Australia cruised to a nine-wicket victory in the second Test against West Indies [Images] on Monday, allowing the hosts to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Australians raced to their victory target of 78 in just 97 minutes from 26.1 overs before lunch on the fifth and final day at Bellerive Oval.

Western Australia opener Mike Hussey struck 31 not out, including the winning runs, from 82 balls to win the man of the match award after making 137 in the first innings, his maiden Test hundred.

"It's been a great game. There's lot of positive to come out of it," Australia captain Ricky Ponting [Images] told a news conference.

"The Frank Worrell Trophy is very special, it's certainly something that's treasured by all the players and one that we talk about a lot and want to win.

"It's something we never had our hands on for a long time but luckily over the last few years we've been able to win a few of those series."

Matthew Hayden [Images], who also made a century in the first innings, was the lone batsman to be dismissed, throwing his wicket away for 46 with just one run needed for victory.

Trying to smash a boundary to reach his half-century, the Queenslander top-edged a half-volley from Chris Gayle and gave Devon Smith an easy catch at extra cover.

Ponting faced three balls without scoring before Hussey flicked a single round his legs off Ramnaresh Sarwan [Images] to seal victory.

Hussey was playing in just his second Test after replacing the injured Justin Langer as opener but expects to be dropped down the batting order to number five after Langer was cleared to resume playing in the third Test at Adelaide and Michael Clarke [Images] was dropped from the squad.

"Winning the man of the match is fantastic but I'm under no under illusions," Hussey said.

"Justin's played fantastically well over a long period and he totally deserves that place at the top of the order.

"I'd be more than happy to bat wherever... for me it's nice to know I can succeed at Test level."

FIFTH AXING

Clarke, regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Australian cricket, is the fifth Australian player axed since the Ashes loss to England [Images], joining Damien Martyn, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz.

"He is a very talented player with a bright future and we know that he has a very long future ahead of him at test level," Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement.

"We think it's time to give him a break, to go back to domestic cricket and clear his head so that he can bat the way we know he can, and the way he knows he can."

Australia won the first Test in Brisbane two weeks ago by 379 runs and the third and final Test starts in Adelaide on Friday.

The hosts were always in control of the second Test after dismissing the tourists for 149 on the first day then piling on 406 in reply to lead by 257 on the first innings.

The match had seemed to be heading to an early finish when West Indies slumped to 140-6 before lunch on the fourth day, but all-rounder Dwayne Bravo [Images] and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin stalled Australia's push for victory with a stubborn partnership.

The pair added 182 for the seventh wicket with Bravo making a brilliant 113 and Ramdin 71 to force the match into a fifth day. "We've seen positives from this game already so hopefully we'll get tougher and get better," West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul [Images] said.

"We've been playing catch-up cricket but hopefully we can take that into the next game and start from the front.

Scorecard:

West Indies (1st innings): 149 (C Gayle 56; G McGrath 4-31)

Australia (1st innings): 406 (M Hussey 137, M Hayden 110, B Hodge 60)

West Indies (2nd innings): 334 (D Bravo 113, D Ramdin 71; S Warne 4-112)

Australia (2nd innings): (Target: 78 runs)
M. Hussey not out 31
M. Hayden c D Smith b Gayle 46
R. Ponting not out 0

Extras: (nb-1) 1

Total: (1 wicket in  26.1 overs) 78

Fall of wickets: 1-77.

Did not bat: M Clarke, B Hodge, A Gilchrist, A Symonds, S Warne, B Lee, G McGrath, S MacGill.

Bowling: F Edwards 5-1-16-0 (nb-1), D Powell 7-1-21-0, D Bravo 7-1-21-0, C Gayle 6-2-16-1, R Sarwan 1.1-0-4-0.