Australia vs. West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 1: Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja Dominate
When West Indies won the toss at the second Test, sticking hosts Australia in to bat seemed the right thing to do.
The pitch at the MCG in Melbourne looked a little green, and the tourists had struggled with the bat in losing the series opener by an innings.
Therefore, Holder's decision after calling correctly made perfect sense, provided his bowlers performed.
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Sadly for the visiting skipper, they didn't. Australia piled on 345 for three on Boxing Day, with opening batsman Joe Burns making 128 and Usman Khawaja marking his return from injury with 144.
Here, Bleacher Report picks out some of the talking points from Day 1 at the Test:
Back in the Groove
Despite his form in 2015, Khawaja must have felt a little pressure on his comeback to the Test team.
The left-hander had started the Australian summer with centuries in the first two matches of the series against New Zealand, suggesting he was the long-term option to bat at three in the order.
However, a strained hamstring complicated things.
Khawaja sat out the final Test against the Kiwis, as well as the first match against the West Indies in Hobart. Shaun Marsh (see below) replaced him and made runs, lots of runs, in fact.
Yet the selectors showed faith, bringing Khawaja straight back into the side following a hundred for Sydney Thunder in the domestic Big Bash League.
His return couldn't have gone much better, as the Pakistan-born batsman simply picked up from where he had left off.
His third Test ton, which included six fours and a solitary six, only came to an end when he was strangled down leg, caught behind by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin as he looked to tuck the ball off his hip.
As Jacob Kuriype of Fox Sports pointed out, Khawaja's numbers for the summer of 2015 are ridiculous: "He now has three centuries in his last three Tests, a feat that had previously been achieved by only 13 Australians, and in between those hundreds he scored another for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, meaning his average from his last four matches in any form of the game is 185.67."
The Curious Case of Shaun Marsh
Poor Shaun Marsh. The 32-year-old has had an in-and-out Test career, as in he's been in and then out of the XI.
Drafted back into the side to replace the injured Khawaja, the left-hander made a vital 49 in Australia's successful run chase in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.
Marsh then produced a career-best knock of 182 in the series opener against the West Indies, during which he shared in a mammoth 449-run stand with Adam Voges.
Yet despite his contributions, Khawaja's return to fitness saw Marsh cast aside again. From the highest of highs came the lowest of lows—dropped for the Boxing Day Test.
Australia captain Steve Smith offered a late contender for most obvious statement of 2015, according to Cricket Australia's Twitter feed:
Unlucky? The man's last innings for his country saw him share in the sixth-highest Test partnership of all time. To be left out after such a feat just seems cruel.
So, instead of lining up in one of the biggest games in the cricketing calendar, the Western Australian had to sit and watch as his team-mates piled on the runs at the MCG.
Poor Shaun Marsh.
Opening Offer
Marsh's runs in Hobart, coupled with Khawaja's comeback, put Burns in the spotlight.
The right-hander's runs for Australia had dried up since making 71 and 129 in the opening Test against New Zealand in Brisbane at the start of November.
He was by no means out of form, but Burns was the batsman whose place was most under threat.
The selectors, though, were repaid for their faith in the Queenslander. Burns combined with the returning Khawaja to put on a second-wicket stand worth 258 on Day 1 against the West Indies.
Brydon Coverdale of ESPN Cricinfo made note of Burns' celebrations when he reached three figures:
"To see the reaction of Burns was to understand how tenuously he felt he was holding his place in this side. When he reached his maiden Test hundred against New Zealand at the Gabba last month, Burns' celebration was subdued, he soaked it all in like the level-headed individual that he is. But this time it was different. Having completed the third run, he tore off towards mid-off, ripped off his helmet and gave it a kiss, full of emotion, full of relief.
"
The show of emotion was an outpouring of relief. The weight of concern over his place in the XI has been lifted from his shoulders, for the immediate future at least.
Australia's post-Christmas selection headache had been solved by their two centurions on December 26.
What Next in the Test?
Just like in the first Test, the end of the opening day has you wondering when, rather than if, Australia secure victory.
Holder's decision at the toss failed to provoke a response from his team-mates, and now the tourists are looking down the barrel of conceding a big score in Melbourne.
Australia captain Steve Smith ominously moved to 32 not out by stumps, while the in-form Adam Voges—fresh off an unbeaten double century in the last match—was alongside his skipper on 10 not out.
West Indies managed scores of just 223 and 148 to lose by an innings in Hobart.
There is little to suggest their batting has dramatically improved since the first Test, so do not count on the Test reaching Day 5. Even Day 4 could be a stretch, if Australia's bowlers are in the right mood.
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