Toss: West Indies. Test debut: CO Browne.

The final Test was settled by a partnership to be cherished in Australian history, the pinnacle of the cricketing lives of Steve and Mark Waugh. In a series featuring only one other century, Steve scored 200 and Mark 126. They added 231 in 57 overs to bankroll the innings victory that regained the Frank Worrell Trophy, surrendered by Simpson`s team in 1977-78, and ended West Indies' 15 years without a series defeat.

Batting was meant to be easy on a shiny pitch of rolled mud, as polished as a dance-room floor. When Richardson won his fourth consecutive toss it looked like a decisive advantage: West Indies` first 100 whistled by in 20 overs, with Lara running up a scorching fifty. Quite unexpectedly, he fell for 65, caught behind. It was the first time Warne had dismissed him in eight Tests. Richardson remained, patiently crafting the first hundred of the series before he was eight out at 251. A moderate total of 265 was West Indies` best in the four Tests and next day Australia were teetering at 73 for three when Steve Waugh joined Mark. From then on, the home side spiralled towards oblivion.

The Waughs hit their stride almost immediately, smacking 67 from 11 overs after lunch. One by one they repelled the pace brigade; the buoyant West Indians were suddenly under siege. Winston Benjamin sat weeping during the drinks break and had to be cajoled to continue; Ambrose bowled only 11 overs in the day, amid whispers of team disunity, and the underachieving Kenny Benjamin was hooted on arrival at the bowling crease. Sabina Park was stunned and some of the Waughs` best boundaries went unapplauded. They applauded each other`s centuries (their eighth Test hundreds in both cases) reached by Mark in 146 balls and Steve in 183 – and shook hands, but no more. Mark had left behind his gambler`s hat to play a low–risk game. His bravest stroke was a contemptuous laid–back dab off Walsh over the slips for four. He pulled and drove with great rhythm. As usual, Steve hit almost everything along the ground, displaying some attractive back-foot cover drives. He gave just one chance, on 42, when he was grassed by debutant wicketkeeper Courtney Browne (a late replacement for Murray, who was ill).

Mark fell on the second evening but Steve was 110 at stumps. He retired to his room to get some sleep, after being woken the previous night by a thief. Next day, supported by Blewett and the tail, he advanced to a maiden double-hundred in Tests. He was last out after batting for close on ten hours and 425 balls, more than 150 short-pitched, and had 17 fours, one six and six aching bruises at the end of his greatest innings.

West Indies faced 14 overs that night; their doom was all but certain when Reiffel dismissed three. Their last chance was the weather, but rain restricted itself to the rest day. Only nightwatchman Winston Benjamin and Browne passed 20 and Warne took the last four wickets – his best return of the tour – to complete the West Indians` shattering defeat.

Man of the Match: SR Waugh. Man of the Series: SR Waugh.

Close of play: First day, West Indies 265; Second day, Australia 321–4 (SR Waugh 110*, GS Blewett 6*); Third day, West Indies 63–3 (JC Adams 13*, WKM Benjamin 1*).

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