On a wildly eventful opening day of the Frank Worrell Trophy Test in Bridgetown, bowlers from both sides dictated terms as 14 wickets tumbled at Kensington Oval — the most on the first day of a Test here since 2011. While West Indies bundled out Australia for 180, the visitors stormed back under fading light to leave the hosts tottering at 57/4.
After opting to bat first on a spicy pitch, Australia were rocked early by a fired-up Shamar Joseph, who removed both openers and Cameron Green to reduce the visitors to 22/3.
He (Shamar) was special today, and he has been special throughout his career. He has a love for Australia. He got through the top order and made it easy for us in the middle and at the end.
Joseph, who had stunned Australia with a seven-wicket haul at the Gabba last year, finished with 4/46. “This one was pretty special for me,” said Seales. “To play against them and get five on the first day was huge. We knew they’d come hard if we gave width, so the plan was to bowl full and at the stumps.”
Despite a shaky start, Australia found resistance in Travis Head (59 off 78) and Usman Khawaja (47), who added 89 for the fourth wicket. Head counter-attacked in trademark style, smashing nine boundaries and registering his 19th Test fifty. Khawaja, though lucky at times — dropped twice and nearly bowled off his heel — provided much-needed stability.
Once Head was caught off Seales and Khawaja was finally dismissed by Joseph, the tail didn’t last long. Seales cleaned up the lower order, removing Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood in quick succession to complete a superb 5/60. Australia were bowled out inside 57 overs, with only Lyon unbeaten on 9.
But just when it looked like West Indies had seized the day, Mitchell Starc turned the tide. He struck twice in quick succession, removing Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell to leave the hosts gasping at 13/2. Cummins and Hazlewood then tightened the screws, with the West Indies losing four wickets in 20 overs.
By stumps, debutant Brandon King (23*) and skipper Roston Chase (1*) were left with the task of repairing the innings.
There’s still work to do. But we’ve given ourselves a chance.
The hosts trail by 123 runs, with hopes pinned on their fifth-wicket pair to launch a fightback and keep alive their chances in what is shaping up to be a low-scoring classic.
Brief Scores: Australia 180 all out in 56.3 overs (Travis Head 59, Usman Khawaja 47; Jayden Seales 5-60, Shamar Joseph 4-46) West Indies 57/4 in 20 overs (Brandon King 23*, Keacy Carty 20; Mitchell Starc 2-35). Australia lead by 123 runs.
