Australia completed the last rites on the fifth morning yesterday, taking 38 minutes and losing only one wicket to win this third Test against the West Indies by five wickets and take the Frank Worrell Trophy for the fourth time in a row.

The stand-in captain, Adam Gilchrist, in his 12th Test, was in the middle with his Western Australia team-mate Damien Martyn when his team completed their 13th straight Test win.

If Australia can now win in Melbourne and Sydney, they will accomplish the first clean sweep in any series between the two teams, who played the first of 20 contests in 1930-31.

Australia began the final day needing 32 runs with six wickets left, but it was the original target of 130 that had some observers worried, especially when the score was 48 for four on Monday afternoon.

That sort of modest fourth-innings chase used to send shivers down Australian batting orders in the 1980s and early 1990s, and one individual who suffered for that collective weakness, Martyn, deserved his moment of glory.

Although he may be forced to make way for Steve Waugh if the captain is ruled fit for the St Stephen's Day Test, Martyn will at least receive an honourable discharge this time around.

Gilchrist said: "I'm thrilled. It's the proudest moment of my career. It's not so much a load off my mind: I believed in this team. We all believe in each other. There's no doubt it was a harder Test than we've had this summer. It was as close as it's got for a while. It was a terrific win."

Jimmy Adams was, as ever, gracious in defeat. "It's an improvement on some of the cricket we've played since we've been here," he said. "There were things we didn't do very well. Hopefully, we can build on what went on here."