Key events
Good tea break? While thinking about triumphs against the odds, I thought about Cathy Freeman running the 400m at the Stawell Gift with a handicap of over 100 metres.
Tea – West Indies 177 for 9
The Windies last pair has survived the extra half hour. Pakistan’s tail got bowled out from seven down when the half hour was taken in Melbourne not long ago. The team is still in a pretty bad position, but it’s something.
Shamar Joseph has the highest score by a West Indies No11 on debut. The partnership is worth 44.
59th over: West Indies 177-9 (Roach 11, S. Joseph 31) So it’s Lyon vs Joseph. For potentially a full over. This should be interesting. Plays a couple normally, but fourth ball there’s a huge swipe and more luck, the ball scooting past the stumps for three runs.
58th over: West Indies 174-9 (Roach 11, S. Joseph 28) Another step-away from Joseph facing Hazlewood, opens the front leg and swipes through midwicket. Only for one, they have a fielder back now. They had one back when he hit that six, mind you. Roach back on, conventional field, but he gets a run right away, inside edge behind square. The field spreads for the No11, which seems strange to say. Deep long leg, deep backward square, deep forward square, deep point. He finds the deep backward fielder with another meaty slap.
This pair – they’ve almost seen off the extra half hour! They’ve put on 41!
57th over: West Indies 167-9 (Roach 6, S. Joseph 26) Lyon to Roach, who eventually squeezes out a leg bye trying to sweep. Joseph has one ball to face against the spinner, so he leans away to leg and tries to barrel a cross-bat whack through cover. Toe-ends it, and it just falls short of catching cover. Gets a run on the bobble.
56th over: West Indies 165-9 (Roach 6, S. Joseph 25) Backing away, Joseph, and trying to murder the ball from Hazlewood, baseballing at a length again. Misses. But next delivery, the charge is upgraded from attempted murder to the full deal. Slots it waaaay over deep midwicket for six! What a shot that is.
Hazlewood goes full to change it up. Joseph misses his huge drive. Hazlewood switches over the wicket, having been around the wicket so far to the left-hander. Angles across and Joseph pulls anyway, missing by a mile. Then right back next to the off stump goes Josh H, and Joseph leaves!
55th over: West Indies 159-9 (Roach 6, S. Joseph 19) Got a tailender swinging? Get your spinner on. Here comes Lyon, but Roach has the better of it, thumping a boundary over mid on. Why is it so often the lower order making runs where the top order cannot?
54th over: West Indies 155-9 (Roach 2, S. Joseph 19) Hazlewood replaces Starc, and starts bashing away at a length like he never stopped. But Shamar says, that’s too predictable! Second ball of the over, leans back, slams the ball off that length over midwicket for four. Quite the shot. Tee-ball. Then goes again, down the ground! This time he nearly cleans up his batting partner. Shuffles to leg to give himself a touch more room. Roach sees the ball coming at his midriff and has to stick his butt out like he’s in a music video, creating some space for the ball to fly through. The technique works. And now Joseph has the lust for fours, and flings his bat at two short balls without making contact. But connects with the last ball of the over. Backs away and cannons a cut shot through cover! Gets another two. Audacious shot.
53rd over: West Indies 145-9 (Roach 1, S. Joseph 6) We were due for tea then, but the umpires must have extended the session with nine wickets down. Cummins will keep on Cumminsing. Just the two slips with a gully. Two deep for the hook. Short leg for the fend. Mid on, mid off, point, inviting the drive. Roach dead-bats the lot though.
52nd over: West Indies 145-9 (Roach 1, S. Joseph 6) Strong drive from Joseph, over the bowler’s head – wobble seam, I think Starc got a fingertip on that while throwing his hand up for Detroit. Three runs for Joseph #2. Kemar Roach drops a run to square leg and walks through. They’ve put on 10. Joseph ducks a bouncer, which is called wide. Misses a full ball but the yorker misses the leg stump.
51st over: West Indies 140-9 (Roach 1, S. Joseph 6) Huge swish from Kemar gets him nothing. Cummins hunting another five-for: he took two of them in Melbourne and one in Sydney. Doesn’t get it here, though, his slips remain unfed.
50th over: West Indies 140-9 (Roach 1, S. Joseph 6) This batting caper is easy. Shamar Joseph gets a full ball on his pads and clips it nicely for four. Midwicket. Starc makes him hop once or twice… then that’s nasty. I retract, it’s not easy. Shamar gets grilled, as in smashed in the grille, leaning away from a short ball, trying to limbo it, but unable to dodge the rising ball. It seems the contact was mostly upwards, pushing the helmet up rather than making his skull rattle. He carries on, tries an uppercut but misses.
