yesterday. Their bowling lacks pace, guile and application. The only plan that was successfully executed involved Carlos Brathwaite bowling unplayably wide outside Joe Burns’ off-stump. The less said about the absent-minded fielding the better.
So what about today? On a benign track in cool sunny conditions Australia can expect to pile on stacks ahead of a declaration around the tea break. There’s plenty of batting still to come and, based on the experience of Hobart, a keenness to dispense with this series as swiftly as possible. Expect another brutal day of home dominance.
JP will be here shortly to guide you through all the action early on day two, but here’s the match report from yesterday while you wait.
Welcome to day two of the Boxing Day Test.
Updated
