That’s all from me for now. I’ll be back with you tomorrow evening after Russell Jackson has entertained you for the opening two sessions.
Don’t forget there’s plenty more cricket on offer, including the beautifully poised first Test between South Africa and England. Follow that with Dan Lucas here.
Day three - Australia dominant, again
Australia end day three of the Boxing Day Test with a lead of 459 runs over the West Indies. The tourists finally showed some resistance with the bat, dragging out their first innings for two sessions, but that spirited rearguard action still left them with a 280 run deficit. That quickly became an insurmountable total as Australia’s batsmen piled on a run-a-ball final session at the MCG.
Darren Bravo (81) and Carlos Brathwaite (59) can be pleased with their efforts in West Indies’ innings. As can Nathan Lyon (4/66) and James Pattinson (4/72). Pattinson should have celebrated even more impressive figures but twice he was denied wickets after overstepping.
In Australia’s second dig the West Indian attack began brightly with Jason Holder (2/49) the standout. But it was all about how quickly the home side could extend their lead and Usman Khawaja (56) and Steve Smith (70*) treated the evening session like an exhibition.
Smith chose not to enforce the follow-on to allow his bowlers time to rest. They will have a chance to secure the series at some point tomorrow, although perhaps not until the skipper has reached his century.
Updated
32nd over: Australia 179-3 (Smith 70, Marsh 18) lead by 459
Final over of the day and Smith plays it with the intensity of any, running hard to turn ones into twos. Leading by example.
That’s stumps for day three folks.
31st over: Australia 172-3 (Smith 64, Marsh 17) lead by 452
Holder bowling to a field with only one fielder in the infield. Guess what? Marsh hits it straight to him - all along the ground though. Shadows lengthening across the MCG. Nearly done for the day.
30th over: Australia 168-3 (Smith 62, Marsh 15) lead by 448
Marsh’s no-win innings nearly came to a premature end as he edges a sharp chance to Ramdin off Warrican. The keeper can’t hold on to the chance and Marsh gets a let-off.
29th over: Australia 165-3 (Smith 61, Marsh 13) lead by 445
Four overs left, probably not enough time for Smith to bring up his ton. He’s good the skipper, but he’s no Martin Guptill. Will he give himself time tomorrow morning to achieve the feat?
28th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 59, Marsh 10) lead by 440
Warrican, poor bloke, has no idea where to bowl to Smith. Wherever it lands Smith seems to be there manufacturing something into a gap somewhere or other. Marsh is looking solid in a no-win situation for him.
27th over: Australia 154-3 (Smith 54, Marsh 9) lead by 434
More slogging, tip and run, and general run-scoring off most deliveries. Junk time at the G.
Ladies and gentleman, your top Test run scorer of 2015. #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/wX61bwiTZY
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
26th over: Australia 150-3 (Smith 52, Marsh 7) lead by 430
Fifty for Steve Smith to add to his massive 2015 bounty. It’s been a mixture of finesse and funk from the skipper, keeping the game moving throughout. The only question remaining is whether he will declare before he reaches three figures.
Running total: 119,808. #AusvWI https://t.co/v1wgLTCqRP
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 28, 2015
25th over: Australia 143-3 (Smith 47, Marsh 5) lead by 423
Smith continues to invent shots. His latest offside boundary I’m naming the pie swatter after he somehow slapped a slower ball bouncer from Holder inside out to the cover fence.
It’s all a bit ragged and ungainly out there now. The West Indies nearly conceding a no-ball for having too many fielders behind square on the leg-side. They then suffer four byes after the ball ballooned out of the foot holes. Run-rate nearly 6 rpo.
24th over: Australia 128-3 (Smith 40, Marsh 3) lead by 408
The fall of Khawaja’s wicket doesn’t stem the flow of runs with Warrican bowling to a field in need of more plugs than Doug Bollinger.
Updated
23rd over: Australia 124-3 (Smith 38, Marsh 1) lead by 404
Smith with a mistimed forehand smash to the returning Jason Holder raises a smile. Smith moved to leg, Holder followed him with a bouncer and the batsman still tried to slap it past the bowler. It’s that time of the day.
Khawaja with one of the shots of the match, picking up a length delivery and walloping it to midwicket. He then perishes next ball, trying to be too funky. Shame for the fans in the MCG that knock had to end.
Mitch Marsh elevated above Adam Voges to come in next.
WICKET! Khawaja c Ramdin b Holder 56 (Australia 123-3)
Khawaja gives his wicket away trying to lap Holder but his faint tickle goes straight to Ramdin behind the stumps. Another beautiful knock from the left-hander comes to an end.
22nd over: Australia 118-2 (Khawaja 52, Smith 37) lead by 398
Half-century for Khawaja. His renaissance is one of the more welcome in the Test arena. So fluid and composed at the crease it’s like watching Neo in bullet time. Speaking of which, is Keanu Reeves ready for a career renaissance?
