Total insanity as Mitchell Starc annihilates West Indies
Mitchell Starc has done things cricket has never seen before in a morning of absurd cricket in the West Indies.
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The West Indies have been rolled for 27.
You are reading that right.
The home side was knocked over for the second lowest score in the history of Test cricket on Tuesday morning as Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland wreaked historic havoc.
Australia claimed a series sweep with a 176 run victory in the third Test.
Starc, 35, produced a spell of bowling cricket has never seen before in a morning of total insanity at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
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The Aussie bowler was spitting fire as he took three wickets in his first over as the home side fell apart.
With Starc taking five wickets for two runs in his third over, the West Indies were left a shell of their former selves.
It was just the start of the West Indies’ humiliation.
Not to be outdone, Scott Boland stole some of Starc’s thunder when he recorded a hat-trick while demolishing the West Indies tail.
It is the first hat-trick by an Australian bowler since Peter Siddle’s unforgettable spell at the Gabba in 2010.
Starc had cricket historians reaching for their record books with five wickets in 15 deliveries.
The iconic record of the lowest score in Test cricket history (26 runs) very nearly fell.
It was only a piece of poor fielding from Sam Konstas that allowed the West Indies to reach 27 runs before Starc put the hosts out of their misery with the final wicket.
He finished with six wickets for nine runs.
The home side capitulated to lose their first five wickets for seven runs. They stumbled to 6/22 at the tea break, with Josh Hazlewood taking the other wicket.
Fittingly, Starc was named man of the match and also received the award as player of the series.
“Fantastic series, difficult batting conditions. Very enjoyable few days,” Starc said.
“We saw last night the conditions with the hard newish ball is difficult. It was pretty blustery and we were on the money.”
When asked about Boland, Starc said: “He is amazing. Would have played so many Tests in another team. He is never far from the perfect spell. Prepares all the time to play and shows what a wonderful Test bowler he is.”
Boland said: “I was nervous on that last ball. Amazing feeling.
“Didn’t expect ten wickets to fall in the first session. Starcy to start like that, three wickets in the opening over, unbelievable.”
‘Heartbreaking’: Black day for West Indies cricket
The home side survived just 14.3 overs with seven batsmen recording ducks — a new low in the history of Test cricket.
It was a black day for West Indies cricket. The abysmal total of 27 runs was a new low in the history of the Caribbean cricket federation. The West Indies’ previous lowest ever Test innings score had been 47 runs, set in 2003.
Aussie Test great Greg Blewett could barely believe it.
“I’m absolutely staggered by what I’m seeing. Unbelievable,” he said in commentary on ESPN.
“The Australians have absolutely torn the West Indies to shreds.”
Starc’s spell saw him reach 400 wickets in his 100th Test.
His five wickets in 15 balls spell broke the previous record of 19 balls, set by Ernie Toshack in 1947.
The cricket world was completely gobsmacked by the scenes.
Blewett earlier said on ESPN: “Unbelievable wasn’t it. At the start of that run chase you probably thought the West Indies were outsiders, but it was all blown away in the space of five minutes from Mitchell Starc”.
Blewett went on to say the opening spell had been “absolutely frightening”.
“Running in at 145km/h and swinging the pink ball. It was just complete devastation,” he said.
West Indies captain Roston Chase said during the post match ceremonies: “Heartbreaking to be in a position like this.
“It has been recurring for the whole series, makes it all the more disappointing. It is quite easy to assess - the bowlers kept us in all along, batters never really clicked.
“The next series is quite a while. We have time on our side. Need to have a look at the batting display and see how we can improve and put 300 totals.”
West Indies great Jimmy Adams also said it had been “wretched” batting by the home side, describing the innings as an “absolute disaster”.
Batting legend Carl Hooper told the ABC: “I really think a few heads should roll for this.
“They made some wholesale changes and got this result. To start with, reverse them. Return Andre Coley as red ball coach.”
World in awe of Mitchell Starc
Aussie Test great Brad Haddin said Starc’s opening overs had been a “ridiculous” spell of bowling.
Former West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite also called Starc “special” and a “modern day great”.
Cricket commentator Neal Gardner posted on X: “To do what Starc just did in his 100th test, it does not get any more iconic. I’m in awe”
One person posted: “There’s Mitchell Starc and then there’s everyone else. Even Bumrah fades when Starc is in full flight”.
Another cricket fan wrote: “Starc will end his career as one of the greatest cricketer ever”.
Starc removed John Campbell on the first ball of the innings, with the West Indies opener feathering a length delivery through to the wicketkeeper for a golden duck.
Three deliveries later he went bang bang.
First he dismissed debutant Kevlon Anderson via LBW. Brandon King was his next victim, knocked over by a searing delivery that took out off stump.
King’s golden duck set up a hat-trick delivery, which was not successful.
How the West Indies fell apart
The home side earlier suggested a fightback was on the cards as they wrapped up the Aussie tail quickly, setting themselves a total of 204 to chase.
The day began with Cameron Green getting knocked over with the first delivery of play.
Beginning the day at 6/99, Australia was all out for 121 with Green’s score of 42 the only meaningful innings.
It was Australia’s lowest innings total against the West Indies for 30 years.
Nobody could have predicted the carnage that came next.
Everything in the frenetic first session faded into irrelevance though in the face of Starc’s wrecking ball-type performance as he reached the break with figures of five for six off five overs, finishing with six for nine when he bowled last man Jayden Seales half an hour into the second session to seal the win.
The left-armer made up for a luckless first innings, when he picked up just one wicket, by dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the second innings and adding two more victims — debutant Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King off successive balls — before the opening over was completed.
Starc’s 400th wicket came at the start of his third over when the other opener, Mikyle Louis, was palpably leg-before.
At that stage, the West Indies were five for four and Starc boasted the astonishing figures of four wickets for no runs.
The 35-year-old eventually conceded two runs via the outside edge of Shai Hope’s bat but then promptly trapped the same batsman LBW for his fifth wicket.
Boland then stole the honours at the start of the second session when he dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican off successive deliveries.
Australia were without first-choice wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who suffered a concussion when hit on the helmet by Alzarri Joseph late on day two. Josh Inglis replaced him behind the stumps.
It was a merciful death for the Windies after earlier defeats in Barbados and Grenada.
Sadly for the hosts, there is still a Twenty20 series to come.
— with AFP
Originally published as Total insanity as Mitchell Starc annihilates West Indies
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