Australia v West Indies: Follow all the action from day 3 of the day-night Test in Adelaide
Cricket cult hero Scott Boland almost had us thinking we had travelled back in time to his Boxing Day masterclass with five minutes of mayhem that has the Windies facing certain defeat.
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Scott Boland rekindled his Boxing Day masterclass with another slice of Test match magic in a performance which could cruelly rob Michael Neser of playing again.
Senior fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss next week’s first Test against South Africa, but Pat Cummins is on track to return — and such is the strength of Australia’s fast bowling depth, that a pink ball shootout has broken out for one spot.
Neser was outstanding in his own right in Adelaide, but Mr Fairytale Boland stole the show again, taking three wickets for no runs in a scintillating first over under lights which added another chapter to his unique and marvellous cameo career at age 33.
The pressure was on after Neser — who took two wickets to Boland’s none in the first innings — was preferred to take the new ball — before the man they call ‘The Barrel’, rolled in for another destruction derby as the Windies slumped to 4-38 at stumps and facing certain defeat on day four, needing an impossible 459 runs.
After a caught behind and an lbw, Boland’s latest over of carnage reached its peak with the dismissal of Jermaine Blackwood, clinched by a stunning diving catch from two-metre Cameron Green just millimeters from the grass which brought the house down and was celebrated by Green carrying teammate Usman Khawaja around like his child.
The reception that followed wasn’t quite the same as Boland’s return to field in front of Bay 13 at the MCG last year after his famous 6-7, but Adelaide fans in the Chappell Stand were on their feet to rejuvenate the Victorian quick’s status as one of the great cult figures as he finished with 3-9.
More wickets on day four could safely keep that special bowling average under 10.
In keeping with Boland’s shy and unassuming style he couldn’t even bring himself to raise a hand of acknowledgment, but the West Indies raised the white flag as Mitchell Starc got in on the action after Australia set a virtually impossible victory target of 497.
“It was a nice feeling — it gives you a bit of confidence for the rest of your spell. Getting three in an over, I couldn’t have dreamt of that,” Boland told cricket.com.au.
“On the boundary I’ve got kids screaming at me for autographs the whole time. It’s nice, I try to get as many as I can.
“Some kids get a bit disappointed but I’m getting to as many as I can.
“Usually (I get heckled at Adelaide Oval in Shield cricket) — but not tonight, they were all chanting my name.”
Boland was gobsmacked at Green’s catch.
“Ripper. He’s so good in the gully — it’s like having two fielders at gully. Last year I couldn’t believe how many runs he saved there. It was a ripper catch as well,” he said.
Sadly, the most competitive West Indian for the summer was Brian Lara on Saturday taking down Adelaide Strikers star leg-spinner Rashid Khan in a brilliant segment on Fox Cricket.
But adding further intrigue to next week’s first Test against South Africa, is the fact David Warner (28) missed another golden opportunity to cash in against one of the worst touring sides to visit Australia in modern times.
The opener may need runs in the three Tests against the Proteas — which will include his 100th — to guarantee his future in Test cricket beyond this summer, although there is still a dearth of opening options stepping up to replace him.
Warner will take confidence from the fact he’s making starts only to find frustrating ways to get out, and he heads to a venue at the Gabba where he’s made four hundreds and averages 64.
Another fascinating inter-team battle is also unfolding, with Steve Smith’s quick-fire 35 in Australia’s second innings declaration of 6-199 enough to once again leapfrog Marnus Labuschagne to reclaim the better average.
Smith now averages 60.98 compared to Labuschagne’s 60.82 and the jostling will now continue against South Africa, but nothing could take away from the fact Labuschagne has now knocked off Matt Hayden for most runs by an Australian in a two-match series — with his 502 pipping Hayden’s efforts against Zimbabwe by one run.
Australian captain Cummins returned to bowling on the field before play on Saturday to suggest he is firmly in the frame for a swift return and retake the helm against South Africa.
Hazlewood however, won’t play at the Gabba as he battles a side strain, with Australia to name a squad to face Australia after this Test.
“The Wild Thing” Lance Morris remains an outside chance to debut as a wildcard at a Gabba surface that would suit his 150km/h heat, but Boland, who was already highest in the pecking order, may have taken the unassailable upper-hand in the bowl-off for Brisbane, even against Queenslander Neser who knows the Gabba conditions like the back of his hand.
Given Neser has had to wait a full 12 months between his two Tests, there is no certainty when his next Test might come if overlooked for Brisbane – although he’s showed enough in Adelaide to suggest he should be part of the touring party to next year’s Ashes.
The first innings belonged to Lyon (3-57) who was all class as the Windies’ were bowled out for 214 only for the embattled tourists to be batting again 31 overs later.
Cummins’ calm poise as a leader could be important in the build-up to a clash against South Africa starting next Saturday which will inevitably be dominated by chatter about the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, refueled by disastrous timing of the failed leadership review into Warner.
The sore skipper completed a lengthy bowling session on Friday, followed by further running drills where he ran through his run-up at good speed.
Medicos will assess how Cummins pulls up from the testing session, but the feeling is the skipper is progressing well given it’s only eight days since he first tweaked his quad in Perth.
