Aus v WI 2nd Test, Day 2 Review: MCG may witness yet another quick finish

The flat MCG surface remained easy paced for batting when Steve Smith and Adam Voges resumed on day 2. With a clear intent to stretch the lead, they played attractive strokes much to the delight of an ever-building crowd. Both did not pile up runs at quite the same rate seen in Hobart as the West Indian bowlers bowled more patient spells. There were a couple of anxious moments as a ball from Kemar Roach took Smith’s edge and flew to fine-leg while Voges skewed a Carlos Brathwaite delivery past slips just before lunch.

The West Indies were unable to get a breakthrough to follow up the dismissals of Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja late on the first day, as the two batsmen batted solidly. Smith’s hundred, his sixth of the year, was marked by a subdued celebration, but Voges was far more animated after reaching his 4th hundred of a debut Test year in which he has passed 1000 runs in a mere 12 matches. The captain declared Australia’s first innings soon after his partner reached the milestone. Smith 134* while Voges’ 106* deflated the visitors to no end.

Left just under an hour to bat before tea, Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika managed to keep out Australia’s bowlers for 14 overs while adding 33 careful runs. After tea, the familiar pattern of the series continued. The Australian bowlers found their rhythm while the West Indian batsmen seem to have lost theirs.

A Beautifully tossed up delivery on off stump from Nathan Lyon bounced and dipped on Brathwaite, who came forward to defend but played with hard hands and inside edged the ball to forward short leg. Chandrika padded up to a reverse-swinging ball from James Pattinson and was given out. The batsman reviewed it guessing height as the only issue however ball-tracking confirmed the ball hitting the top of middle stump.

Samuels got a perfectly pitched delivery from Pattinson which was quick and darted back to hit his pad right in front of middle stump as he looked to defend with feet rooted to the crease. The umpire had no hesitation in lifting his finger and the batsman decided against a review. The ball-tracking on this occasion, to everyone’s surprise, showcased the ball completely missing the stumps.

Blackwood was looking good on 28 having smashed 4 fours and 1 six. The same over in which he lofted Lyon for a maximum, he decided to use his feet again which brought his downfall. Looking to whip it down the ground he ended up offering a simple return catch to the off-spinner.

Siddle charged in and got two in two to get the MCG buzzing. Denesh Ramdin’s flick in the air landed in the hands of Burns while a full pitched delivery cleaned up Jason Holder. The ball straightened past the outside edge to peg back off stump which reduced the visitors to 83/6. Darren Bravo remained unbeaten on 13 off 75 in a strange innings after the fluent one he played in Hobart. Debutant Carlos Brathwaite survived 8 balls as the Windies ended the day on 91/6.

Brief Scores:

Australia – 551/3d (U Khwaja 144, S Smith 134*; J Taylor 2/97)

West Indies – 91/6 (J Blackwood 28; N Lyon 2/18, P Siddle 2/19)

West Indies trail 460 runs