How big a lead will Australia get? © Getty Images
West Indies, like on the first day, began well on the second. Jerome Taylor took early wickets to get his team back in the hunt, but Steven Smith scored his highest Test score — 199 — to steer Australia towards 399. The collapse by the jittery West Indian batting unit now makes this total look gargantuan. Offspinner Nathan Lyon and seamer Josh Hazlewood took three wickets each, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc took one each to reduce the hosts to 143 for 8. Live updates: West Indies vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 2 at Kingston
The hole that has been dug is not going to be easy to climb out of. Australia will look to wrap up the match as early as would be possible. In this situation, what West Indies could pragmatically hope to do is provide stiff resistance and churn out a draw. But given their showing in the five days of Test cricket in the series, they don’t inspire confidence.
But someone who did warm fans was Taylor. He took six wickets for 47 runs, and was the chief reason for Australia to be bowled out below 400. He will have a huge burden on his shoulders for their second innings, which should begin soon in the third day.
Brief Scores:
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