Smith in Silly Scoring Mode™ is one of my favourite things. #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
21st over: Australia 113-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 35) lead by 393
Eleven overs remaining in the day’s play and Smith’s decided to have a bit of fun. To describe his boundary as a drive to long-off would be to ignore his position at the crease resembling a slap-cum-pull a la KP or Glenn Maxwell. Runs, runs, runs.
20th over: Australia 106-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 28) lead by 386
Khawaja nearing his fifty and you’d have to fancy another century, his fourth in a row. He may need to get a wriggle on though as it’s unlikely Smith will give him much time on day four to chase milestones.
Updated
19th over: Australia 100-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 30) lead by 380
Khawaja taking on Kemar Roach, sashaying down the pitch and clobbering him through the legside. Then it’s Smith’s turn, dabbing the paceman to the third-man boundary and adding another four before the over’s out.
This is one of those passages of play that’s ostensibly brilliant, with two superb batsmen in form carving an attack all around the MCG, but in context it’s really just a bit of filler before the real contest resumes when West Indies are back at the crease.
18th over: Australia 88-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 21) lead by 368
Jomel Warrican provides a change of pace and it almost works with Smith driving loosely but failing to reach the long-on fielder. Khawaja much more controlled, timing a couple of pearlers sweetly through the offside. This Australian innings is gathering momentum without much effort.
Robert Wilson emails: “I’m moved and startled to see there’s been some Sid Waddell love during an Aus v WI Test match (there’s never a bad time). He was an authentic genius and poet, working-class hero who went to Cambridge and the only reason to watch darts. I never saw Sloggers but Jossy’s Giants was actually rather brilliant. The dude knew everything there was to know about Geordie euphony and could make the phonebook funny.”
17th over: Australia 79-2 (Khawaja 36, Smith 18) lead by 359
Skipper Smith looks a little frustrated. So frustrated he blames it on his willow and orders a new blade to be brought out to him. The change works and a boundary immediately follows to the vacant third-man region. A hard-run three allows Khawaja strike and he cuts for four more! 14 from the Brathwaite over in the end.
16th over: Australia 65-2 (Khawaja 29, Smith 11) lead by 345
Roach bending his back, and about half a kilo of gold jewellery in the process. He’s keeping Smith honest but he’s nowhere near the tearaway that terrorised Ricky Ponting a few years ago.
15th over: Australia 63-2 (Khawaja 29, Smith 9) lead by 343
Another let-off for Khawaja. A toe-end slash travels in the air towards gully but the giant Holder can’t get down in time to scoop it off the turf.
Boba Fett’s from the Star Wars series of movies, by the way, making Mr Bulloch a bit of a legend. It also provides a nice segue to this quirky little piece by Shiamak Unwalla, linking contemporary cricket figures to characters from the new Star Wars movie.
14th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 27, Smith 9) lead by 341
Kemar Roach into the attack and he starts with a real liquorice all-sorts of an over, including one delivery that barely finds the cut grass. Brett Lee suggesting he’s trying to bowl too fast following his recent injury.
Back to Sloggers; a YouTube scan pulls up nothing, but an IMDB search reveals plenty. Not only was the now famous Ralf Little the main child star but the primary adult actor also had a career outside pretending to play cricket. Jeremy Bulloch was none other than the original Boba Fett!
13th over: Australia 56-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 6) lead by 336
Smith is giving himself time to settle in here. It will be interesting to know what’s going through his mind. Timing of his second declaration? Dinner order for tonight? Badger badger badger?
Warner wicket celebration will be replayed plenty, check out Roach and Samuels in the background. Two teams playing for WI !#AUSvWI
— Nick Speak (@njspeak) December 28, 2015
Updated
12th over: Australia 50-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 3) lead by 330
Khawaja should have been the third wicket to fall, calling for a suicidal single, but Chandrika doesn’t steady himself despite an age to throw down the stumps and the batsman jogs home without even offering a dive. Holder continuing to probe with no little skill.
Anyway, talk of Jossy’s Giants soon went to the subject of fictional cricket shows on TV and my distant memory of Sloggers.
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11th over: Australia 47-2 (Khawaja 23, Smith 1) lead by 327
Odd dismissal for Warner. It was almost as if he was offering slips catching the way he was positioned and holding his bat.
Smith the new man in. No batting order jiggery pokery quite yet.
Back to Waddell, one of the great commentary voices. He was not only a master of talking about darts, but he also scripted a children’s TV show all about football called Jossy’s Giants.
WICKET! Warner c Holder b C Brathwaite 17 (Australia 46-2)
Two failures for Warner at the MCG, his least favourite venue in Australia. A shortish delivery at the body from Brathwaite and Warner tries to lean back and guide the ball to third man, instead unerringly picking out Holder in the gully. Cue peculiarly wild celebrations.
10th over: Australia 46-1 (Warner 17, Khawaja 23) lead by 326
Holder having words with Warner after consecutive false shots. Not sure I’d be poking that particular bear.
What’s that? One short! You don’t see that very often nowadays. A little surprised umpire Erasmus has the dexterity to make the signal.