49th over: West Indies 136-9 (Roach 1, S. Joseph 2) One Joseph replaces another, with Shamar at 11 taking over from Alzarri at 8. Kemar Roach is already out there, having replaced Motie. The last pair find three singles basically by holding the bat in the way of the ball. Might want to suggest that to a few colleagues.
WICKET! Joseph c Smith b Cummins 14, West Indies 133-9
These wickets don’t seem worth the exclamation marks. Perhaps Joseph thinks, why am I applying myself here when everyone else is throwing the bat? He sees a ball way back of a length but plays a back-foot punch, on the up. Unsurprisingly Cummins gets some deck and moves it enough to take the edge to second slip. Another one for Smith’s bank of catches.
WICKET! Motie c Lyon b Starc 1, West Indies 133-8
48th over: West Indies 133-8 (Joseph 14) Starc to Motie, three slips, gully, point, and after he faces four balls with confidence, Starc brings in a short leg to try getting in the batter’s head. And it works! The fifth ball is short but down leg, easy to avoid. The sixth though is fuller, at the leg stump, but Motie is already on the move to the leg side, backing away, so he hacks at the ball but only corkscrews it up and down to point.
47th over: West Indies 133-7 (Joseph 14, Motie 1) Gudakesh Motie, a left-hander, is next to the middle. Nudges a run square first ball.
WICKET! da Silva c Head b Cummins 6, West Indies 132-7
Gee, that’s pretty weak. Cummins has a few out for the short ball, not the full barrage field but a deep square leg and a fine leg with a midwicket. Joshua da Silva plays a pull anyway, edges it behind square, and is fortunate to see it land safe. So how does he respond? Plays another one, and this time hits it straight to deep square leg. Good catch leaning forward. But still. Why play the shot? He did roll the wrists a bit but didn’t gauge the bounce.
46th over: West Indies 130-6 (Da Silva 4, Joseph 14) Starc comes on, and Joseph will keep swinging. Fresh air shot first ball, driving straight. Then another fresh air shot, but this one gets his team four. It swings down the leg side, isn’t hit, and swings away from Carey for byes. Joseph gets more serious and starts blocking for a while, but last ball of the over he plays a purring shot! Cover drive, down on one knee, a touch of width on the full ball, and Alzarri puts it away.
45th over: West Indies 122-6 (Da Silva 4, Joseph 10) Hello gang. Lovely day here in Adelaide. Sun is sprawled across the ground like a contended cat. Must be a few of those basking in it somewhere. Josh de Silva finally opens his bank for the day, driving Cummins nicely through cover for four. Then nails a pull shot but the fielder at square leg does very well to snatch it and prevent not just a boundary but any run at all.
44th over: West Indies 118-6 (Da Silva 0, Joseph 10) Hazlewood returns to earth, driven by new batter Alzarri Joseph drives for three down the ground and then edges for four through slips. Seven off the over! On that weird note, I’ll hand over to Geoff Lemon who’ll steer you home to stumps. Thanks for your company and see you on the morrow!
43rd over: West Indies 112-6 (Da Silva 0, Joseph 4) Lyon’s eighth over is a quiet one as Da Silva and Joseph grapple with the gravity of 112-6.
42nd over: West Indies 108-6 (Da Silva 0, Joseph 1) Alzarri Joseph gets off the mark with a single as Lee Henderson writes in to reminisce:
“Afternoon Angus, The last time I saw ‘McKenzie’ on a scoreboard it was Boxing day 1968 and his nickname was ‘Garth’ and he wasn’t half bad having taken 8 fer 71 against a West Indian side that was coming off the heady days of the late 50’s early 60’s sides. The Windies of that era were entering the doldrums and rebuilding phase that eventually led to Clive Lloyd and, ultimately, world dominance.”
Well said, Lee! I’m only sorry for you, the crowd (and most of all the West Indies) that Mr McKenzie couldn’t remain on the scorecard for longer. Alas, he’s now back in the pavilion with five of his teammates.
WICKET! Greaves c Labuschagne b Hazlewood 5 (West Indies 108-6)
Hazlewood has four! Greaves played a panicked drive at another peach on a length and Labuschagne plucked it out of the air for a fine catch at mid off. Hazlewood now has 8-30 in his last 20 overs in Test cricket. Incredible!
41st over: West Indies 107-5 (Greaves 5, Da Silva 0) As 25-year-old keeper Joshua Da Silva gets to grips with the rescue job in front of him, Lyon turns the screws with another tight over.
