Australia vs West Indies: Last-ball wicket leaves Test on edge after debutant thrills with backflip
The Gabba Test hangs in the balance after an incredible day highlighted by a debutant’s backflip celebration and a four-wicket burst which threatened to inspire one of the Test cricket’s greatest upsets.
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A dropped catch 10 minutes from stumps capped a horror day for Steve Smith as the West Indies gave themselves a legitimate chance of a first Test win against Australia in more than two decades.
Pat Cummins thrashed his highest Test score then daringly declared with his side still trailing on a day in which the Windies heaped pressure on Australia’s revamped top order.
Tasked with surviving eight overs against the new pink ball under the Gabba lights, the tourists should have lost captain Kraigg Brathwaite for three after he edged Mitchell Starc, only for Smith to spill a regulation low chance at second slip.
However Josh Hazlewood struck in the day’s final over as opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul was sent packing for four on review after a faint edge showed up on Snicko.
At stumps the Windies were 1-13 in their second innings, leading by 35.
On a topsy-turvy Australia Day at the Gabba, the Aussies collapsed late in the first session before half-centuries from Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey and Cummins hauled their side back in the game.
Having eked their way to an unlikely 311 after debutant all-rounder Kevin Sinclair rode his luck to a half-century, Smith, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head fell within five overs before the interval to leave Australia reeling at 4-24 on day two.
The issue of who would replace David Warner at the top of the order was perhaps the hottest question in Australian sport for months, and though the sample size remains small, early indications suggest selectors pulled the wrong rein by indulging Smith’s request to move up the order which in turn allowed Green a way back into the team at his preferred No. 4 spot.
The dominance of Australia’s quicks combined with Head’s century papered over the cracks during the first Test at Adelaide Oval but there was nowhere to hide as Kemar Roach ran amok with the pink ball in overcast Brisbane on Friday.
Kevin Sinclair dismisses Usman Khawaja for his first Test wicket and pulls out one almighty celebration! 🙌
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) January 26, 2024
BLOG 👉 https://t.co/wH0Pn2rwrI#AUSvsWIpic.twitter.com/f6jfsLwSyc
Smith fell in the first over for six, having once more stepped too far across onto the off-side and been undone by a straightening delivery.
While umpire Nitin Menon turned down the Windies’ appeal, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite found success when sending the call upstairs.
Smith’s sturdiness had been identified as a reason he would be able to succeed as an opener but former England captain Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket that there were clear issues with the ex-Aussie skipper.
“He’s all over the place. He’s all over the place with that technique. That should not get you out as an opening bat. He goes back to a length ball,” Vaughan said.
Aussie great Adam Gilchrist shared similar sentiments.
“Steve Smith, he’s always been a guy that shuffles across. But look how pronounced this movement is, back and across. It seems to be slightly more exaggerated than normal even,” Gilchrist said.
“When one just angles back in, he’s missed that by almost a foot. Completely deceived on length and when you’re moving so much and the head gets so far outside the line of the ball, you’re deceived on line as well.”
Labuschagne, hardly firing on all cylinders over the past 12 months either, fell in the following over for three, caught brilliantly at fourth slip by Sinclair after edging Alzarri Joseph.
Green, who is averaging just 17.33 in Test cricket since the start of the World Test Championship final in June, fell meekly after poking a catch to mid-off off veteran Roach, who was on a hat-trick after Head tickled one down the leg side to go for a golden duck.
Khawaja survived the hat-trick ball after the break but kept losing partners as Mitch Marsh gifted a catch to mid-on after being hurried by Joseph on 21.
Carey was awfully lucky not to be bowled on eight by Shamar Joseph after the gloveman’s off-bail wobbled in its crevice but remained lodged.
The South Australian then hammered the softening pink ball before holing out to the second-Test paceman for 65 from 49 balls.
Starc nicked off to Alzarri Joseph for two, leaving Australia still in trouble at 7-161.
However Cummins and Khawaja fired under lights as the Windies’ grip loosened.
The skipper smacked eight fours and a six en route to a career-high 64 not out, while Khawaja made 73 before becoming Sinclair’s first Test wicket, an achievement the spinner celebrated with a backflip.
When Nathan Lyon fell for 19 to make it nine down, Cummins made his way off alongside the tweaker despite Australia still being 22 runs in arrears.
On a pitch that Starc had claimed was not suited to pink-ball cricket, the Windies frustrated Australia for well over an hour on day two after resuming at 8-266.
Roach was run for eight after falling on his backside in a comical mix-up with Sinclair, who was eventually stumped by Carey for an even 50 to give Nathan Lyon a second wicket.
Green had given Sinclair a life on 30 when spiling a straightforward chance at gully off Cummins’ bowling.
The Windies haven’t beaten Australia in a Test since early 2003, and last won in the format on Australian soil in 1997.