I ask about Sloggers because of an almighty convoluted chain of events that occurred to me today. As an Englishman in Australia I was extolling the virtues of the PDC World Championship of darts to a friend largely unfamiliar with the tungsten titans. This friend asked how he could get interested in the darts, so I began by signposting him to the late Sid Waddell...
9th over: Australia 42-1 (Warner 15, Khawaja 21) lead by 322
Warner has a touch of the Hulk about him at times, as if he’s fighting an internal battle to keep the raging beast within. The green monster almost appeared to the first delivery of Brathwaite’s over but a hoick to cow corner failed to carry to mid-on.
Question: Does anybody remember the BBC TV series Sloggers?
Updated
8th over: Australia 41-1 (Warner 15, Khawaja 21) lead by 321
After that positive start the West Indies have drifted. No lateral movement with the ball and that now familiar lack of intensity in the field. Warner and Khawaja picking off singles at will.
Hey, Melbourne, get out of the bars and watch Usman play. Two pulled fours and a slashing cut to boot. He's already on 15*. #touchwood
— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) December 28, 2015
7th over: Australia 38-1 (Warner 13, Khawaja 20) lead by 318
Carlos Brathwaite replaces Taylor and he’s immediately dabbed down to third-man for a boundary from Warner. The Aussie opener more circumspect than he was in the first innings but still scoring at more than a run a ball. This pair rotating the strike like a well-oiled ODI unit.
Old mate Fidel is not a happy chap...
It's funny how 36 year old's scoring hundreds against #westindies but yet still when you reach 30+ in the #WI you are consider to old #shame
— Fidel Edwards (@EdwardsFidel) December 27, 2015
6th over: Australia 31-1 (Warner 7, Khawaja 19) lead by 311
Khawaja finding runs all over the MCG be they in ones, twos, or boundaries. An unfortunate run-out just avoided after Warner deflected a firmly pushed defensive stroke into Holder’s follow through.
5th over: Australia 26-1 (Warner 6, Khawaja 15) lead by 306
Khawaja is in lovely touch, working boundaries on both sides of the wicket. The back foot drive through point, to a delivery still on the rise was a sumptuous piece of timing. This could become a fun partnership; Warner’s brutality and Khawaja’s grace. Yes please.
4th over: Australia 12-1 (Warner 3, Khawaja 5) lead by 293
Holder getting some nice seam movement early on here and it’s a welcome sight. Speed only 132/3 kph though giving this left-handed pair plenty of time to get in line or out of the way.
Holder deserved to get Burns there. Super seam bowling with the ball going both ways. Burns couldn't pick it, #BoxingDayTest
— Peter Ker (@pgker) December 28, 2015
3rd over: Australia 12-1 (Warner 3, Khawaja 5) lead by 293
It was a jittery little innings from Burns. Clearly trying to make hay with such a commanding lead but his eye was never in.
No problem with Khawaja’s eye, pulling Taylor for a glorious four through midwicket. How long will this pair have to bat before Smith calls them in? Runs clearly no issue, just about how much rest the bowling attack needs.
2nd over: Australia 7-1 (Warner 2, Khawaja 0) lead by 287
Jason Holder sharing the new ball and he works Burns over well before finally getting his man. His first delivery to new batsman Usman Khawaja is a nasty bouncer. Finally some life from the Windies attack!
WICKET! Burns c K Brathwaite b Holder 4 (Australia 7-1)
Burns has looked a walking wicket early and it’s no surprise when Holder finds the outside edge, pouched at second slip. Burns pushing hard to a length delivery on off stump before he was set.
Updated
1st over: Australia 6-0 (Warner 1, Burns 4)
Joe Burns and David Warner will open as usual for Australia. Any batting order switcheroos will have to wait until the fall of the first wicket. 32 overs due to be bowled in the session.
Jerome Taylor nearly earns a wicket first ball! A wide swinging half volley is slashed at by Burns in the air just past a diving gully. Second ball he leaves on line but it jags in and smacks him on his back thigh. Eventful start and Taylor’s bending his back here.
Australia will bat again, the follow-on has not been enforced. Punters with day four and five tickets will be delighted.
West Indies 9/261 their highest innings score in a @MCG Test since 1988. #AusvWI #cricket
— General Ursus (@GenUrsus) December 28, 2015
Updated
Another belting double session stint from Mr Jackson. Can’t imagine he expected to still be blogging about the West Indies first innings at tea when he logged on at 10.30am.
That’s where things are though. Australia have plugged away but Darren Bravo stood firm with some refreshing resistance from the tail. It’s expected that Australia will not enforce the follow-on. It’s also expected that the batting order may be re-jigged to give the unused middle-order some exposure. We’ll find out in the next ten minutes or so.
No-balls are the discussion point of the day with James Pattinson twice having dismissals chalked off for overstepping. Should no-balls only be referred to the third umpire for wickets? Shouldn’t bowlers have more warning beforehand? Seems harsh to me if the umpire hasn’t previously warned the paceman or called unseen no-balls prior to the wicket ball.
