Australia will be gunning for a clean sweep when they take on the West Indies in the second and final Test at Jamaica. Follow all the action of the first day of this second Test live from 12 midnight (AEDT).
The West Indies were outplayed in an opening Test that was wrapped up within three days.
The hosts were in the game for a small portion of the second day, but their bowlers tired out and the Aussie lower-order came to the rescue again.
There was that mammoth partnership – at least in terms of the amount of time they were at the crease – between Marlon Samuels and Shane Dowrich that could have brought the hosts back into the game. However, a typical West Indian capitulation following the end of that stand all but finished off their hopes on the third day.
Adam Voges starred for Australia on debut, becoming the oldest debutant to score a century in Test cricket, while Mitchell Starc discovered form in the longer format to skittle the opposition.
A target of 47 in the second innings was never going to test the Aussies and while they lost David Warner, the win was sealed on Day 3.
Chris Rogers, who was Australia’s number one opener coming into the series but missed the opening game because of a bouncer-induced concussion, is yet to recover from his issues and as a result the Australian batting line-up won’t be changing from the first Test.
There have been talks about Australia wanting to play a second spinner but if Fawad Ahmed didn’t make it to the starting XI at Dominica, it’s hard to see him getting a nod in Jamaica. The three-pronged pace bowling attack should hold their place.
The West Indies were bowled out for 148 and 216, an indicator of how poorly they batted. Shai Hope (36) was decent in the first dig, while Dowrich and Samuels hit 70s in the second but the rest fared miserably.
Interestingly, skipper Denesh Ramdin was critical of Samuels’ stroke in the second innings after he had gotten himself to 74, which could have been a tad hard of him given it was the match’s second-best score behind Voges. However, given the context of the game, it’s easy to see why Ramdin wanted more out of Samuels. The Jamaican got out to a short ball in the first innings and he played exactly the same kind of shot to throw his wicket away.
Still Samuels will have the right to feel aggrieved about the way the rest of his teammates batted – to go from 3/181 to 216 all out was hardly par for the course.
The West Indies need to put up stauncher fight if they are to avoid another one-sided defeat. Australia have the ammunition and would have brushed off their batting and bowling cobwebs from being away from Test cricket for nearly five months. Their fielding, however, continued to remain from the top drawer and West Indies will do well to emulate them.
Follow all the action of this West Indies vs Australia Test match live from 12 midnight (AEDT), and be sure to post your comments in the section below.
Rob G
Guest
Maybe that is a little harsh on pearce, he at least performs at club level from time to time
Rob G
Guest
pretty simple really. He's not up to it and never has been. he is the mitchell pearce of cricket.......
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
S Marsh. What to do?
Mattw
Guest
Terrible lack of drive by the West Indies, how they can justify those last ten overs I don't know.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
West Indies decided to field first after winning the toss, probably wanting to exploit any green that the pitch had. Jerome Taylor bagged a couple early and Kemar Roach should have had a third when he had Clarke out off a no-ball. But once the pair of Smith and Clarke dug in, it turned out to be Australia's day. Smith hit his ninth Test hundred and his fifth in six Tests, while West Indies refused to take the second new ball - instead, preferring the spinners to do some bowling. In the end, Australia were happy to see out the day, after Taylor's 15-over spell in the day had seen them lose three wickets for just 18 runs. Back tomorrow at the same time, ciao and have a good day!
Mattw
Guest
Excellent job by smith, in for the entire day, still around now, got a life with the drop but has mostly looked good at the crease.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Jermaine Blackwood comes on for the final over of the day. And gets some turn first ball, rapping Smith on his pads. Hitting outside off. Smith comes down the track next ball but has to defend at it, and repeats that stroke to drive it to mid-off for no run. A careful defensive stroke off the fourth, before he comes down again and drives to short mid-wicket. Again, not for runs. And off the last ball, which is also the final ball of the day, he's fired one down the leg-side and there's an appeal for stumping... ...there was a moment when Smith had his foot in the air but he gets it down quickly enough, not-out. End of day, with Australia at 4/258 in 90.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden at Watson. That ends Permaul work for the day with the ball. 0/84 from his 24. 4/258 in 89
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It almost looks like the West Indies side has pulled their shutters down going into these last 10 overs rather than the other way around. In a day and age when captains from around the world are trying to drill a positive approach to their game, it's stunning that West Indies have decided not to take the new ball in their final 10 overs. Brathwaite concedes two singles from the 88th. 4/258 in 88.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Waste of time this. West Indies have referred an lbw appeal against Watson. Very easily missing the leg-stump, with all three stumps visible at the time of impact. Very bad review, that's a Watsonesque review against Watson. Also a maiden from Permaul. 4/256 in 87.
Mattw
Guest
Stupid review
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Up and over for a four. Tossed up ever so slightly by Brathwaite and Smith jumps away and smashes it inside out over the covers for a four. 4/256 in the 86th
Mattw
Guest
You can tell smith is exhausted, really wants the day to end
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shane Watson has finally jumped down the pitch and easily lofted it over mid-on for a four. Long time since the last four. 4/252 in 85
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three singles off the Brathwaite over. The Aussie batsmen are only happy to see off these easy overs towards such a fag end of play. 4/247 in 84.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Permaul has come on to replace Brathwaite and starts off with a maiden. About half hour remains for play. 4/244 in 83.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another over ticks by with Brathwaite conceding just three from it. West Indies are more interested in not allowing the batsmen to get away from them by taking the new ball? Baffling tactics. 4/244 in 82
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Just one from the Holder over as West Indies continue to refrain from taking the second new ball. Don't quite understand the logic unless their quick bowlers are injured. 4/242 in 81.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's 80 overs done, which makes the new ball available. Not yet taken as Holder continues with the old one. 4/241 in 80
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And that's the second four, again through the slips. Full, attempted drive, outside edge, four - the same sequence gets repeated to take Smith to 123. And Australia up to 4/239.