DAY 2 LIVE
with Tim Michell
10.32PM: LAST OVER WICKET — CHANDERPAUL CAUGHT!
Josh Hazlewood vindicates the call to declare behind with a wicket in the last over, snaring Chanderpaul caught behind with a faint edge.
He was given not out on field but Hazlewood was adamant it was out and convinced Pat Cummins to review.
Cummins can do no wrong and the West Indies will start tomorrow at 1-13 with a lead of 35 runs — that’s stumps at the Gabba.
10.20PM: DROPPED! SMITH PUTS DOWN A CHANCE
That is the one Australia wanted.
Mitch Starc forces Kraigg Brathwaite to play, gets the edge and it flies to Steve Smith at slip.
But Smith grasses a catch he would normally swallow and the West Indian captain gets a life late on day two.
Brathwaite’s footwork left a lot to be desired there and he got away with poking at a ball he probably didn’t need to play.
10.10PM: WILL HISTORY REPEAT?
One of the few times in Test cricket where a team has declared behind and won was in 2012 — involving Australia and the West Indies.
The Windies made 9-449 batting first and declared and Michael Clarke called Australia in at 9-406 in its first innings.
The Aussies had earlier been 7-250 before Ryan Harris (68 not out), Ben Hilfenhaus (24) and Nathan Lyon (40 not out) led the fightback.
Hilfenhaus and Harris then combined for seven wickets, the West Indies were all out for 148 and Australia chased down its target with three wickets to spare.
9.45PM: AUSTRALIA DECLARES AT 8-289
Australia is going to test out the West Indies’ batters tonight under lights.
Nathan Lyon is the last wicket to fall after trying to smash Alzarri Joseph into the stands and edging through to De Silva.
Pat Cummins finishes unbeaten on his highest Test score of 64 not out and while we are kind of sad he didn’t go for a ton, it’s probably the right call.
West Indies lead by 22 runs but are going to face a huge task to go in without a wicket tonight.
9.40PM: FORMER MP’S TWEET REGRET …
We wonder if former MP Craig Kelly might be thinking about deleting this tweet.
Pat Cummins (not related to former AFL player Scott Cummings) now has his highest Test score, is hitting bombs into the crowd and Australia might end up with a first-innings lead.
GO WOKE, GO BROKE
— Craig Kelly (@CKellyUAP) January 26, 2024
It’s almost as though it brings on instant Karma.
Australian cricketers Pat Cummings and Steve Smith both speak out against Australia Day.
And in the current test against the lowly rated West Indies, Cummings records the disappointing figures of 1-76 and…
9.27PM: CUMMINS FIFTY
Pat Cummins has his first Test fifty in more than five years.
The Aussie captain could not have picked a better time to reach the milestone either with his team under the pump when he came to the wicket.
The last time Cummins made 50 in a Test was December, 2018 and his highest Test score is 63.
Pat Cummins' first Test 50 in more than five years... #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/Bhrz3trK0X
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 26, 2024
9.16PM: SINCLAIR STRIKES!
Ok, so we just typed that Sinclair was having a nightmare.
Should we take some blame for that wicket? Probably.
Usman Khawaja comes forward to drive and edges Sinclair to slip, with Australia now 8-242.
Sinclair delights the Gabba by taking off and doing a flip to celebrate his maiden Test wicket.
9.15PM: COULD AUSTRALIA DECLARE?
There are calls for Australia to hand the West Indies a first-innings lead to take advantage of the best bowling conditions under lights.
Speaking on SEN Cricket, Steven O’Keefe said: “I want Australia to bowl tonight. I want 15 overs. I want Starc to be able to do what he does.”
Debutant Kevin Sinclair’s debut has turned into a nightmare with the ball — he’s conceded 48 runs into his seventh over.
And in about 20 minutes, the deficit has gone from just under 100 to less than 70.
8.55PM: AUSTRALIA’S DEFICIT UNDER 100
The West Indies have lost their way a bit since the dinner break and Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja have capitalised.
That pair has put on more than 50 runs for the eighth wicket and brought Australia’s first-innings deficit under 100 runs.
Any hopes the West Indies had of taking a big lead into the second innings are fading fast at the Gabba.
Cummins hasn’t made a Test fifty since December, 2018 — is tonight the night?
8.45PM: CA’S GLOWING VERDICT ON TEST SUMMER
It was touted as a summer which would accelerate the demise of Test cricket.
But, if anything, the fight shown by Pakistan and the West Indies — for the most part — has reminded fans what is great about cricket’s longest format.
Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley said the governing body had been thrilled with how the summer had played out after grim predictions of two lopsided series.
“I think it’s been a brilliant summer. I think there’s been some really compelling cricket,” Hockley said on SEN.
“I think there’s been some great stories. We have played obviously against two touring teams that are not as experienced as Australia.
