AUS vs WI 511/7 – Yet to bat (AUS chose to bat) 2nd Test: It was another day of total control, dominance, and command from Australia in the second Test of the two match test series between Australia and West Indies. The second test match of the series was a day-night Test, scheduled at Adelaide.
AUS vs WI – 2nd Test Match Toss:
Australia had won the toss and chosen to bat first in the day-night fixture.
AUS vs WI – 2nd Test Match Teams:
Australia made two changes to their team from the first test. Their captain and premier fast bowler Pat Cummins were ruled out of the series due to an injury. Moreover, their opening bowler Josh Hazlewood was also dropped due to fitness concerns. Scott Boland and Michael Neser replaced the two seamers in the side. In addition to that, Australia’s former Captain Steve Smith resumed his captaincy duties after facing ban due to ball-tampering issues earlier. It was a moment of great redemption for Smith!
Australian XI:
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
On the other hand, West Indies also made two changes to their side. The fast bowler Jayden Seales and Kemar Roach were replaced by Marquino Mindley and Devon Thomas.
West Indies XI:
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shamarh Brooks, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip, Marquino Mindley
AUS vs WI – As it Happened on Day 1:
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Australian Openers looked comfortable at the crease. They were middling the ball well and looked set for big scores. However, David Warner ended up edging one to the keeper as he went after a wide delivery from Alzarri Jospeh. Australia had lost their first wicket for 34.
Marnus Labuschagne joined Usman Khawaja at the crease. The two top order players had a solid partnership of 95 runs. Khawaja scored his 50 from 95 balls. At dinner, Australia was 89/1 in 28 overs. Australia lost their second wicket at the score of 129 when Usman Khwaja was judged LBW off the bowling of the debutant Devon Thomas.
Australia was two down for 129. The Australian stand-in Captain Steve Smith came to the crease. However, his return to captaincy did not guarantee a memorable performance with the bat. Unfortunately, he ended up giving a return catch to Jason Holder as Australia lost two quick wickets. Steve Smith went back without scoring as Australia were reduced to 131/3.
AUS vs WI – 2nd Test Match Head and Labuschagne:
Travis Head joined Labuschagne at the crease and the two batters continued building a solid partnership. Labuschagne first got to his 50. Soon Head also brought up his half century. They were batting at a good rate and looked set for big innings.
Marnus brought up his third consecutive test hundred from 186 balls while Head also got to a 100 from only 125 balls. By the end of play, the pair had added an unbeaten 199 runs. Head was not out on 114 while Labuschagne was unbeaten at 120. Australia will resume their innings at 330/3 on Day 2.
AUS vs WI – What is Test Match:
Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last for up to five days. In the past, some Test matches had no time limit and were called Timeless Tests. The term “test match” was originally coined in 1861–62 but in a different context.
Test cricket did not become an officially recognised format until the 1890s, but many international matches since 1877 have been retrospectively awarded Test status. The first such match took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 1877 between teams which were then known as a Combined Australian XI and James Lillywhite’s XI, the latter a team of visiting English professionals.
Matches between Australia and England were first called “test matches” in 1892. The first definitive list of retrospective Tests was written by South Australian journalist Clarence P. Moody two years later and, by the end of the century, had gained acceptance.
There are now twelve full ICC member countries playing Test cricket. Day/night Tests were permitted by the ICC in 2012 and the first day/night match was between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2015.