WICKET! Bravo c Smith b Pattinson 81 - West Indies all out for 271 - tea on day three
Patto’s done it! And it’s not a no ball! That’s that then. Bravo’s admirable stand ends when he glides one into the hands of Smith at gully. We’ll take an early tea and JP Howcroft will jump on to take you through the rest of the day. Thanks for hanging in there with me!
100th over: West Indies 271-9 (Bravo 81, Warrican 11)
These two look increasingly likely to draw this partnership out to tea and negotiate another Nathan Lyon over here to leave themselves with ten minutes more hard work before the break.
99th over: West Indies 271-9 (Bravo 81, Warrican 11)
Hazlewood’s back for another try now but Bravo is onto him, angling a short one between the cordon and gully to pick up two after a streakier boundary to start the over. Pattinson’s not doing the trick either.
98th over: West Indies 261-9 (Bravo 71, Warrican 11)
Lyon thinks he’s got Warrican here when he sends a straight one past the outside edge but the West Indian survives. I think we’ll have another change now as Smith becomes impatient with the way this is dragging on.
97th over: West Indies 260-9 (Bravo 70, Warrican 11)
Warrican is doing better than just grimly hanging on now and punishes Hazlewood for a resounding four over point. The crowd is...not exactly going wild.
96th over: West Indies 254-9 (Bravo 70, Warrican 5)
Warrican cracks Lyon over mid-wicket to bring up the West Indies’ 250, which is greeted with the kind of applause normally reserved for Sheffield Shield milestones.
95th over: West Indies 247-9 (Bravo 66, Warrican 2)
Steve Smith is fed up with this final partnership and invites Josh Hazlewood across to replace Siddle. He doesn’t make a breakthrough either.
94th over: West Indies 245-9 (Bravo 65, Warrican 1)
Again Lyon can’t quite get at Warrican and the over costs just a single to Bravo. Not long until tea, that magical point of the day in which I can update you on Shane Warne’s party pie consumption.
93rd over: West Indies 244-9 (Bravo 64, Warrican 1)
Siddle’s still charging in and working himself into a lather of sweat but he can’t quite wrinkle out Warrican, who in following with the general pattern of this West Indies innings actually looks more solid than some members of the top order. Siddle’s muttering to himself as the over ends. He hasn’t had much luck in this game.
92nd over: West Indies 240-9 (Bravo 61, Warrican 0)
Okay, time for a Nathan Lyon 5-fer. But first he needs to get the abstemious Bravo off strike. He can’t and Bravo clips two out to third man from the final ball of the over so it’s Peter Siddle who’ll get a clear run at mopping this up.
91st over: West Indies 242-9 (Bravo 63, Warrican 0)
Peter Siddle gets the first crack at new man Jomel Warrican after an early single to Bravo and the number eleven holds his own just fine, defending with relative ease and surviving until the end of the over.
@rustyjacko are you under the influence of @GeoffLemonSport "Michelle 5 for"
— phil withall (@phil_withall) December 28, 2015
Nope, pure R. Jackson there, Phil.
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90th over: West Indies 239-9 (Bravo 60, Warrican 0)
Lyon has done the trick again and now has 4-55 from his 24 overs and will hope this pair hangs on for one more over so he can bring up a Michelle 5-for.
WICKET! Taylor c Nevill b Lyon 15 (West Indies 239-9)
Lyon claims Taylor! And it’s a classic off-spinner’s dismissal, drawing the batsman forward into a prod and taking his outside edge before Nevill snaffles a handy catch as the ball rises towards his chest.
Updated
89th over: West Indies 236-8 (Bravo 57, Taylor 15)
Taylor now biffs away at Siddle too, taking the aerial route for a boundary out to cow. That one came down with snow on it but bounced a few times before hitting the rope.
88th over: West Indies 231-8 (Bravo 56, Taylor 11)
Can we have a return of the Big Bash streaker from last night please? Or Peter Hore? I bet Peter Hore would bowl Chinamen. Anyway, we have to make do with Jerome Taylor’s artless slaps off James Pattinson. They’ve pushed him to double figures now.
87th over: West Indies 228-8 (Bravo 55, Taylor 9)
Ooh, Hazlewood’s actually going for runs now. Taylor gets after him with three through cover to get off the mark and there’s a pair of singles for Bravo too. There’s two more to Taylor wide of point and then a boundary in the same region so it’s a veritable run-glut off The Big Haze. With the arrival of the giant Gatorade bottle on wheels the bowler can at least grab a drink.
Updated
86th over: West Indies 217-8 (Bravo 53, Taylor 0)
I missed almost all of that Pattinson over in the process of grabbing a drink and giving Geoff Lemon some tips about his personal brand. I’ll try and get him over to my desk later and unleash him in some way. He’s a wonderful, hairy man.