Cummins has said medicos have told him it’s a seven-10 day injury, so the fact physios are already comfortable with him bowling in practice is a positive sign.
BOLAND’S TRIPLE-WICKET MADNESS
Australia’s Scotty Boland has set alight the night session at the Adelaide Oval, capturing three wickets in his first over.
The Victorian speedster had Kraigg Bratwaite caught behind by Alex Carey before trapping Shamarh Brooks in front LBW for a two-ball duck.
He then followed up with the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood caught in the gully by Cameron Green.
The Windies also lost Tangenarine Chanderpaul for 17 runs, caught behind by Carey off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, to be facing certain defeat.
AUSSIES PULL PIN ON QUICK RUNS
Australia has reached 6/199 before declaring to set the Windies a mamoth 497-run chase in their second stint.
It now seems just a matter of how long they can hold out against the Australian attack with the remainder of tonight’s session and two full days remaining.
GREEN OUT- SURELY THAT’S ENOUGH?
Cameron Green skied a pull shot and has been caught for 5. It seems pointless to throw wickets away – surely it’s time to declare and send the Windies in?
SMITH OUT CHASING QUICK RUNS
Steve Smith has been dismissed, caught on the fine leg boundary in the pursuit of quick runs. Alzarri Joseph was the bowler – and owed the West Indies one after dropping Smith a few overs prior.
It was another positive sign for Devon Thomas too – the backup wicket keeper who has taken wickets and now taken a difficult outfield catch.
Great to see the Adelaide crowd get behind backup wicketkeeper Devon Thomas as he adds a difficult outfield catch to his achievements this week. He's such a likable cricketer. #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/Ke4ltenV0b
— ðŸFlashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) December 10, 2022
MARNUS FINALLY OUT FOR UNDER 100
In the pursuit of quick runs, Marnus Labuschagne opted for some shots that old time cricket fans would call ‘agricultural' and he came unstuck on the stroke of tea.
Roston Chase pulled off a sharp catch at gully and gave Anderson Phillip a memorable wicket.
Smith and Labuschagne are taking it up a notch! #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/Ls6j87zgNO
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 10, 2022
ONE WICKET BRINGS TWO!
David Warner started strongly in Australia’s second innings but the introduction of the off spin of Roston Chase immediately gets the breakthrough – Warner chopping on, bowled for 28.
Just two balls later, he has Usman Khawaja as well! Caught behind for 45.
ROSTON CHASE ðŸ‘ðŸ‘
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 10, 2022
He removes Warner and Khawaja in the same over - from 77/0 to 78/2 🔥#AUSvWI
WINDIES ALL OUT ON THE STROKE OF DINNER
A fighting last wicket partnership of 43 has come to an end with the wicket of Roston Chase for 34 and the West Indies are all out for 214, still trailing Australia’s first innings total by 297.
Australia could but are unlikely to enforce the follow on.
Chase and Marquino Mindley proved to be a frustration to Australia for just under an hour with some big shots to all points of the ground.
Marquino Mindley with a six on Test debut, from No.11! #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/dqcsXj7ICL
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 10, 2022
ANOTHER BATTING MIXUP, ANOTHER RUNOUT!
The rearguard action of nightwatchman, Anderson Philip is over, run out after another batting mixup between the wickets for 42.
Second run out of the day!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 10, 2022
Another wicket falls and Phillip's gone for 43. 😮
📺 Watch #AUSvWI on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/f2as0DorY0
✠BLOG https://t.co/JU00G6l9SS
📲 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/MZXEvfkXRGpic.twitter.com/IskRsR16WQ
TWO WICKETS, 0 RUNS TO START DAY 3
Jason Holder follows quickly, caught behind of Starc for 0.
To say this has not started well for the Windies is an understatement.
The Windies only sent this tweet 11 minutes after the start of play, but by that point Chanderpaul was one of two wickets to fall. #AUSvWIhttps://t.co/sW0uJN1Qm4
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) December 10, 2022
What a start for the Aussies! 💥
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) December 10, 2022
Mitch Starc with a clever piece of work in the field to run out Chanderpaul. #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/HXCXRPygcv
CHANDERPAUL RUN OUT
If the West Indies thought things couldn’t get any worse … they have.
The only player able to show any resistance to the Australian bowling attack last night, Tagenarine Chanderpaul has been run out in the first over of the day’s play without adding to his overnight score of 47.
Jason Holder the new batter to the crease.
LARA’S COMEBACK
Brian Lara is making a comeback to cricket … well, at least in the nets.
The West Indies legend, considered the greatest player of spin of his era, will pad up to face the modern game’s No. 1 leg-spinner, Rashid Khan in a special on Fox Cricket during the day three first interval.
Lara casually mentioned to Fox bosses how he’d love to test himself against Khan, so they went and made it happen.
Lara will pad up against Adelaide Strikers ace Khan in what shapes as fascinating viewing.
Australian players, including Matthew Hayden, used to drool at watching Lara play against spin during his illustrious Test career, and believed he was so good he had the ability to almost take the mickey out of anyone bowling slow.
Lara retired from Test cricket way back in 2006, but at 53 years of age he is still motivated to test himself against the best spinner of the current age.
The West Indies will resume at 4-102 and still a million miles away from Australia’s first innings total of 7 (dec)-511.
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