But Marsh (182) ensured his spot after his 449-run stand with man of the match Adam Voges (269no) in Hobart – a new Test record for the fourth wicket.
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The innings and 212-run loss was a sixth straight test defeat for West Indies after they lost both matches in a home series against Australians earlier this year and were swept 2-0 in Sri Lanka in October.
Josh Hazlewood took seven wickets in the match and James Pattinson five for 27 in the second innings, with impressive individual efforts by the tourists’ Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite in vain.
Six years ago Daren Ganga, then Trinidad and Tobago captain, who played 48 Tests for West Indies between 1998 and 2008, made a similar point.
“In many ways Test cricket, where the contest isn’t as tight, it’s also about great Australian cricketers taking their opportunities to step up”.
The West Indies have won just four of their last 21 Tests and are ranked above only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Pattinson is aware that the new action, that saw him sustain a hamstring injury when he first returned to top-level cricket last summer as it placed stresses on different parts of his body, was tailor-made to help prevent future back problems.
Australia players celebrate after taking a wicket on the third day of their test win against the West Indies.
OF all the harrowing days the West Indies have endured on the Test grounds of the world over the past couple of decades, and, heaven knows, they have been plentiful and persistent, none was as horrific as the opening day of the series against Australia in Hobart on Thursday.
“Usman’s first got to be fit – if he’s not fit he won’t play, there’s no doubt about that”, Lehmann said.
Voges, who resumed on 174, finished unbeaten on 269 after Steven Smith declared the innings closed during the lunch break.
Asked if he would be comfortable using Khawaja as an opener, Lehmann said: “I would, but the captain might not want that”. I just felt we have too many good spurts of cricket we’re not continuing on through the duration of the game. “The ball is coming out beautifully out of my hand in the nets and I’ve been working hard”, said Lyon, who is playing in his 50th Test match.
Hazlewood (4-45) took the lead as the hosts wrapped up West Indies’ innings with only 16 runs added to their overnight tally of 207-6 on a chilly morning in Tasmania. In this time of crisis, we can not afford to sit back and keep doing the same things over and over again.
Does Khawaja come back in?
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The effect was devastating as Pattinson removed Rajendra Chandrika (0), Darren Bravo (4), Marlon Samuels (3), Jermaine Blackwood (0) and Jason Holder (17) to rip the heart out of the West Indian innings. The next test will begin in about two weeks so there is a lot of time.
