Australia v West Indies

This was the third Test in succession to end inside four day and Australia were worthy winners.

After their triumphs in Perth, the West Indies obviously felt that they could go on playing the same way, but the pitches in the east of the country, and especially in Melbourne, are different in character and in this case very much slower.

There was some moisture in the surface, the seam bowlers found some movement and the West Indies were really beaten by Thomson and Lillee on the first day. In this match the difference in approach of the Australians and the West Indians was very noticeable. If ever the West Indies could match the determination of the Australians they would win more Tests, but they would not be so entertaining.

It was very unfortunate for the West Indies that after his success as Roberts' partner at Perth, Holding was not fit to play, and so Holder, who had recovered from injury, came into the side and Greenidge returned in place of Boyce, while Julien dropped down the order.

Australia's selectors brought in Cosier to strengthen the batting and left out Gilmour, feeling that Walker would be the better third seamer on his own ground.

It was hoped that on the first day, Boxing Day, there would be Australia's first-ever crowd of over 100,000, but the lure of the beaches was still strong enough to keep it down to 85,596.

The West Indies made a bad start against Thomson, who bowled just about as fast as one could imagine a human being propelling a cricket ball and the lift he found from only fractionally short of a length proved too much for the West Indies. Fredericks made 59 rather uncertain runs in two hours, twenty-two minutes and Richards made an entertaining 41, which contained some thrilling strokes, but it was not enough.

The pitch was quieter on the second day and Roberts was not the force he had been a Perth. Although Redpath was at once subjected to plenty of short stuff, he ducked and weaved in his own effective way and went on to complete an important century for Australia and one which underlined the value which he has been to Australia over many years.

His century took five and a quarter hours, a fact which speaks for itself and although Turner, McCosker, who was having a bad series, and Ian Chappell did not make many runs, Cosier enjoyed a wonderful début. After being nearly lbw to Julien early on, he overcame his nervousness and played some fine strokes off back and front foot, although at the start of the innings most of his runs came past gully.

His hundred in his first Test Match came in just under four hours and both Greg Chappell and Marsh reached good fifties, taking Australia to a lead of 261.

The West Indies made another bad start, losing Greenidge, Fredericks and Rowe for only 48 and although Lloyd hit a century the next day it was in a lost cause, for wickets continually fell at the other end. The West Indies were beaten by the better side in the conditions, but their batsmen's refusal to concentrate and fight and to discipline their urge to play strokes all the time made life relatively easy for Australia.