Australia v West Indies

At Melbourne, December 30, 31, January 2, 3. Australia won by seven wickets with a day to spare. A disastrous third day lost West Indies the match.

Benaud did Australia good service by winning the toss in excessive heat, but they lost eight wickets for 251 before MacKay and Martin, on his Test debut, added 97. Misson also played his first game for Australia. Martin, chosen mainly for his left-arm slow bowling, made 50 in only seventy minutes.

West Indies lost Solomon to the last ball of the day and with Hunte out third ball next morning, two wickets were down for one run. Then Kanhai and Nurse improved matters a little. Kanhai dominated the play and West Indies reached 108 for two before rain ended cricket for the day.

The pitch was covered, but heavy rain seeped through. Conditions were a little more difficult, but not bad enough to account for the West Indies failures on the third day. Kanhai and Nurse carried their stand to 123 but the remaining nine batsman made only 25 runs between them.

A crowd of 65,000 saw West Indies follow on 167 behind. Solomon was out hit wicket when his cap fell on the stumps and Hunte alone did anything of real note until Alexander joined him with five men out for 99.

Next morning these two increased their stand to 87, but Australia needed only 67 to win. With Hall bowling at his fastest they lost three wickets for 30 before Simpson and Favell saw them home.