The Frank Worrell Trophy series finale between the West Indies and Australia is headed for a dramatic conclusion after the fast bowlers dominated day two at Kingston’s Sabina Park.
The tourists were 6-99 at stumps, leading by just 181 runs, with Cameron Green (42*) and captain Pat Cummins (5*) unbeaten in the middle.
Earlier, the West Indies were rolled for 143 after failing to tame Australia’s world-class pace attack, who created plenty of headaches with the pink Dukes. However, the Australians lost six wickets in a frantic collapse during the evening session to give the West Indies a sniff at an unlikely victory.
The third Test between the West Indies and Australia will resume on Tuesday morning at 4.30am AEST.
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‘NOT YET’: ASHES SPOT UP FOR GRABS AFTER 40-YEAR LOW
Sam Konstas’ nightmare tour of the West Indies ended in tame fashion.
On Sunday evening, the Australian opener departed for a fifth-ball duck after wafting at a wide delivery from West Indies quick Shamar Joseph with unsatisfactory footwork, edging towards gully.
The ball should have harmlessly sailed through to the wicketkeeper, but not for the first time in the series, Konstas was caught in two minds, needlessly flashed outside off and throwing his wicket away.
“The end to a miserable first West Indies trip for Sam Konstas,” former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite said in commentary.
“As an opening batter, that’s such a nothing shot.
“You can’t defend air … you either punch it or you leave it.”
Konstas finished the series with 50 runs at 8.33, the lowest batting average for an Australian opener in a Test series since 1985 (minimum two matches). Since his thrilling debut at the MCG, Konstas has averaged 11.87 in the Test arena.
The talent is undeniable, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations since his Boxing Day blitz. The national selectors would have hoped the Frank Worrell Trophy would serve as an opportunity for Konstas to get some runs under his belt against a lowly opposition and boost his confidence ahead of the home summer — but the opposite has taken place.
“Unfortunately for Sam, it’s a not yet,” former Australian spinner Bruce McGain said on SEN.
“He could be the future, but it’s not now.”
Konstas has failed to secure his position in Australia’s Test side for the upcoming Ashes campaign, opening the door for the likes of Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and Marcus Harris to press their case for a long-awaited recall. The axed Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney will also be in contention.
However, the 19-year-old still has time on his side. Even if he misses selection for the Ashes, Konstas has a bright future ahead of him.
‘F***, THAT’S A GOOD BALL’: AUSSIE SELECTION GAMBLE PAYS OFF
Much of the discussion on day one of the Barbados contest was regarding Australia’s decision to leave out Nathan Lyon, dropping the veteran spinner from the Test side for the first time in 12 years.
The selection call understandably prompted plenty of debate, but the gamble paid dividends on Sunday afternoon as Scott Boland ripped through the West Indies middle order.
Recalled for the first time since January’s New Year’s Test against India at the SCG, the Victorian seamer was the pick of the Australian bowlers on day two in Kingston, taking 3-34 from 13.1 overs. It was his best bowling performance in Tests outside of Australia.
Boland snared his first breakthrough early in the twilight session when West Indies opener John Campbell left a delivery that thudded into his front pads, dismissed LBW for 36.
But the best was yet to come, with the 36-year-old producing an unplayable delivery that nipped through the gate and bowled West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope for 23. Watching the slow-motion plays on the venue’s big screen, teammate Beau Webster muttered: “F***, that’s a good ball.”
It was far from a perfect performance from Boland, however, with the right-armed overstepping the crease on four occasions, including on a delivery when West Indies captain Roston Chase was given out caught behind.
Boland has jumped in and out of the starting XI on several occasions since his unforgettable Test debut at the MCG in 2021, but rarely does he disappoint when he gets an opportunity.
No cricketer in the last century has a lower Test bowling average than Boland’s 17.33 (minimum 2000 balls).
He remains the Test side’s fourth-choice quick, but the Australians are incredibly lucky to have a bowler of his qualify to call upon should injury or workload management intervene during next summer’s Ashes series.
“He knows the situation. He knows that he’s the fourth in line,” former Australian batter Greg Blewett said in commentary.
“Every time he’s had a chance, he’s really performed.”
