Australia vs West Indies: First Test against West Indies ended in a much-expected fashion
Australia’s First Test against West Indies ended in a much-expected fashion as Australian GOAT, Nathan Lyon, bundled tricked the West Indian batting line-up with his calculative off-spin. West Indies did offer some resistance as they kept Australia in the field for 111 overs in the last innings of the test match.
In response to Australia’s massive total of 598, West Indies crashed out for only 283 after a lower-order collapse. West Indian middle and lower order failed to capitalize on the start that openers had given. Australia had a healthy lead of 315 runs and could have easily asked West Indies to follow on. However, they decided to take a strike again and plunder some more runs.
Another reason behind the move was to make sure that West Indies bat last on a deteriorating final-day pitch at Perth. Australia batted for only 32 overs and scored at a modest 4.91 runs per over to add 182 runs for the loss of their openers. Marnus Labuschagne scored another test hundred and remained unbeaten on 104.
Australia vs West Indies First Test – The 4th Innings Run Chase:
West Indies had a giant mountain of 498 runs to climb in a day and a half.
The openers once again gave them a good start of 116 runs. Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 45 runs to add to his 50 in the first innings on debut. On the other end, Kraigg Brathwaite looked solid and went on to score a memorable test hundred. However, he did not receive much support from those around him as wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Brathwaite got out after scoring 110 runs, as the scoreboard read 212-5.
West Indies were reeling at 233-7 when Roston Chase and Azarri Joseph threaded together a partnership of 82 runs for the 8th wicket. Joseph got out after making a fighting 43 that frustrated Australians quite a lot. Soon after that Roston Chase was dismissed for 55, as the scoreboard read 333-9. The last man, Kemar Roach got out on the first ball as West Indies were bowled out for 333.
Australia vs West Indies First Test – Australian Bowling:
Nathan Lyon was the star bowler for Australia in the second innings as he picked up 6 wickets. Travis Head chipped in with 2 scalps while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood picked up one wicket apiece. The Australian Captain Pat Cummins did not bowl in the second innings due to a small strain.
It was a good fourth innings fight from West Indies, that too in tough Australian conditions. This is a young West Indies line up that certainly has a lot to learn. Had their middle order done any better, they may have hoped to get within sight of the enormous target.
The worrying sign for west Indies would be their bowling that only managed to pick up 6 wickets across two innings.
Australia vs West Indies – First Test Man of the Match:
Australia vs West Indies – Marnus Labuschagne:
Marnus Labuschagne was judged the man of the match for his impressive double century in the first innings and a hundred in the second. The next test of the series will begin on 8th of December.
Australia vs West Indies First Test Match – Squad
Australia vs West Indies Test Match – Australia Squad:
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Australia vs West Indies Test Match – West Indies Squad:
Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