85th over: West Indies 216-8 (Bravo 52, Taylor 0)
Hazlewood’s been a real miser in this game and his parsimonious efforts continue in this over to Taylor, who is swinging like a rusty gate late in the over and almost sending an edge through to the cordon. Their ranks might swell if there’s more of that.
There are few things that fill me with more dread than Warne starting a sentence with “Just to finish on that earlier point…” #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
84th over: West Indies 215-8 (Bravo 51, Taylor 0)
Jerome Taylor steps into the firing line for the tourists and is greeted with a slightly predictable round of chin music from Pattinson, who now has 3-58 from 19 probing overs.
WICKET! Roach lbw Pattinson 22 (West Indies 215-7)
Roach is gawn! There’s a huge cheer around the MCG when replays reveal that Pattinson’s avoided a third no-ball-wicket of the day and replays reveal it would have cannoned into middle stump half way up. I’m not even sure you could say that it was “worth a try” to review that. Two balls earlier Burns had reacted slowly to miss another chance at short leg. He’s had a dirty day in there but the Aussies have their second wicket of the day.
Updated
REVIEW! Pattinson's trapped Roach in front but the batsman reviews it!
He was given out, in other words. It looks plumb
83rd over: West Indies 213-7 (Bravo 51, Roach 20)
Hazlewood concedes just a single to Roach as this game heads into that zone you may recognise by phrases such as “wanna head off to the bar for a while?”
Darren Bravo brings up his half-century!
82nd over: West Indies 212-7 (Bravo 51, Roach 19)
James Pattinson is back at the Southern stand end of the ground and after Roach tucks a single, Darren Bravo drives three to bring up a hard-earned fifty, which took him 154 deliveries and featured five boundaries. He’s really showed a few of his teammates the way today by suppressing his batting ego and putting his head down.
What’s your favourite bowler-batsman combination that differs by only one letter? I’m going with Lyon to Lynn. Just ahead of Cork to Cook.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
81st over: West Indies 207-7 (Bravo 48, Roach 17)
Hazlewood’s back into the fray from the member’s end and steps up to the plate with his usual stuff; a maiden. Phil Withall has written in as well with some sound advice: “Following on from the masterful obituary (76th over) I think it should be compulsory for all future obituaries to include the name of one person the deceased truly didn’t like,” he says. “It would be so much better than the usual politeness and platitudes.” It would certainly spice Wisden up a bit, Phil.
80th over: West Indies 207-7 (Bravo 48, Roach 17)
Encouraged by his partner’s ascendency Bravo cocks his wrists and flogs Lyon high over mid-off for a boundary but a ball later he’s done all ends up when the offie sends one though both his defences and the gloves of Nevill behind the stumps. That really spat up off the pitch. Roach’s fun continues a few balls later when he swipes another meaty blow out to the boundary at cow corner. The over ends with a review of a ‘catch’ by Khawaja at silly point but Roach clearly hit it into the ground and not his boot. That was just a tactical review by the Aussies and their tactic appears to be: ‘let’s break the boredom a little’.
Interesting you say?
Things about to get interesting in #AUSvWI as second new ball about to come. Can these 2 eke out another 10-15 overs ?
— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) December 28, 2015
79th over: West Indies 198-7 (Bravo 43, Roach 13)
Smith brings himself back on for a bowl and Roach likes the look of his leggies, stepping down the track to belt four over cow and then another along the carpet through extra cover. Party time at the MCG.
78th over: West Indies 190-7 (Bravo 43, Roach 5)
Roach is finding his feet a little now and drives lavishly for no run to the man at mid off but picks up three later in the over when he belts one out to backward square leg. Maybe he’ll be as big a nuisance as Brathwaite. The Windies should just reverse their batting order.
77th over: West Indies 187-7 (Bravo 43, Roach 2)
Crash! Darren Bravo’s noted our criticism and responded, now clattering Peter Siddle for a boundary through mid-off with a lovely drive. There’s three more through cover when he shifts onto a the back foot a few balls later. The Burns genuinely does put down a catch when Roach flicks another chance straight into his hands. He didn’t even have to move them. Siddle is spewin’ but maintains his composure, mops his brow of sweat and carries on.
Nathan Lyon to Darren Bravo in Test cricket: 243 balls 69 runs 206 dots 2 dismissals #AUSvWI #CricViz @CricketAus
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 28, 2015
76th over: West Indies 179-7 (Bravo 36, Roach 1)
Bravo’s innings now amounts to 36 from 132 deliveries as Lyon starts his 21st over of the innings and he’s doing nothing to usurp my favourite moment of this game so far; when former Victorian and South Australian batsman Paul Nobes tweeted me confirming he wore old-fashioned Reg Grundies and not a jockstrap when he batted. Bravo finishes the over with three leg byes around the corner. Paul Nobes would have got bat on it, I bet.
I’m crossing sports for items of interest now.
