Australia is on track for its first clean sweep of a Caribbean Test series after thrashing the West Indies by nine wickets in the third Test in Bridgetown.

Australia regained Test cricket's top ranking and Steve Waugh equalled Clive Lloyd's record for the most Test victories as captain as the tourists sealed the match before tea on the final day.

Australia reached 1-8 in its second innings to win after the Windies were dismissed for 284, losing their last seven wickets for 97 runs, to fall behind 3-0 heading into Friday's final Test in Antigua.

It was Australia's fifth consecutive series win and it ensured Waugh's team displaced South Africa at the top of the ICC Test championship.

Stuart MacGill claimed five wickets in the Windies' second innings, and nine for the match, as Australia overcame a dogged 61-run partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21) and Omari Banks (32).

The Windies were in trouble from the first ball of the final day when Ramnaresh Sarwan (58) was given out LBW to MacGill (5-75), but the biggest blow came four overs later when captain Brian Lara (42) was trapped LBW by Andrew Bichel (1-35).

It was the third time this series Bichel had claimed Lara LBW and the dismissal virtually ensured the Windies were done.

MacGill and Jason Gillespie (1-37) then wiped out the Windies tail but Carlton Baugh ensured Australia would bat again when he hit Glenn McGrath to the cover boundary.

McGrath failed to take a wicket in a match for only the third time in his career while Brett Lee finished with a sore right hand after requiring three stitches to split webbing.

Waugh has 36 victories as captain, equalling Lloyd, and Australia will again start a short-priced favourite to give their captain a record-breaking win in Antigua.

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