Steven Smith’s 199 has contributed to Australia’s impregnable position © Getty Images
Australia‘s quality in batting and bowling seems overwhelming in comparison with that of West Indies, or at least experience and expertise. Ten of the 11 Australian batsmen failed to score 50, but Steven Smith took the responsibility and played with ease and intent. And his side’s bowling unit backed that up with regular wickets, with Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood taking three wickets each. LIVE UPDATES: West Indies vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 3, Kingston
Lyon went past Hugh Trumble to become Australia’s most successful offspinner. Smith, during his innings, went past 2000 runs for the last two years, the first person to do so in a two-year period.
The crumbling of West Indies’ batting line-up puts into perspective the decision to axe Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the squad for this Frank Worrell Trophy. But their team management seem to put forth the idea that to keep persisting with a person who isn’t scoring runs just due to lack of quality alternatives is a regressive approach, which is a positive step, but at least for the short term, West Indies will find filling his boots difficult.
Whether Australia enforce the follow-on if the tenth wicket is taken quickly, remains to be seen considering the workload and freshness of the bowling attack. But Michael Clarke is a positive captain: he will make efforts to get this contest over with quickly.
West Indies 143 for 8 (Blackwood 51, Hazlewood 3-15, Lyon 3-35) trail Australia 399 (Smith 199, Clarke 47, Taylor 6-47) by 256 runs