Winner for Sports Fan Obituary Of The Year pic.twitter.com/lwdVdd0xtw
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 28, 2015
75th over: West Indies 176-7 (Bravo 36, Roach 1)
Drop! Ooh, not really. Burns has just had it hit his hands at short leg, more than anything. Siddle was full ans straight to Roach and the batsman flicked it firmly off his pads towards the man in close but it’s bounced out of his hand. That would have been a gem if he’d grasped it.
74th over: West Indies 175-7 (Bravo 35, Roach 1)
A maiden from Lyon, who shows Roach his repertoire but doesn’t tempt him into anything rash. I’ll probably get into trouble to linking to a rival but if you haven’t seen it yet, check out this fascinating and heartbreaking profile on Paul Melville, the Victorian batsman who died right when he was starting to blossom.
73rd over: West Indies 175-7 (Bravo 35, Roach 1)
Peter Siddle pairs with Lyon after the break and he gets a good look at Kemar Roach on account of Bravo’s early single past point. There’s a gaping hole at cover encouraging the tailender to blast away but so far he’s keeping a cool head and shaping for strokes along the ground and finishes the over by tucking a single down to fine leg to get off the mark.
72nd over: West Indies 173-7 (Bravo 35, Roach 0)
Okay folks, apologies for the silence but I’ve had a few technical difficulties but we’re back on and Nathan Lyon has finished up his pre-lunch over without incident.
Lunch on day one - it's been the tourists' morning
And I never thought I’d say that but there you go. The Brathwaite wicket means lunch is called a couple of minutes early and the batsman trudges off a little dejected, even if he’s been his side’s best performer by far. If it doesn’t bother you lot, I might go and grab a quick lunch.
@rustyjacko for readers in Britain. Hamish and Andy are the Australian Ant and Dec. Sort of..
— phil withall (@phil_withall) December 28, 2015
Phil, I think slightly less of you for this, even if you’re correct.
WICKET! Brathwaite c&b Lyon 59 (West Indies 173-7
Lyon gets the breakthrough! And I think I just mozzed Carlos Brathwaite, whose lovely debut hand ends when he shovels one back towards Lyon, who dives acrobatically to his right to real in a sharp return chance.
71st over: West Indies 172-6 (Bravo 34, Brathwaite 59)
Steve Smith’s got plenty of loop and a tiny bit of drift away from the left handed Bravo but he draws a thick edge it’s sliding well left of the man at slip and there’s plenty of other runs on offer as the first break draws close. It’s been an excellent session for the tourists thusfar, with 81 runs added without further loss.
70th over: West Indies 166-6 (Bravo 30, Brathwaite 57)
Nathan Lyon’s brought back on as well so we’ve got tandem spin for the first time in the West Indies’ first innings. Okay, so I’m safe to eat the party pies again then:
Hamish & Andy face Shane Warne. Is The Cricket Show eligible for a Nobel Prize? #AUSvWI
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) December 28, 2015
For international readers wondering who Hamish and Andy are...actually I won’t even bother. As you were.
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69th over: West Indies 165-6 (Bravo 26, Brathwaite 56)
Steve Smith gives his bowlers the ultimate diss – or perhaps just attempts to conserve some of their energy as lunch approaches – by bringing himself on for a bowl at the Member’s end. Brathwaite takes him for two and then one before Bravo has another ‘Awakenings’ moment, suddenly snapping to life in whacking Smith through mid-off for four.
68th over: West Indies 156-6 (Bravo 30, Brathwaite 53)
Pattinson gets through an entire over without creating a social media storm. Bravo and Brathwaite both get a single. Will Macpherson, the gentleman, scholar and regular OBOer, has dropped by to distract me after touching down in Melbourne after a long-haul flight. Excuse me as I ask him about the films he watched. Jumanji?
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67th over: West Indies 154-6 (Bravo 25, Brathwaite 52)
That $1138 fine for unruly fan behaviour still applies according to the MCG scoreboard, but perhaps its time to add an incentive of similar levels if anybody in the stands can come onto the ground and dismiss Carlos Brathwaite without over-stepping the line. More insider gossip: someone from Channel Nine has just come into the press box requesting a pair of shorts for Shane Warne, which means he’s either having a trundle in the lunch break or that the party pies in the canteen are NQR.
66th over: West Indies 151-6 (Bravo 24, Brathwaite 50)
The over ends with Pattinson managing to avoid taking another wicket off a no-ball. There was no doubt about it this time, either.
He's done it again! Pattinson has Brathwaite caught in the deep ... and it's another no ball! That was a big one pic.twitter.com/NCbCBqM0oP
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2015
Another no ball wicket from Pattinson!
Dear oh dear! Brathwaite slogged him around the corner where Peter Siddle took a slick catch at fine leg but yet again, Pattinson has massively overstepped in the process of taking a wicket. You know what? He does it a lot at training and when you do it there, chances are you’ll do it in games too. The Brathwaite show continues!
65th over: West Indies 150-6 (Bravo 24, Brathwaite 50)
Darren Bravo reverts to type in this over, leaving, nudging and nurdling his way through six of Mitchell Marsh’s best. It’s just dawned on me that we’re probably going to a fourth day now, barring some spectacular collapses. An achievement of sorts for the tourists.