WINDIES LEFT RED-FACED AFTER ‘INEXCUSABLE’ DISMISSALS
The West Indies have been confronted with some challenging batting conditions throughout the Frank Worrell Trophy campaign, but they only had themselves to blame for Sunday’s pitiful batting collapse.
For the first time in the series, the pitch was relatively tame at Sabina Park, while Australia’s seamers weren’t generating any swing from the pink Dukes ball. Yet, the hosts were still rolled for 143 courtesy of some disciplined bowling and woeful batting.
“That was a really weak performance from the West Indies,” Blewett said during the innings break.
“I didn’t think there were any excuses that session.
“We saw some really poor batting to be honest.
“The West Indies just fell away far too easily.”
Former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop continued: “Some of it was inexcusable.”
The most glaring example was the recalled Mikyle Louis, bowled for 7 after a reckless slog against Josh Hazlewood. The ball was targeting the stumps on a good length, yet the right-hander played across the line and missed a straight one.
Louis’ dismissal left the West Indies in deep trouble at 5-95, and they never recovered.
“That is an ugly shot,” Bishop said.
“That is a very disappointing shot, a hoick out of nowhere.
“I don’t know what to say about that. It’s a horrible shot.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin continued: “That’s just a brain fade.
“He’s played totally all around that.
“That is an absolute brain explosion.
“That’s not a shot he will want to look at when he gets back to the changeroom.”
Soon after, Alzarri Joseph attempted to smack his fourth delivery down the ground for a swashbuckling boundary, but instead spooned a regulation catch towards mid-on. Falling victim to all-rounder Beau Webster, it was a soft dismissal for the Antiguan.
Captain Roston Chase and opener John Campbell were also dismissed courtesy of ill-judged shot selection, adding to the West Indies’ woes with the bat.
‘VERY SLOPPY’: CAREY’S DOUBLE BLUNDER IN AUSSIE FIELDING WOES
Alex Carey has been one of Australia’s most consistent performers in the Test side over the past 18 months, but the wicketkeeper had a day to forget in Kingston, putting down two catches on Sunday afternoon.
The first missed chance came early in the twilight session, when West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves edged a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc towards the slips cordon.
The ball was sailing directly towards Usman Khawaja at first slip, but Carey dived across and grassed the chance, handing Greaves a reprieve on 1. He added a further 17 runs before his run out.
Soon after, Carey dropped another catch to gift West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope an extra life on 21, missing the low chance off the inside edge. However, the 33-year-old would have breathed a sigh of relief when Scott Boland knocked over Hope the very next ball with an unplayable delivery that nipped through the gate and crashed into the pegs.
Unfortunately, there were multiple other misdemeanours from the Australians in the field on day two at Sabina Park — a wayward throw from Josh Hazlewood trickled through for four overthrows, while Travis Head missed two run-out chances at the striker’s end.
“Very sloppy from the Australians, uncharacteristic,” former West Indies spinner Samuel Badree said in commentary.
‘FRUSTRATING’: CRICKET GODS THWART AUSSIES
The cricket gods weren’t aiding the Australians on Sunday.
The previous afternoon, the West Indies fast bowlers were hooping the pink Dukes around corners, generating movement through the air across all three sessions in Kingston.
Mitchell Starc also unearthed plenty of swing under floodlights during the evening session, accounting for the dismissal of West Indies debutant Kevlon Anderson with an inswinger.
However, when play resumed in hot conditions at Sabina Park on Sunday, Australia’s quicks couldn’t get the ball to swing, relying instead on seam movement to create opportunities.
“The ball yesterday for the West Indies swung all day,” Blewett said in commentary.
“Very similar to conditions to what we have got at the moment … but already today there’s no swing whatsoever.
“It can be frustrating. Sometimes as a team, you’re either on the right end of it or the wrong end of it.”
Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite continued: “They say that cricketers aren’t the smartest, but we’ve got to contend with science!
“Is it too cold? Is it overcast enough? Are there enough clouds in the air? Is it too hot? Too sunny?”
Inevitably, when the West Indies fast bowlers got their hands on the new ball in the evening session, the pink Dukes started swinging again, with the Josephs dismantling Australia’s top order.
