AUSTRALIA TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2025
Jayden Seales picked a fifer as WI bowled out AUS for just 180 © AFP
Pacers from both sides had a field day as the series between West Indies and Australia got off to an eventful start in Barbados. The opening day saw the fall of 14 wickets as Australia got bowled out for 180 and then went on to pick four wickets before stumps with West Indies trailing by 123 runs.
Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph were on the money right from the word go after the visitors opted to bat first. Both pacers found movement and it didn’t take long for West Indies to strike. Initially given not out, Sam Konstas had to walk back after the home side decided to challenge the lbw decision. Shamar could have had two in the same over had Cameron Green’s offer behind the wicket been accepted by Brandon King. Roston Chase then put down a simple chance off the same bowler, much to his frustration in the following over.
However, Shamar kept having a go at the Australians and was eventually rewarded with Green edging to second slip. While there was respite for a brief period after his opening spell, Seales came back and struck after drinks as Josh Inglis attempted to break-free, only to get a top edge and depart as Australia were reduced to 22/3.
What followed suit was a period of counter-attacking cricket that caught West Indies off-guard. Travis Head did what he usually does but Usman Khawaja also joined the party and in fact kickstarted it with a six off Alzarri Joseph, followed by two fours in the next over. Head continued to bat in a brisk fashion after lunch as well, finding boundaries at regular intervals to score yet another important half-century for his side in the absence of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. But just when Australia were well placed at 111/3, West Indies struck again and this time, they made it count.
Khawaja’s long vigil came to an end when he got an under edge while attempting to pull Shamar and then the pacer bowled a beauty that straightened after pitching to clip the top of offstump to send Beau Webster back. Alex Carey fell at the stroke of Tea and Head followed him to the pavilion three balls after the resumption which pretty much signalled the end for Australia. Pat Cummins’s cameo dragged them to 180 before Seales completed a memorable five-fer.
What the hosts now needed was a solid performance with the bat to back up that effort with the ball. But Australia took less than five overs to make an incision as Mitchell Starc found Kragg Brathwaite’s outside edge. John Campbell then edged an away swinging delivery straight to Carey as the openers were sent back inside the first seven overs. King did get off to a breezy start on Test debut, racing to 16 off 12 at one point but at the other end, Australia chipped away twice with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins striking once each to cause further damage before stumps. The home side will now rely heavily on King and skipper Roston Chase to help them fetch the first-innings lead.
Brief scores: West Indies 57/4 (Brandon King 23*; Mitchell Starc 2/35) trail Australia 180 (Travis Head 59, Usman Khawaja 47; Jayden Seales 5/60, Shamar Joseph 4/46) by123 runs
© Cricbuzz
