The West Indies have secured a narrow first-innings lead on day two of the Frank Worrell Trophy opener against Australia in Bridgetown.
In response to Australia’s 180, the hosts were bowled out for 190 in 63.2 overs following a valiant batting effort from captain Roston Chase (44) and wicketkeeper Shai Hope (48).
However, the West Indies’ innings was marred by a trio of dubious decisions from third umpire Adrian Holdstock, who came under the spotlight following the controversial dismissals of Chase and Hope.
The wickets were shared among Australia’s seamers — Mitchell Starc claimed 3-65, while Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Beau Webster each struck twice.
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The pitch was considerably less volatile when compared to the previous day, with only one wicket falling during the morning session.
Resuming at 4-57 on Thursday, the West Indies almost lost Chase in the opening over of the day after rival captain Pat Cummins reviewed an LBW shout that may have grazed the front pad, but the on-field decision was upheld courtesy of a quirk in the UltraEdge technology, much to Australia’s bemusement.
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The visitors’ frustration grew when wicketkeeper Alex Carey dropped a regulation catch to hand West Indies debutant Brandon King a massive reprieve on 23, while Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas missed half-chances in the field. However, Carey’s blunder didn’t prove too costly, with King regrettably choosing to leave a delivery from Hazlewood that thudded into his off stump.
Hope, playing his first Test in nearly four years, cracked consecutive boundaries against Starc before dropping anchor and combining with Chase for a 67-run stand for the sixth wicket to swing the pendulum back in the West Indies’ favour.
Australia’s seamers struggled to create chances as the Dukes ball softened, but Cummins broke the stand after lunch with a delivery that kept low and trapped Chase on the knee roll. The West Indies skipper reviewed to no avail, despite an apparent deviation as the ball passed his bat.
All-rounder Justin Greaves departed cheaply after feathering behind, while Carey redeemed himself with a stunning one-handed effort low to his left, with Hope caught off the inside edge. However, slow-motion replays suggested the ball may have touched the ground despite never leaving Carey’s outstretched glove.
Starc knocked over Shamar Joseph with a low full toss before a late cameo from Alzarri Joseph, who finished unbeaten on 23, steered the West Indies beyond Australia’s first-innings total.
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DAY 2 PREVIEW
Australia’s pacers struck back with four wickets after they were dealt some of their own medicine in being dismissed for 180 by the West Indies fast bowlers on the opening day of the first Test in Barbados.
Seeking their first Test match victory on home soil against Australia for 22 years, the Caribbean side will resume on the second morning at 57 for four at Kensington Oval.
Mitchell Starc, captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood replicated the devastation of West Indian counterparts Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph to bring Australia right back into the first of a three-match series.
Seales capitalised on the early blows inflicted by Joseph, polishing off the lower order to finish with five for 60, his third five-wicket innings haul in his 19th Test.
Joseph, who enjoyed a sensational debut series at the expense of the Australians, highlighted by a match-winning innings haul of seven for 68 in Brisbane 17 months ago, was again in devastating form against the same opponents, prising out four of the first six wickets to fall over the first two sessions.
He cast aside the ordinary performances of most of the previous year and a half to claim four for 46 from 16 overs of sustained pace where he continuously challenged all batsmen and would have enjoyed greater success but for poor catching by his teammates.
Debutant Brandon King was the chief culprit, missing three chances at gully. But the most expensive lapse was from new captain Roston Chase who, in his 50th Test, dropped Usman Khawaja at first slip when the opener was just on six.
Khawaja battled to 47 before eventually falling to Joseph, featuring in an important 89-run fourth-wicket stand with Travis Head after the Australians had slumped to 22 for three in the morning following Cummins’ decision to bat first on winning the toss.
Head’s top score of 59 was highlighted, as usual, by flamboyant drives and pulls, the left-hander counting nine boundaries in his 78-ball innings.
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Earlier, Australia’s captain had cause to immediately ponder on the wisdom of his decision when Joseph dispatched Sam Konstas and Cameron Green in quick succession with the new ball and should have also accounted for Khawaja, who had another reprieve on 45.
However, the opener’s luck eventually ran out when he under-edged a pull at Joseph to be caught behind while Beau Webster was comprehensively bowled by arguably the best ball of the day from the Guyanese pacer.
Seales, who had dispatched Josh Inglis in the morning via a skied catch to wicketkeeper Shai Hope from a miscued pull, claimed a vital second wicket when Alex Carey edged a drive high to Chase at first slip on the stroke of tea.
“This was really special for me,” said Seales in reflecting on his effort at the end of the day.
“I was injured when last I played a Test against them so to come back here and get five was really satisfying.
“With the new ball we knew we had to bowl a bit fuller. This pitch was also a bit slower than the Australians would have expected and that worked in our favour with them playing at balls they didn’t have to.”
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Following Head’s swift demise at the start of the final session to medium-pacer Justin Greaves, Seales removed Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood without too much fuss, leaving the West Indies top-order batting with a challenging passage of play before the close.
It proved a task beyond four of them, Starc accounting for openers Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell before Cummins removed Keacy Carty and Hazlewood dispatched nightwatchman Jomel Warrican, leaving King and Chase to carry the fight into the second day.
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test: June 25-29, Bridgetown, Barbados (from midnight AEST)
Second Test: July 3-7, St George’s, Grenada (from midnight AEST)
Third Test: July 13-17, Kingston, Jamaica (from 4:30am AEST)
SESSION TIMES IN AEST
First Session: 10am – 12pm local (12am – 2am AEST, next day)
Second Session: 12.40pm – 2.40pm local (2.40am – 4.40am AEST, next day)
Third Session: 3pm – 5pm local (5am – 7am AEST, next day)