Formalities have ended and Australia have officially wrapped up the Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies in Melbourne, with the touring team showing some encouraging fight this time around.
While Australia dominated for about 90% of the game, the Windies were certainly not shamed, to the delight of even the harshest cricket sadists.
They batted for at least 80 overs in each innings for the first time since 2012, and topped 270 each time out also. But just how did each player fare in the Boxing Day Test?
Joe Burns – B+
Joe Burns hung on to his Test spot by the skin of his proverbials – a fact that was clearly not lost on him.
The 26 year-old opener made an impressive 128 in the first innings, but unfortunately gave his wicket away for just five in the second. However, his second century this summer reinforces he has a right to be in the Test team.
David Warner – D
Despite the brilliant summer he has had, not even David Warner could escape a well-deserved “D” for his wasteful performance at the MCG.
Out for just 23 and 17, Warner fell well below the team batting average of 162 this series. Disappointing.
Usman Khawaja – A
A spectacular return from Usman Khawaja truly highlighted the changed cricketer he is, hitting 144 in the first innings and 56 in the second.
Despite narrowly missing out on his 150, Khawaja showed what a few years wait to play test cricket can do for a player, proving that he has what it takes to be Australia’s fixture at the first drop position for the next few years.
Steve Smith – A+
After a few ordinary knocks in a row, Steve Smith celebrated his ICC Cricketer of the Year Award by hitting 134 and 70 – not out in both innings.
The captain led from the front with the bat in each innings, and has still failed to record a test loss as captain of Australia.
Adam Voges – A+
Adam Voges hit 106 not out in his only innings in the Melbourne Test, his second Test not out in a row and third overall.
Voges is 375 not out so far this series, showing that in his 14 years of first class cricket, he has learnt a thing or two about batting, despite having played only 12 Tests.
Mitchell Marsh – C+
Mitchell Marsh could easily have been dropped from the Test squad, but he has finally put in a reasonable performance; scoring 18 not out with the bat and taking four wickets in the match.
While he was promoted in the order in the second innings, his four second innings wickets of Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor were all important in the Australians keeping their opponents under 300.
James Pattinson – B+
James Pattinson continues to prove himself a wicket machine at Test level, taking four wickets in the first innings and tour in the second.
He dismissed Rajendra Chandrika twice, Darren Bravo one and Marlon Samuels once, proving that he is becoming an important bowler in the Australian lineup for dismissing high order batsmen.
Peter Siddle – C
With how competitive the Australian bowing lineup has become, Peter Siddle's Test career may very well be running on borrowed time.
He took two wickets in the first innings and one in the second, which are solid, but probably not enough to save him from the impending returns of young guns Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins.
Josh Hazlewood – F
Josh Hazlewood came crashing back down to Earth in a big way in Melbourne, managing not one wicket from his 41 overs.
Considering how well he has bowled of late, this test can largely be overlooked. As this writer has shown in the past though, there is no escaping an f when you deserve one.
Nathan Lyon – A
While watching the Test (and BBL05) from my couch the past few days, I wondered – could Nathan Lyon be Australia’s best bowler?
His total of seven wickets (the most of the Aussies) in the two innings of the MCG Test suggest that he possibly could be.
