BRISBANE, Australia, 7 November 2005 — Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken returned best Test figures to spearhead Australia to one of their biggest victories over the West Indies, winning the first cricket Test by 379 runs with a day to spare at the Gabba here yesterday.
Lee finished with 5-30 and Bracken, playing in his fourth Test match, captured 4-48 as Australia routed the Caribbean tourists for 129 off 49 overs.
The heaviest West Indian Test loss by runs to Australia was 382 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1968-69. The Caribbean second innings capitulation recalled memories of their woeful 82 in the corresponding Test here on the last tour in 2000-01.
Australia’s win was more remarkable for the inability of their two match-winning bowlers, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, to take a wicket in the second innings.
Man-of-the-match Ponting conceded that the West Indies did not play well, but he praised Australia’s overall team performance.
Australia declared Sunday on their overnight total of 283 for two, leaving the West Indies with a record-breaking task of scoring 509 runs for victory.
They were nowhere near up to the task and capitulated once their champion batsman Brian Lara fell for 14 soon after lunch.
The West Indies dropped their last nine wickets for 76 in their downward spiral after their first innings 210 left them trailing by a massive 225 runs.