40th over: West Indies 107-5 (Greaves 4, Da Silva 0) The Windies are really wobbling now. Hazlewood has three wickets, Australia have five and two new batters are at the crease facing the greatest bowling cartel in cricket. Hazlewood finishes with a wicket maiden and the adoring roars of the Adelaide crowd ringing in his ears.
WICKET! McKenzie c Carey b Hazlewood 50 (West Indies 107-5)
Hazlewood does it again! This time it’s the danger man Kirk McKenzie who falls. He’d been softened up on the first delivery which struck him a painful blow on the inside thigh. Smelling blood, Hazlewood put the third delivery back of length and in the corridor of uncertainty. McKenzies followed it and feathered an edge behind to give the Hoff 3-14. A good innings ends, Australia have five wickets and are moving in for a quick kill on day one.
39th over: West Indies 107-4 (McKenzie 50, Greaves) Lyon gets lift-off! It was a fat full toss and it got the punishment it deserved as McKenzie lifted it over the infield and down the ground for FOUR. Great shot and a single off the next ball brings up a fine half-century for the Jamaican No 3. And now another full toss gets Greaves off the mark with a crisp cover drive.
38th over: West Indies 98-4 (McKenzie 45, Greaves 0) Hazlewood snagged a wicket from his first delivery… and almost got another on the second! New batter Justin Greaves got a big inside edge on it and narrowly missed his leg stump. Another promising partnership fizzles for the visitors.
WICKET! Hodge c Green b Hazlewood 12 (West Indies 98-4)
Hazlewood strikes! And again it’s a lovely catch from Cameron Green at gully. Hodge’s confidence was up after that last over and he took on Hazlewood’s first ball with a big step down. But the Hoff had his measure, putting it full and wide and drawing the edge. It flew quickly but Green went left and snaffled it easily. Australia back on top in Adelaide.
37th over: West Indies 98-3 (McKenzie 45, Hodge 12) Lyon returns but the runs come from the get-go, McKenzie clipping a single off his toes and Hodge driving a loose one for three. Good batting.
36th over: West Indies 98-3 (McKenzie 44, Hodge 9) As predicted by Sam Cooke, Al Green (and me last over), a change is gonna come. Now it has. Cummins takes a spell and throws the ball to Hazlewood. But the result is the same. McKenzie carves him past Lyon on the off-side for a cracking boundary. He then takes a single on the last to keep strike for the next.
35th over: West Indies 89-3 (McKenzie 39, Hodge 9) Sweet shot! Green delivered a fast half-volley on middle stump and Hodge cashed in, punching it past the bowler for an excellent boundary. Green rallies on the third, beating the batter for pace and thumping it into the back pad. A shout rings out but the umpire quickly shakes his head. A fast bouncer puts Hodge on his heels. It grazes the helmet grille but the batter’s technique was sound, he squatted in time and his eyes never left it.
34th over: West Indies 85-3 (McKenzie 39, Hodge 5) Cummins comes again but these two batters have his measure for the moment. McKenzie drives sweetly at the second but straight to a fielder. The fourth draws a deflection that earns the batter two runs. There’s a rare keeping error from Carey on the last delivery as the ball fails to carry into his gloves, running away for four byes. Might be time for a change-up, eh Pat?
33rd over: West Indies 79-3 (McKenzie 37, Hodge 5) Green is starting to nudge 140kph in his third over. He’s putting them on a length at good pace but there’s not a lot of threat so he tosses a bumper ball in on the fifth. Hodge sways easily out of its path and lets a maiden play out.
32nd over: West Indies 79-3 (McKenzie 37, Hodge 5) With seven runs from Green’s over, McKenzie has passed his highest Test score of 32 and faces up to Cummins’ ninth over with 37 from 59 deliveries. Promising signs but the skipper squares him up and beats him on the fifth ball. There’s a shout from keeper Carey but no one else. Cummins doesn’t look convinced but he decides to review anyway. It’s a poor call. Replays show you could fit a fist through the gap between McKenzie’s bat and the ball.
31st over: West Indies 79-3 (McKenzie 37, Hodge 5) Green gets a second over. This is the 24-year-old’s first Test since being dropped on last year’s Ashes tour after he failed to reach 50 in eight innings. Mitch Marsh has performed beautifully in Green’s stead but now the rivals line up together for the first time in the XI. Kirk McKenzie likes Green almost as much as the Australian selectors, slashing his fourth ball over slips before hammering another three with a drive through covers.
30th over: West Indies 72-3 (McKenzie 30, Hodge 5) Close by Cummins! McKenzie stepped out and swatted at it but he was badly beaten for pace and the ball ended up sailing just a milimetre over the off stump. Oohs and aahs from all. McKenzie then survives another miscue from the fourth delivery to run two. A single on the fifth closes it out.
