Steve Smith with still a few boxes to tick for second Test against West Indies, Pat Cummins backs underachievers
The return of Steve Smith to Australia’s top order would be a welcome one given the struggles of those batters in the First Test against the West Indies, but captain Pat Cummins says it is no guarantee.
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Steve Smith will need to prove his fitness in the Grenada nets to play in the second Test as Pat Cummins backed Sam Konstas and Cameron Green to overcome their struggles.
Australia’s middle order and ruthless attack ensured the collective troubles of a revamped top four did not prove costly as the tourists took 10 wickets in an elongated final session to secure a 159-run win over the West Indies inside three days.
Having flown to New York while convalescing from the compound finger dislocation he suffered in the World Test Championship final, Smith is due to rejoin the Aussies ahead of the second Test beginning in Grenada on Friday morning (AEST).
After missing his chance to capitalise on Smith’s absence, Josh Inglis will almost certainly drop back out of the side should the former captain be available.
But according to Australian skipper Cummins, that is no guarantee.
“It’s not a certainty. I think he’s got a few things to tick off, so we’ll work out the next few days. But of course, if he’s fit, he’ll be straight back in,” Cummins said.
“He’s had a few hits over in New York, I think just with a tennis ball and an Incredi Ball. I think his wound’s looking good. So I think the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. So I think we’ll know more over the next few days.”
Playing a Test together for the first time, Konstas and Green both failed to make a significant impact with the bat. Teen opener Konstas was worked over by Shamar Joseph, falling for three and five, while Green again failed at first drop with scores of three and 15.
Cummins stressed however that it had been a difficult pitch for batting – Alex Carey’s second innings 65 was the highest individual total of the match – and was optimistic that Konstas would learn from the experience, and that Green was capable of returning to his best.
“That’s the challenge for our young batting group. It’s, if you’re presented that same wicket next week, would you do anything differently? Would you not? So I think that will be the conversations over the next few days, but now we back them in again. You know, their prep leading in was excellent, the way they talked about playing, you know, is really good. So we’ve got full confidence.
“Sammy tried a few different options yesterday. Not too many of them worked out, but full confidence (in him).
“I’m really happy with Cam Green, I think, to be able to pick someone like him who’s done it at the top level before. He’s obviously had a bit of a break, but done really well in county cricket. So yeah, I think he deserves a decent run at No. 3.”
The fact Australia won the Test so hastily, with none of the three frontline quicks bowling more than 30 overs for the match, means that barring a niggle or the expectation of a spinning wicket, the Aussies are unlikely to change their attack.
Josh Hazlewood was the primary destroyer in the West Indian run chase, picking up 5-43.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING: HEAD ROBBED AS PITCH PLAYS TRICKS
Australia have fought their way back into the first Test in Barbados with a trio of half-centuries to Alex Carey, Beau Webster and Travis Head.
But, as has been the case throughout this Test, there was plenty happening at Bridgetown.
Here’s what you missed while you were sleeping.
SEVENTH HELL
West Indies coach Daren Sammy said after day two that his team needed a “bollocking” after dropping six catches over the first two days of the Test. The hosts practised work in the cordon before play. And yet Justin Greaves still couldn’t hang onto a chance gifted by Travis Head on 21, denying Alzarri Joseph a wicket and continuing the pain for the Windies.
AS PLUMB AS IT GETS
The Kensington Oval pitch had been playing tricks since day one, and balls had started to keep low. Sensing that a ball would have his name on it, Head sought to attack, and did successfully, getting to 62. It was a sensible call, because that ball duly arrived, with Shamar Joseph shooting one through that trapped the left-hander stone cold in front as he lost his balance. Joseph didn’t need to appeal, with Head walking off before the finger was raised.
HOLDING COURT
Third umpire Adrian Holdstock had been in Sammy’s sights at the end of day two following a string of contentious calls that went the way of the tourists. Well there was finally some good news for the Windies on an UltraEdge front when Beau Webster departed on review with a spike showing he had nicked one down the leg side on 63.
HIT THE ROOF
Alex Carey played a classic punchy wicketkeeper’s innings at No. 7, blasting his way to 50 from just 40 balls including two sixes. The second six brought up his half-century as he danced down the wicket and launched Justin Greaves over deep mid-off and onto the roof of the Cricket West Indies hospitality building.
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