Resuming on 120 for 1, Langer and Ponting cruised past the West Indies first-innings total before lunch without ever looking anything other than in complete, untroubled control. Langer reached his hundred first, his 14th in Tests, and Ponting followed suit shortly before lunch. The West Indies bowlers huffed and puffed, Brian Lara switched them around to try and work some magic, all in vain. It wasn't pretty for anyone but the partisan supporter, but it was ruthlessly clinical.

The afternoon session began as the morning left off, and so impotent was the bowling that it was a surprise when the breakthrough finally came. Ponting rather wearily tried to drive at Vasbert Drakes, but only edged low to Marlon Samuels at first slip. Ponting made 117 and added 248 for the second wicket with Langer (285 for 2).

Four overs later Drakes struck again. Darren Lehmann put all his not inconsiderable bulk into smashing a short, wide delivery but substitute fielder David Bernard dived far and wide to his right at point to take a superb two-handed catch. An incredulous Lehmann departed for 6 (300 for 3).

By now Langer was tiring in the heat, and the new ball did for him when he probed off the back foot at Drakes and nicked the ball to stand-in wicketkeeper Wavell Hinds. Langer made 146, smashing 19 fours and two sixes (319 for 3). Hinds clutched the ball with relief. He was clearly tiring of his new role, and 17 byes plus a dropped catch - Langer shortly after he had reached his hundred - told its own story.

But the obdurate Steve Waugh - who momentarily came out of his shell to slash Pedro Collins over third man for six - and Adam Gilchrist restored order, and the grinding down process continued through to tea.

Drakes's performance in the heat, on a featherbed, and with little effective support from the other end, was truly admirable. A latecomer to Test cricket - he only made his debut last December at the age of 33 - he alone looked at all threatening. Collins, Samuels and Jermaine Lawson will have to learn from Drakes's example if this match isn't to become brutally one-sided.

Langer eased his way to his 14th Test hundred half-an-hour before lunch as he pushed, glided and drove the ball around in his usual manner. He took 160 balls to get there, and thumped 15 fours in his second century against West Indies. And Ponting was also totally at home on the flat, friendly pitch. He quickly brought up his half-century in the second over of the morning, with a sumptuous back-foot drive off Vasbert Drakes, whose bowling he enjoyed, driving and pulling two elegant boundaries in successive balls a few overs later.

It was a more disciplined effort from the West Indian fast bowlers than they managed yesterday evening, but the lack of pace and life in this pitch is making life difficult - and increasingly easy for the batsmen. After Drakes and Jermaine Lawson started off, Pedro Collins and Mervyn Dillon took over the unenvious and laborious task of trying to sneak a wicket. But no-one managed to break through.

The only wicket to fall so far was Matthew Hayden's run-out yesterday, and there was nearly another one when Devon Smith's underarm throw narrowly missed the stumps with Ponting short of his ground. The only other close shave for the rampaging Aussies came when Langer, shortly after reaching his hundred, edged Collins low to the left of the stand-in wicketkeeper Wavell Hinds. But Hinds, replacing the injured Ridley Jacobs behind the stumps, can hardly be blamed for not hanging on to it.

Desperation then crept in, as Brian Lara called on the inexperienced offspinner Marlon Samuels. West Indies' miserable morning was summed up when Langer clubbed a gentle full-toss into the stands for six. Samuels was still trundling when Ponting notched up his 15th Test century with a majestic flick over midwicket for his 15th four. It's going to be a long, long day for Lara and his team.