‘Disaster’: Australia demolish West Indies in ‘embarrassing’ historic bloodbath

Australia may have been half-strength against the West Indies, but it hasn’t stopped one of the most lopsided annihilations in cricket history.

Australia has absolutely destroyed the West Indies, wrapping up the third ODI with 259 balls remaining in an absolute shellacking.

In Australia’s 1000th ODI, the result is the most balls remaining in a match featuring the Aussies in the format’s history, beating the 253 balls left in the 2004 match against the USA.

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It was also the shortest full match in Australian history, with the 31 overs eclipsing the 33.2 overs from a match against the West Indies in 2013.

It was the sixth fewest balls bowled in a complete ODI match in the format’s history.

Fewest balls bowled in a completed ODI:

104 Nepal v USA Kirtipur 2020
120 Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe Colombo 2001
129 Sri Lanka v India Colombo 2023
140 Canada v Sri Lanka Paarl 2003
164 Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka Harare 2004
186 Australia v West Indies Canberra 2024#AUSvWI

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) February 6, 2024

The Aussies were ruthless with the ball, while the Windies were equally hopeless, falling from 1/38 to 86 all out in ugly scenes.

While Marnus Labuschagne took an absolute screamer to start the rot, it was the dismissal of Matthew Forde that showed exactly the shambles the West Indies were in the match.

Forde crunched a ball into mid-wicket for what should have been the easiest of singles, but Roston Chase simply didn’t run.

This run out disaster said it all. Photo: Fox Sports

It saw Forde slip over and stand mid-pitch as the Aussies completed the run-out.

“This is a disaster for the West Indies, the wheels are falling off,” Mark Howard called during the match.

“It could not go any worse at the moment for the West Indies.”

Mark Waugh added: “That’s terrible isn’t it.”

At the break between innings, which was far earlier than expected after they were bowled out in 24 overs, Waugh said was fuming over the Windies’ performance.

“I would say that’s not even close to international standard,” Waugh said.

“Embarrassing to be honest. This is a good batting track … that’s not good enough. They need to have a look at themselves.”

Jake Fraser-McGurk is the future of Australia. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Australia then wasted no time, with Jake Fraser-McGurk giving another tantalising taste of his ability with 41 off 18 balls with three sixes and five fours, while Josh Inglis finished 35 not out off 16 balls as Australia took 41 balls and two wickets to reach the total.

Waugh said it showed exactly why the West Indies didn’t qualify for the World Cup.

“You can only beat who’s in front of you,” Waugh said.

“You’ve got to say, it’s not international standard, any of the three games. The first two were bordering on international level but not from a top nation like the West Indies.”

Howard added: “I’m glad Brian (Lara) wasn’t here to see it.”