Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy, but were left with a sour taste in their mouth after blowing a series whitewash in Brisbane as several players underperformed.
Steve Smith went some way to answering his critics as an opener in the second innings, while Cameron Green showed promising signs in his new role at No. 4.
Meanwhile, Travis Head went from brilliant in Adelaide to woeful in Brisbane with a king pair, despite admittedly getting an unplayable ball in the second innings.
Read on for the Australia Player Ratings from the Gabba Test.
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“These muscles big enough for him?” | 01:25
USMAN KHAWAJA – 8
75 and 10
Khawaja was Australia’s anchor on day two of the Gabba Test, surviving a tricky passage of play as carnage unfolded at the other end.
The Queenslander’s first-innings fifty set the platform for a late rearguard from the middle order, but he’ll be disappointed with Friday’s dismissal, caused by a lazy waft outside for stump.
The following evening he tickled a wayward from West Indies vice-captain Alzarri Joseph delivery down the leg side, dismissed cheaply in unlucky circumstances.
A FLIPPING great Sinclair celebration | 01:09
STEVE SMITH – 8
6 and 91 not out, five catches
Smith’s batting technique came under heavy scrutiny after his first-innings dismissal, trapped on the pads by West Indies veteran Kemar Roach with both feet pointing down the pitch and his weight transfer heading towards point.
The New South Welshman made up for it with a fighting 91 not out in the second dig to become the first Australian opener to carry his bat since David Warner achieved the feat in Hobart in 2011.
However, his decision to trust Australia’s tailenders during the run chase backfired, running out of partners after Shamar Joseph wreaked havoc.
The vice-captain also dropped two chances in the slips cordon, but he made up for it with five catches to move to within one of Mark Waugh, who is second on Australia’s all-time catchers record.
‘Don’t tell me it went down!’ Smith drop | 00:45
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 1
3 and 5
Labuschagne compiled just eight runs in Brisbane this week, making the Gabba Test his least prolific match in Australian whites to date.
The Queenslander was dismissed in almost identical fashion in both innings, edging a length delivery in the channel towards West Indies debutant Kevin Sinclair at third slip.
When considering some sloppy fielding on Saturday afternoon, it wasn’t Labuschagne’s finest performance in the Test arena.
‘Remember the name!’: Shamar humbles Aus | 01:46
CAMERON GREEN – 5
8 and 42, 0-12 and 1-37
It was a topsy-turvy four days for Green.
After dropping a regulation catch in the first innings, he held onto a blinder at gully on Saturday afternoon.
The West Australian was dismissed cheaply on day two before combining with Steve Smith for a vital partnership in the fourth innings.
Green also knocked over rival captain West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite in the second innings before Smith dropped a catch off his bowling later in the same session. It was arguably his best bowling performance since the 2022 MCG Test.
AUS v WI: Test 2, Day 4 highlights | 08:23
TRAVIS HEAD – 1
0 and 0
A golden pair, every cricketer’s worst nightmare.
Head became the first Australian Test player to achieve the unwanted feat in 14 years, the most recent being Ryan Harris at Adelaide Oval in December 2010.
The South Australian’s first-innings dismissal was bitterly unlucky, trudging off for a golden duck after strangling a loose delivery down the leg side to West Indies wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, but he only has himself to blame for his wicket on day four, missing a stunning yorker from wounded quick Shamar Joseph.
He avoided copping a zero rating courtesy of his lightning run out of Kavem Hodge in the second innings, throwing down the stumps from short leg in a game-changing moment.
MITCHELL MARSH – 3
21 and 10
Marsh won’t be eager to watch replays of his soft dismissal in the first innings of the Gabba, spooning a miscued pull shot towards mid-on.
The West Australian nicked a length delivery in the channel on day four, but it was an underwhelming end to an otherwise stellar summer for the all-rounder.
ALEX CAREY – 7
65 and 4, four catches and one stumping
Carey’s rapid counterpunch in the first innings of the Gabba Test could be considered his best batting performance in Australian whites over the past 12 months.
The South Australian slapped nine boundaries and a six to rescue the hosts from a precarious position on Friday afternoon, while his glovework was, as per usual, tidy and reliable – the lone exception being his juggling catch to remove West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves on day three.
However, Carey didn’t survive long at the crease in the second innings, becoming Shamar Joseph’s fourth victim in an eventful afternoon session.
Bails sent SPINNING… but don’t fall! | 01:22
MITCHELL STARC – 8
4-82 and 1-45
What is it about Starc and the pink Kookaburra.
The left-armer produced an epic burst during the afternoon session of day one, returning to snare a fourth wicket with the second new ball under lights.
In the second innings, a catch was dropped off his bowling, while he was denied an LBW dismissal after overstepping the popping crease. Regardless, Starc has only re-enhanced his reputation as Australia’s leading bowler with the pink ball.
Starc notches 3/11 in super session | 00:44
PAT CUMMINS – 8
1-76 and 0-39
The Australian captain bowled well without luck at the Gabba, although his most valuable performance, somewhat surprisingly, was with the bat.
In what proved a game-changing knock, Cummins scored a career-best 64 not out on Friday to deny the West Indies a noteworthy first-innings lead.
Cummins then made the bold decision to declare while still behind on the scoreboard, which initially paid dividends when Australia knocked over West Indies opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul before stumps.
Pat awarded Sir Garfield Sobers trophy | 01:05
NATHAN LYON – 8
2-81 and 3-42
Lyon has an uncanny knack of picking up wickets when Australia desperately needs a breakthrough.
The veteran off-spinner was crucial for the hosts on day three of the Gabba Tests, holding up an end as Australia rotated through its quicks in sapping conditions.
He also clobbered a handy 19 in the first innings, combining with captain Pat Cummins for yet another vital ninth-wicket partnership.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD – 8
2-38 and 3-23
Hazlewood is a metronome with the Kookaburra in hand, repeatedly bashing away at his imaginary shoebox on a good line and length.
He conceded 1.79 runs per over across the Gabba Test, while he was arguably Australia’s best bowler in the second innings.
The Bendemeer Bullet finishes the home Test summer with a bowling average of 14.40.