64th over: West Indies 150-6 (Bravo 24, Brathwaite 50)
Maybe this Brathwaite cameo has dented Bravo’s ego a little so he makes a move himself against the returning Pattinson, leaning into a crisp straight drive to pick up a boundary down the ground and then turning a single to leg.
Here’s a stat for lovers of obscure West Indians...
Carlos Braithwaite @TridentSportsX is the first @westindies all-rounder/bowler to reach 50 in debut inns since Ryan Hinds in 2001-02 #AusvWI
— Jesse Hogan (@Jesse_Hogan) December 28, 2015
63rd over: West Indies 145-6 (Bravo 19, Brathwaite 50)
Steve Smith’s had enough of the Carlos Brathwaite fun so puts a forward square leg plus a couple of short mid-wickets in place and requests that Mitchell Marsh bowl a straighter line. He does that but Brathwaite resists the urge for further biff and sees off a maiden.
I also want Brathwaite to make a century both on bowling and batting debut. #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
62nd over: West Indies 145-6 (Bravo 19, Brathwaite 50)
Boof! Brathwaite steps down the track to Lyon and smashes a drive that almost takes out the legs of his partner on the way to the fence and two balls later he goes one better, languidly cracking a six over the fence at long on before reaching 50 with a single in the same direction. It’s been lovely stuff from Brathwaite. That half-century took 93 balls and featured two boundaries and a six. He couldn’t make a hundred on debut, could he? Suddenly we have a major point of interest.
Look out! Now Brathwaite brings up his half century on debut! Great stuff. LIVE: https://t.co/crPlBfWJkr #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/MxAf0dIkVf
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2015
61st over: West Indies 134-6 (Bravo 19, Brathwaite 39)
A two to Brathwaite at the start of this Marsh over brings up a very unusual 50-run partnership between this batting pair. It came from 122 deliveries and Brathwaite made 76% of its runs himself.
60th over: West Indies 131-6 (Bravo 19, Brathwaite 36)
Another Nathan Lyon over slides by without major incident, just a single to Brathwaite, now the highest scorer in the West Indies innings and thinking back on his whole-hearted efforts with the ball, their best trier of the game so far.
59th over: West Indies 130-6 (Bravo 19, Brathwaite 35)
Mitchell Marsh is on for another bowl after a brief appearance last night from the Southern stand end. This time he’s on the Member’s side and Brathwaite has a quick look before getting after him, picking up two and then blasting three through cover. He’s streaking away from the dour Bravo but his stroke-making is finally contagious and Bravo plays a miscued pull straight over Marsh’s head for four. He certainly didn’t mean it to land there but it’s done the job. Hopefully that gets him going.
Bravo to score the fastest double century in Test history now. #AUSvWI
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 28, 2015
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58th over: West Indies 121-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 30)
There’s not much happening out in the middle so here’s a bit of gossip for you: apparently West Indies team management are getting a little shirty at the way certain Caribbean members of the touring press are covering this series. Are they really surprised that their countrymen aren’t doing cartwheels over the team’s performances? It’s not PR... Lyon’s over costs three to Brathwaite, who mercifully retains strike as we pause for a drink.
57th over: West Indies 118-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 27)
Maybe Carlos Brathwaite should be batting in the top six. This is far more determined stuff than Marlon Samuels has managed. He absorbs half an over of Peter Siddle here and then sets off on a quick single after dropping the ball to short cover.
56th over: West Indies 117-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 26)
There’s another single to Brathwaite as Lyon continues to probe away and the over finishes with a throaty appeal when the spinner thinks he’s pinned Bravo in front but Nigel Llong’s having none of it. He’s a masochist. Give us something to cheer Nige.
55th over: West Indies 116-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 25)
This is not exactly thrilling cricket right now, I can’t lie. Brathwaite is looking more and more assured but he’s fallen into Bravo’s vortex, happy to merely exist out there rather than looking to score.
54th over: West Indies 115-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 24)
Brathwaite has another mild brush with disaster when Nevill whips the bails off for a stumping attempt but surely they didn’t need to review it as they have? His back foot was always down. Brathwaite gets a single, Bravo prods around without further score. He’s trying to do that Amla-de Villiers effort before Christmas I think.
53rd over: West Indies 114-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 23)
Peter Siddle was the hero yesterday when he thrilled his local crowd by going within a loose solid defence of a hat-trick and he’s back now from the Member’s end to replace Hazlewood. He’s operating to Brathwaite, who is looking every bit the batsman after his reprieve. Twitter tells me that Shane Warne is talking about Peter Siddle and bananas, so some things never change.
52nd over: West Indies 113-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 22)
Nathan Lyon’s on now from the Southern stand end with his off-spin and he performed his role beautifully yesterday with a couple of wickets to get Australia going. Brathwaite is relatively comfortable hanfling him for now and when he gets a shorter, straighter one he whips it past Burns’ nose at short leg to pick up three.
