Burns, Khawaja power Australia in second test

Burns (128) and Khawaja (144) shared a mammoth 258-run partnership as Australia took a stranglehold on the match.

3- Instances now in test cricket when 4 out of top 5 batsmen each have scored a century in an innings of a test game.

Carlos Brathwaite (three not out) kept out the hat-trick ball and he and Darren Bravo (13no) helped the away side through to the close without any more setbacks, but Australia will be hoping to wrap up the Windies’ first innings quickly on day three.

After questions over who would open with David Warner ahead of the second Test, Burns was again given the nod and he proved the selectors right with a 230-ball knock that included 17 boundaries.

James Pattinson ran over the West Indians before that spell from Siddle, taking two wickets in two consecutive overs.

Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika had negotiated a nervous hour to tea however their onerous work was undone straight after the break by Lyon.

Voges, who had also scored century in the first test, reached the 1000 test career runs in his 18th innings and made his average above 80, as he remained not out on 106.

So far in the series, Australia have amassed 776 runs for the loss of just five wickets as the home side looked to build another formidable first innings total. “If I get an opportunity to get in and score runs I’m trying to go as big as possible, stay hungry and stay ruthless”.

The 29 year-old Khawaja said it was hard to bat at the start but it got a lot easier in the middle session as the pitch flattened out.

Australia’s batting average in the series is 162, which is easily the highest for any team in a series. Australia picked up where it left off in the opening test, but unfortunately so did the Windies.

Chandrika held on for an additional half-hour however was out lbw for 25 off Pattinson after failing to play a shot. But Blackwood was out ten balls later for 28, offering Lyon a return catch.

That was not the end of the procession back to the Windies changing room either, with Siddle dismissing Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder for ducks off successive deliveries at the start of the 41st over.

Australia will retain the Frank Worrell trophy with a victory against the struggling tourists, who last won a Test in Australia nearly 18 years ago.

If Voges and Smith did not pile up runs at quite the same rate seen in Hobart, their security at the crease was seemingly unaffected by more patient spells from several West Indian bowlers.

“We were always talking about what’s coming up as well”, Smith said.