29th over: West Indies 68-3 (McKenzie 26, Hodge 5) Cameron Green enters the attack. The recalled allrounder already has a great catch against his name in this Test, now he’s looking to add to his 30 Test scalps. He beats McKenzie with a 138kph zinger before the batter returns serve, working him away for a single. Green switches his lengths to Hodge before throwing in a bouncer. Easily ducked by the batter and no more runs from the over.
28th over: West Indies 68-3 (McKenzie 26, Hodge 5) And we’re back! Pat Cummins has the Kookaburra in his hand and this Test by the scruff of the neck. He starts his seventh over with 2-17 and Kavem Hodge is in his sights. A late Test debutant at age 30, Hodge hails from the tiny island of Dominica but he’s been to Adelaide before – as the youngest-ever full member of the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy (and its first West Indian scholar). He certainly seems at ease with conditions, playing what is arguably the shot of the day to bang Pat Cummins no less through covers to the boundary.
Although this one runs a tight second…
In the pre-iPhone days, I took my grandfather’s trusty old transistor radio to the Big Day Out festival in Sydney that day and, as the final overs played out, I swear even the Cosmic Psychos turned their amps down to hear how it ended.
In their 94-year and 119-Test rivalry, Australia and West Indies have fought out some famous cricketing battles but none greater than Test cricket’s inaugural Tied Test in 1960-61…
LUNCH: West Indies are 64 for 3 on day one of the first Test
A tough first session for the visitors, losing three top-order wickets for just 64 runs. Australia’s elite bowlers delivered their customary vim and vitality, Cummins crashing through the opening batters before Josh Hazlewood’s class claimed a third wicket, his 250th in Tests, just before the break.
There are bright signs for the West Indies though. Impressive No 3 Kirk McKenzie is unbeaten on 26 and looking good in his second Test and Kavem Hodge at the crease in his Test debut looking to continue the dazzling form that earned him 52 and 99 in the tour game last week.
With this Adelaide pitch settling down, both young West Indies batters keen to attack and Australia’s bowlers unlikely to relent, we have an exciting second session ahead of us under sunny skies in Adelaide.
Grab a bite and we’ll be back in halfa.
27th over: West Indies 64-3 (McKenzie 26, Hodge 1) Nicely drive for three by McKenzie. Cummins dived to stop the boundary but they get three. It brings the first Test runs for debutant Kavem Hodge as he jumps to squirt Starc down legside for a single. Those early clouds have burned off and we’re now playing in bright Adelaide sunshine. And things get even brighter for the West Indies as McKenzie rises onto his toes to hammer Starc over the covers for a lovely FOUR from the final ball of the session. Good note to go to lunch on for the visitors!
26th over: West Indies 56-3 (McKenzie 19, Hodge 0) Hazlewood’s wicket ices a marvellous career so far – 250 wickets from 67 Tests at under 26. Great stats by the big fella who, at age 33, is now into his tenth season in the baggy green. He can’t add another to the tally, putting another six on a handkerchief without leaking a run.
25th over: West Indies 56-3 (McKenzie 19, Hodge 0) Cummins going for the jugular before lunch! With the West Indies three-down and reeling and a new batter at the crease, the benign charms of The Bison are put out to pasture and the demonic delights of Mitchell Starc are again unleashed. And ALMOST A CATCH! McKenzie flashed at the final ball and it sprayed square just over a leaping Nathan Lyon.
24th over: West Indies 52-3 (McKenzie 17, Athanaze 13) The West Indies batters were finding the middle of the bat (albeit not the gaps in the field) and restoring this innings nicely until Hazlewood struck. It brings debutant Kavem Hodge to the wicket after his excellent display in last week’s tune-up, where he followed up a fifty in the first dig with a 99 in the second
WICKET! Athanaze bowled Hazlewood 13 (West Indies 52-3)
Hazlewood gets his 25oth Test wicket! And it’s a characteristically sublime delivery that achieves the feat. Athanaze saw it floating past the off stump channel and didn’t commit to a stroke but Hazlewood had deceived him, angled it back and clipped the top of off stump. Poor leave by the batter but beautiful bowling by The Hoff.
23rd over: West Indies 52-2 (McKenzie 15, Athanaze 13) Driven for FOUR by McKenzie! Wonderful shot by the West Indies first drop to a ball Marsh floated at piffling pace right into the batter’s strike zone. The run-rate has climbed now above two-per-over as the visitors slowly claw things back.