51st over: West Indies 110-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 19)
For those concerned by this type of thing, I’d estimate that there’s around 8,000 fans in the house right now and that’s possibly being generous. I’m still pretty doubtful that the 55,000 and 40,000 figures from the first two days were entirely accurate. Maybe Brathwaite will have another dash and give those here today their money’s worth.
I'm digging this stuff from Bravo. Cussed, obdurate. Cricket repurposing the phrase "no-hitter". #AusvWI
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 28, 2015
50th over: West Indies 107-6 (Bravo 15, Brathwaite 16)
We’re in a bit of a holding pattern here; singles to Brathwaite and Bravo’s stoic, bloody-minded determination to simply occupy the crease but eventually the latter is aroused enough by a Pattinson half-volley to clip two through cover.
49th over: West Indies 104-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 15)
Having passed his senior batting partner on the scoring front, Brathwaite forces a single from the first ball of this Hazlewood over to hand things over. Bravo is still dealing in more dots than a Dalmatian.
Eoin Sheehan in North county Dublin has a literally cracking update on Carlos Brathwaite. “On the subject of Carlos Braithwaite and getting ‘sconed’ he did star in this particular example from an Irish senior Cup Final a few years back during his tour of duty in Irish club cricket. His relative indifference to the prone batsman precipitated a near riot!” Blimey, this is ice cold. Parental advisory: this film depicts scenes of very casual violence.
48th over: West Indies 103-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 14)
With the no-ball drama done, Brathwaite pulls his head in a little and starts cutting the shape of a proper batsman, eventually clipping a single to leg so that Bravo can have a go. I’ve got a surprising update for you on that front: Bravo sees off a few dots balls. He’s 13 from 83 and never really looking to score.
@rustyjacko I think Stevie Wright's demons had nothing on the ones West Indian cricket is facing at the moment
— scottprobst (@scottp1964) December 27, 2015
A wicket from a no ball!
Oh dear, Pattinson’s cleaned up Brathwaite but he’s overstepped the line in his delivery stride so the towering tail-ender is called back by Nigel Llong. It was a huge play and miss from Brathwaite as he tried to heave towards cow but he’s been granted a let-off.
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47th over: West Indies 101-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 13)
Darren Bravo finally gets some strike to Hazlewood and picks up where he left off yesterday, blocking and leaving everything that comes his way.
46th over: West Indies 100-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 12)
Pattinson’s had enough of the Carlos Brathwaite show and scones the tail-ender on the head with a nasty bouncer and Steve Smith had to step backwards ten metres in the cordon to catch the rebound. Brathwaite recovers well enough to nudge the single that brings up the West Indies 100 from 278 balls.
45th over: West Indies 99-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 11)
Whack! I take back everything I said about Carlos Brathwaite. He’s just pasted Josh Hazlewood over extra cover in glorious style to bring up an early boundary. Later in the over there’s also some sloppy overthrows and Brathwaite gets three more.
44th over: West Indies 92-6 (Bravo 13, Brathwaite 4)
James Pattinson kicks things off on day three and produces a tidy opening over, in which Carlos Brathwaite waits patiently before scurrying through for a single. Might be better if Bravo’s on strike though, to be honest.
A musical tribute before we kick things off
I’m not sure Stevie Wright had the cricketing links of yer Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts types, but I’d be willing to bet that more than a few Aussie cricketers over the years enjoyed the late rock icon’s work. What a sad loss for Australian music.
Here he is as a young whippersnapper with The Easybeats.
Today’s blast from the past
And again it comes to you from the Melbourne Cricket Club library and their daily fact sheets. On the Windies’ first tour of Australia in 1930-31, their attack was led by 37-year-old Herman Clarence Griffith, who belied his advancing age and lack of express pace to lead all of his side’s bowlers in the Tests with 14 wickets at 29.07, becoming the first man to dismiss Bradman for a duck in Tests, henceforth referring to the great batsman as his “rabbit”. Maybe there’s hope for Carlos Brathwaite after all.
Side note: Greg Matthews is currently standing on the MCG outfield dancing. There’s no music playing. Now he’s getting Tom Moody to take a photo of him. Why doesn’t he have his own TV show? That’s what I want to know.
Preamble
“Are you ready to be heartbroken?” Lloyd Cole wrote it, now I’m thinking it. Hello OBOers and welcome to day three of the Boxing Day Test, where I’m now in the live-blogging position on the Member’s side of the ground, wondering whether Darren Bravo and some willing accomplice can stretch this thing to a fourth day. On the basis of what we saw yesterday afternoon it’s increasingly doubtful.
At least the sun is shining. It’s a cracking day for Test cricket in Melbourne and the Australian bowlers are out in the middle going through their warm-ups in anticipation of another fruitful day. Feel free to email me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com throughout proceedings or tweet me @rustyjacko
Russ will be here shortly. In the meantime, catch up on what happened on day two in Melbourne – another dominant day for Australia and another one to forget for the West Indies.
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