Ball dominated bat once again on a dramatic Day 1 in Jamaica, with Australia continuing their torrid tour of the bat to once again be skittled by the West Indies quicks.
This time, though, it was the middle order that collapsed after a strong partnership from Cameron Green (46) and Steve Smith (48) saw the visitors reach 2/129 midway through the day, with a final tally of 225 yet another below-par score in a series unlikely to inspire confidence in a brittle batting line-up heading into the summer’s Ashes.
In reponse, the Windies reached stumps at 1/16, debutant Kevlon Anderson the only casualty of a vicious nine-over mini-session to end the day against 100th-Test veteran Mitchell Starc with the pink ball.
With that ball proving treacherous under lights in Jamaica – Australia’s first ever day-night session away from home – seven wickets fell in just 18 overs in the evening session, with Shamar Joseph the chief destroyer with three wickets to finish with four for the innings and take his series tally to 18.
Smith’s dismissal for 48, edging a wild swing off Joseph to slip, sparked the chaos, with Beau Webster (1), Travis Head (20) and Alex Carey (21) all unable to replicate their heroics from earlier in the series, Head falling to a particularly stunning diving catch from Windies sub fielder Anderson Phillip.
By the end, Australia’s focus shifted from survival to reckless abandon, Pat Cummins launching three monster sixes over the Sabina Park boundary in an attempt to add quick runs while also giving Australia a chance to send the hosts in under lights.
That, at least, went right for Australia, with the Windies ending the day in bizarre scenes with not one, but two makeshift openers, after injuries during the day to John Campbell and the returning Mikyle Louis forcing Brandon King and debutant Anderson to face a treacherous last hour.
Louis had injured a knee diving to attempt to save a Green cover drive, while only moments later, Campbell copped the full brunt of a Smith pull shot into his collarbone at short leg.
Both were sent to hospital for scans as their teammates faced the music late in the day, with their availability for the rest of the match uncertain.
In the midst of the collapse, fellow paceman Jayden Seales added further spice to the contest with a pair of fierce run-ins with Australian stars – first aggressively celebrating Smith’s dismissal, then more directly sending Starc back to the pavilion after clean bowling him to continue the late-day collapse.
Whether fired up or just relishing the chance to celebrate his 100th Test with his favourite ball, Starc was at his menacing best in a four-over burst before stumps, ratcheting up the pace to well beyond 140 kilometres an hour and scything a fierce in-swinger through Anderson’s defence to end a baptism of fire for the first-gamer.
Nevertheless, the Windies will have been thrilled to end the day with nine wickets in hand, and with batting seeming far easier during the two day sessions, will hope to challenge for a first innings lead, especially if Louis and Campbell are cleared to bat on Day 2.
MORE TO COME
