Despite some fightback by Shamar Joseph, both with bat and bowl, the West Indies find themselves in trouble at the end of day 1 of the AUS vs WI 1st Test. Put in to bat first, the Windies managed to score just 188 runs in the first inning, owing to some incredible bowling with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were not able to have any impact as Australian skipper Cummins proved to be too good for them. With their most dependable batters back into the hut, it was an uphill battle for the visitors.
23-year-old Kirk McKenzie led the fightback for the Windies with the bat. This maiden half-century propelled the visitors past the 100-run mark, but he soon fell victim to Josh Hazlewood.
At that point, the West Indies were 107-5. Soon after, they were reduced to 133–9. But Kemar Roach and debutant Shamar Joseph had other things in mind.
Debutant Shamar scored a quickfire 36 (41), while Roach remained till the end (17). Their 55-run last-wicket stand helped the West Indies get to 188 in the end.
Pacers day out at Adelaide Oval
Starting with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, it was the fast bowlers who were in control on the first day. The duo claimed eight wickets between them, with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon pitching in one wicket each.
But it wasn’t just the Aussie quicks who were in full flow. Right-arm pacer Shamar Joseph sent Steve Smith on his very first ball in international cricket and followed it up by bouncing Marnus Labuschagne out.
Of the 12 wickets that fell on Day 1, 11 were taken by fast bowlers, with Lyon being the only anomaly.
AUS vs WI 1st Test: Brief Scores
West Indies 1st innings: 188/10 (Kirk McKenzie 50; Pat Cummins 4/41)
Australia 1st innings: 59/2 (Usman Khawaja 30; Shamar Joseph 2/18)