Australia Dominate Day 2

If this were a boxing contest the West Indies corner would have already thrown in the towel, but in all honesty they would never have let the fight begin, as the Windies are seemingly competing well out of their weight division.

Both Australian openers scored centuries, and at stumps Australia are in a commanding position at 256/1. The only success the West Indian bowlers enjoyed came late in the day when Matthew Hayden fell for a well made 110.

Play was not possible before lunch, after persistent drizzle in the morning kept the players in the sheds. Once play did begin it was soon apparent that the Australian openers were intent on building a large partnership, with both Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey carefully playing themselves back in. The West Indian bowlers hardly beat the bat during the lunch to tea session. Australia went to the break at 113/0 with Hayden 45 not out and Hussey scoring his maiden Test fifty, 62 not out.

Both openers were in a much more aggressive frame of mind after the break, with both players hooking and driving with great power. Matthew Hayden showed glimpses of the form which made him one of the most devesting opening bats in the game, by occasionally going down the wicket and clubbing the fast bowlers over mid wicket.

During the last session both left handers brought up their personal centuries and the 200 was posted as well, at the very good rate of almost four an over. The highlight of the day was the debut century of Mike Hussey in just his second Test Match for Australia. After such a long wait for the call up to the colours Hussey celebrated in unbridled delight. A Matty Hayden ton was the fourth in as many Tests, a testament to the big Queenslanders fighting qualities. It was only five Test Matches ago that a number of experts and former players were calling for his Test sacking.

Finally late in the day the West Indies claimed a wicket when Dwayne Bravo caught Hayden off the bowling of Corey Collymore. Ricky Ponting resisted the temptation to send out a night watchman, and instead the Australian captain played out time finishing on 13 not out off 39 balls. Collymore was the pick of the bowlers keeping it tight and fully deserved to claim a wicket.

Rain would seem to be the only chance of the West Indies saving this the second of the three Test Match series. With the Australian middle order all requiring runs to try and keep their place in the side the West Indies can expect no easy wickets to come their way, in fact Hussey took fresh guard after reaching his century and has a proven appetite for the big score in first class cricket.

West Indies 149
Chris Gayle 56, Shivnarine Chanderpaul 39
Glenn McGrath 4/31, Stuart MacGill 3/18

Australia 256/1
Matthew Hayden 110, Mike Hussey 116*
Corey Collymore 1/34