Australia vs. West Indies: Winners and Losers from 2nd Test
Hosts Australia wrapped up the Frank Worrell Trophy with a Test to spare thanks to a 177-run win over West Indies in Melbourne.
The tourists from the Caribbean put up more of a fight in the second Test, having been thrashed by an innings inside three days in the opener in Hobart.
However, Steve Smith's side still clinched victory with a day to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After declaring their second innings on 179 for three, leaving their opponents needing the small matter of 460, Australia chipped away with wickets throughout Day 4.
West Indies threatened to survive into Wednesday, only to lose their last five wickets for 32 runs. They were bowled out for 282.
Before the teams move on to Sydney for the third and final Test, Bleacher Report has picked out the winners and losers from Melbourne.
Winner: Joe Burns
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Joe Burns headed into the second Test under a little pressure.
The opening batsman had made a century in the first Test against New Zealand in November, but since then, a run of low scores (40, 0, 14, 11 and 33) left him worrying over his place at the top of the order.
However, Burns responded to the looming threat of losing his spot to the waiting Shaun Marsh with a century on Day 1 in Melbourne.
His knock of 128 on Boxing Day saw him share in a second-wicket stand of 258 with fellow centurion Usman Khawaja (more on him to come).
Loser: Kemar Roach
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West Indies paceman Kemar Roach has now bowled 37 overs in the series against Australia without managing to pick up a wicket. He is also going at 5.89 runs per over.
He is not alone in struggling for success in Australia (West Indies' leading bowler is spinner Jomel Warrican with three wickets), but more is expected of Roach, considering his Test average sits at 30.
However, the 27-year-old was so disappointing with the ball on Day 1 in Melbourne that skipper Jason Holder made him wait for a chance on Day 2, per ABC Grandstand on Twitter: "West Indies management told the ABC this morning that Kemar Roach is fit, but Holder wasn't satisfied with him so wouldn't bowl him."
Winner: Usman Khawaja
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Usman Khawaja marked his comeback from injury with a first-innings century in Australia's mammoth total of 551 for three declared.
The Pakistan-born batsman was drafted straight back in at three in the batting order after recovering from a hamstring strain picked up in the second Test of the recent home series against New Zealand.
Khawaja—who had shown he was fit to return with a hundred in the domestic Big Bash League—crashed 144 on Day 1 at the MCG.
The left-hander added 56 from 61 deliveries second time around. He will finish 2015 with an astonishing Test average of 126 for the calendar year.
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Losers: Australia's Seam Bowlers
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Australia's bowlers were forced to work a little harder than they had to in Hobart for wickets, but not just because the West Indies suddenly displayed a bit of backbone with the bat.
James Pattinson picked up a four-wicket haul in the first innings at the MCG, but he actually took six. He twice dismissed Carlos Brathwaite on Day 3 with illegal deliveries, as he paid dearly for no balls.
Josh Hazlewood was also guilty of overstepping in the touring side's second innings, denying him the wicket of Darren Bravo.
ESPN Cricinfo's Daniel Brettig pointed out in his Day 4 report: "The assistant coach Craig McDermott will be doubtlessly keeping a close watch on the crease line in training for the third Test in Sydney."
Winner: Darren Bravo
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Darren Bravo has done his best to defy Australia's bowlers in the series so far.
The left-hander followed up his century in the opening Test in Hobart with a dogged knock of 81 in the first innings in Melbourne. While wickets fell all around him, Bravo remained unmoved.
A second ton on the tour could have arrived had the Trinidadian not run out of partners. He was last man out after sticking around for just over six hours at the crease.
Brydon Coverdale of ESPN Cricinfo suggested Bravo—who modelled his game on Brian Lara—resembled another great batsman from the Caribbean on Day 3: "Six hours at the crease, 81 runs, no boundaries in his first hundred balls. This was a Shiv Chanderpaul of an innings."
Winner: Nathan Lyon
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Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was named man of the match after taking seven wickets in the second Test.
Lyon picked up four for 66 in West Indies' first innings, then followed up with three for 85 second time around. He now has a bowling average of 21.10 in the series.
According to captain Steve Smith—who had an excellent game himself, both with the bat and as a leader in the field—Lyon could be one of two slow bowlers picked for the final Test.
Per Daniel Brettig of ESPN Cricinfo, Smith said of the potential team for Sydney: "We'll wait and see what the pitch looks like and if the conditions are going to suit. If they do, there's a pretty good chance we could see a second spinner playing."
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