Fourteen wickets fell on Day One of the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy to leave the West Indies reeling on 57 for 4 in reply to Australia’s 180 at Kensington Oval.
Debutant Brandon King survived several plays and misses to remain unbeaten on 23 at the close, with captain Roston Chase alongside him on one. Chasing down a first-innings deficit of 180 after tea, the hosts were sliced open by a brutal new-ball burst from Mitchell Starc.
Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, playing in his 99th Test on home soil, continued his lean run of form, departing for just four to a sharp low catch from Beau Webster at second slip.
Starc then slanted one across the recalled John Campbell (7), who feathered a regulation edge through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
At 16 for 2, Keacy Carty joined King to restore calm with a 36-run third-wicket stand that steadied both the innings and the stands. The 28-year-old from St Maarten struck a couple of boundaries in his composed 20 but could do nothing about a brute from opposition captain Pat Cummins. The world’s third-ranked Test seamer got a delivery to rear off a length, catch the shoulder of Carty’s bat, and land safely in Carey’s gloves.
Nightwatchman Jomel Warrican lasted just two balls before Josh Hazlewood’s in swinging length delivery beat his limp forward defence and sent his stumps flying.
But the drama began much earlier in the day, as Australia’s reshaped top order collapsed to 22 for 3 against the West Indies’ fiery pace attack.
Jayden Seales and Shemar Joseph were simply unrelenting, sharing nine wickets in a performance that stirred echoes of the golden age. Seales, operating from the Joel Garner End, claimed 5 for 60 with skill and precision. But it was Joseph, with 4 for 46, who bowled with irresistible pace and passion. The 25-year-old Guyanese quick might have had five again were it not for a couple of dropped chances.
Joseph struck early, trapping debutant Sam Konstas for three, pinned on the crease. Two balls later, he drew the edge of Cameron Green’s bat, but King couldn’t cling on at gully. The drop proved minor—Green added only three before edging another peach from Joseph to Justin Greaves at second slip.
Australia looked like taking control when Usman Khawaja and Travis Head added 89, but Khawaja’s dismissal—bottom-edging a short ball from Joseph through to Hope—triggered a collapse of 7 for 69. Head, who had earlier survived a controversial third-umpire decision, was eventually caught behind for fifty-nine, attempting to drive on the up.
Seales took over the wickets column after lunch, removing Josh Inglis (5) with a skied pull to Shai Hope and then Carey (8) with a sharp chance to Chase at first slip. Starc lasted just one ball before Greaves claimed his second catch of the innings. Webster was bowled by a corker from Joseph, and Cummins counter-attacked with 28, the only innings to feature a six, before miscuing a drive to Brathwaite at mid-off. Hazlewood was the last to fall, fending a brutal short ball to Hope and walking off before the umpire could raise a finger.
Australia’s total of 180 was their lowest in the Caribbean when electing to bat first, and their lowest overall in the region since 1995 in Trinidad.
The day belonged to the bowlers—especially Seales and Joseph—but it remains finely poised. With King still standing and Chase at the crease, the West Indies will hope for resolve on Day Two, knowing that one good partnership could tilt the balance once more. (JC)
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