Melbourne , December 27 : Australia’s run gluttons feasted in unprecedented fashion but there was nothing but failure and frustration for West Indies on day two of the Boxing Day Test.
Steve Smith, one of four Australian centurions in a total of 3-551, declared on Sunday as records tumbled at the MCG.
James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon grabbed two wickets each to reduce the visitors to 6-91 at stumps.
The visitors’ collapse of 6-48 seemed as inevitable as it was ignominious.
Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder were all out for ducks. Siddle was on a hat-trick after dismissing keeper Ramdin and skipper Holder.
It’s not quite a carbon copy of the first Test at Hobart, where Australia won by an innings and 212 runs, but there are plenty of similarities.
Already the series is shaping as one of the most lopsided between the two sides.
The hosts resumed at 3-345 on day two, a commanding platform built by centuries from Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja.
Smith and Adam Voges reached three figures in the middle session before the captain finally ended the carnage.
It is the first time ever that four Australian batsmen scored tons in a single Test innings in Australia.
Australia’s batting average for the series is 162 – the highest by any team that has faced at least 200 overs in any series ever.
West Indies’ bowling has been woefully ineffectual – they’ve snared six wickets and conceded 1134 runs in the series in two innings.
The Caribbean force achieved a 3-0 series win over Australia at home in 1984 without losing a second-innings wicket, something Smith’s men are well placed to achieve here.
Smith finished 134 not out, while Voges was unbeaten on 106.
Both men ticked off personal milestones and continued to punish Holder for sending the hosts in.
Voges moved past 1000 Test runs in his 18th Test innings – only three other Australians have done it in fewer knocks.
Smith capped a magnificent 2015 by posting his sixth Test ton of the year.
He is the leading run-scorer in the world this year with 1404 however Alastair Cook (1357) and Joe Root (1312) will have a chance to catch him when they bat for a second time in Durban.
The 26-year-old was proppy late in the morning session but otherwise settled throughout the dig.
He declared after the 135th over – having just reverse-swept a rare boundary. Smith stroked eight fours, while Voges hit 12 fours.
They were patient in a 223-run stand, both men picking off singles in response to Holder’s defensive fields.
Australia hold a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, having declared at 4-583 in their only dig at Hobart.
West Indies bowling coach Curtly Ambrose animatedly addressed his charges prior to play on Sunday but it had little effect.