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Sydney: David Warner added some belated lustre to a bleak week after the West Indies are believed to have declined Australia's approach to manufacture a final-day run chase to add some interest to the rain-ruined third Test at the SCG that ended in a lifeless draw.
Warner, the only batsman in an Australia top-order that has gorged on lacklustre West Indies bowling not to have scored a century in the lop-sided series, warmed up for next week's ODI series against India by blazing his way to his 16th Test ton off just 82 balls.
It was the fastest Test century at the SCG.
Surprisingly, given the excesses that have been afforded by the West Indies bowlers of recent times it was the left-hander's first Test century against the once mighty Caribbean nations, and earned him the honour of Man of the Match.
Adam Voges, who was not required to bat in a match declared as Player of the Series that Australia won 2-0.
It is understood Australia captain Steve Smith held a discussion with his rival skipper Jason Holder prior to the final day resuming at 11.45am in which Smith floated a proposal that would have seen the tourists declare at their overnight total of 7-248 on which they had been marooned since day two.
After the start of the day's play was delayed by almost two hours because of more light rain, it took less than an hour and half for Australia's bowlers to claim the final three West Indies wickets with former skipper Denesh Ramdin top scoring with a painstaking 69 in almost three hours of batting.
At the fall of the final wicket, with the SCG enjoying a burst of sunshine not seen throughout the first four days of a sodden new year, the players who had been confined to their respective dressing rooms for the best part of three days returned to said sanctuary for a 40-minute lunch break.
When they returned, it was immediately obvious how the Australians planned to approach the remaining 53 overs with Warner and Joe Burns raising their 50-run opening stand from just 62 balls, of which the former plundered 40.
Warner's 50 came from 42 balls when he thumped spinner Jomel Warrican beyond the wide long-on boundary for the first of two sixes, and in the 16th over the century opening stand was posted at which point Burns chipped a catch to mid-on to be dismissed for 26.
The sight of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh coming through the gate to bat at number three confirmed the remaining overs were good only for batting practice given he had been deprived of opportunities and runs in the series to date.
The final footnote of futility was applied when a day, that could have been extended to 6pm had there been a meaningful result in the offing, was prematurely closed at 4.50pm in bright sunshine with Australia 2-176.
A decision that came about, unlike the manner in which the pointless day started, through agreement between the two captains.
Brief scores
West Indies - 330 (K Brathwaite 85, C Brathwaite 69, Ramdin 62, O'Keefe 3-63, Lyon 3-120)
Australia - 2 for 176 dec (Warner 122*)
Result - Draw
MOM - David Warner (Australia)
Player of the series - Adam Voges (Australia)
