Australia v West Indies Second Test Report Card, Day Three

Featuring perspiration, turning weaknesses into strengths and infinite averages

Perspiration
Grade: F

Australia had nine wickets still to prise out, on a day when everybody in perspiring attendance agreed that Brisbane was utterly disgusting. (Also, it was very hot, from what we were told.)

It was hard work for the glistening Australian attack, as the West Indies knuckled down in their second innings, desperate to set a target that might make the home side sweat in a more metaphorical sense. What would be challenging? 250? 300? 511+23i? Seven gazillion? Infinity minus one? Yes, to all those numbers, and indeed, infinitely more.

But Australia chipped away, with Cameron Green bowling a chisel at Kraigg Brathwaite to have him caught at cover. Nathan Lyon then removed Kirk McKenzie, trapped LBW by one that the ball-tracking suggested would have sent the bails spinning.

Would it have knocked the bails off? Well, that’s very much a separate question, isn’t it?

Lyon then followed up by having Alick Athanaze caught at first slip by Steve Smith, a wicket he notably failed to celebrate with an exuberant backflip.

Advantage West Indies.