“What you’re seeing is an Australian team absolutely in its prime — aside from one retirement we’ve had a completely settled side throughout. I think what’s been most encouraging is, we’ve seen great crowds, but what I have loved the most is seeing so many kids enjoying Test cricket.
“I remember day three at the SCG, the same looking around yesterday, great vibe here for the day-night … people love cricket and the next generation is really coming through and it’s wonderful to see kids at Test cricket.”
8.25PM: VAUGHAN — AUSTRALIA’S MISSED OPPORTUNITY
While Australia is still on track for a perfect Test summer, former England skipper Michael Vaughan says it has been a missed opportunity to have a look at the future of the side.
Vaughan said this series against the eighth-ranked West Indies should have been an opportunity to blood another spinner and fast bowler.
“I think this week would have been a week to trial another seamer. Last week, I would have looked to bring in another spinner,” he said on Fox Cricket.
“Because you’ve got Cameron Green at four and Mitchell Marsh at six, there’s two seam bowlers. They could easily have played two of the quicks at the Adelaide Oval and brought in another spinner.
“You look at Nathan Lyon … I saw it in the Ashes in ‘23. Once Nathan Lyon was out of this attack, Australia started to look like a team that you could play a little bit better against.
“I’m surprised they haven’t used this series just to have a look at a couple.”
Fellow off-spinner Todd Murphy would have been the likely second spinner in Adelaide, while Lance Morris has been on the fringes of the Test squad for most of the summer.
Scott Boland is in Brisbane as part of the Test squad but has not featured in either the Pakistan or West Indies series.
8.15PM: KHAWAJA INJURY CONCERN
Usman Khawaja looks to be troubled by an issue with his leg, possibly his hamstring.
The Aussie opener is batting on though, so whatever ailment he may have appears to be minor.
I’d contemplate declaring and bowling under lights. Knock them over for 150 and chase 300 with bulk of the batting in the day. Just an idea. #AUSvsWI#thoughts
— Adam Crosthwaite (@AJCrosthwaite) January 26, 2024
7.38PM: STARC EDGES! AUSTRALIA 7-161 AT TEA
The session ends a few minutes early after Mitch Starc edges behind off Joseph, who now has 3-41.
“It’s a terrific length and the carry off the edge tremendous. I’ve really enjoyed the length that he’s bowled so far in this Test match, Alzarri Joseph,” former West Indies quick Ian Bishop says on Channel 7.
“Mixing it up with the short delivery. The West Indies have bowled tremendously well. Starc goes for two. Another really good session.”
7.22PM: CAREY’S WHIRLWIND KNOCK ENDS
Alex Carey has fallen for the trap, holing out in the deep to end a 96-run partnership with Usman Khawaja.
Shamar Joseph drops short and Carey hits it straight to Chanderpaul in the deep.
Carey made 65 from 49 balls, but you sense he’ll be disappointed to have been sucked in on the cusp of the dinner break.
Earlier, Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7: “It looks like (Carey’s) eyes are spinning a bit to me. He’s in overdrive at the moment, wants to hit every ball.”
Mitch Starc joins Usman Khawaja with Australia 6-150, trailing by 161 runs.
7.05PM: CAREY REACHES FIFTY
Alex Carey has raced to a 38-ball fifty in an innings which is fast turning this Test match.
Australia still trails by more than 180 runs, but things would have been a lot worse had Carey been dismissed when he was bowled with Australia on 5-72 (see above).
The Aussie wicketkeeper is dealing in boundaries and although the five at the front of Australia’s score is ominous, if this scoring rate continues they will eat into the deficit very quickly.
It’s an ominous period for the West Indies, who risk squandering a magnificent start to this innings.
“They have to strike now the West Indies. They’re scoring too fast,” says Michael Vaughan on Fox Cricket.
Wow!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 26, 2024
Correctly given not out...
But look at the bails rotating! 😮 pic.twitter.com/l9g9H2vurv
EARLIER: FORTUNE FAVOURS AUSSIES, CAREY
Fortune was with Australia in a huge moment which could help turn the second Test against the West Indies.
Quick Shamar Joseph bowled Alex Carey, who with Usman Khawaja is the last of Australia’s recognised batters.
But the bails stayed on with Australia 5-72, spinning in their groove but not being dislodged.
There were appeals for caught behind but replays showed the ball hit the bail at the top of off stump.
It spun but wasn’t dislodged in a moment of huge luck for the Aussies.
Allan Border says on Fox Cricket: “It didn’t even bobble up. it just went round.”
Adam Gilchrist says: “They’ve done well not to burn a review there.”
Michael Vaughan later says: “Let’s be honest, he was bowled. He has been bowled and he’s still out there.
“Remarkable how that stayed on.
“It’s a good game when you get bowled and you’re not out.”
EARLIER: QUESTIONS LINGER AFTER SMITH’S FAILURE
Steve Smith’s move to opener is set to come under more scrutiny after lasting only six balls in Brisbane.
Given not out on field, Smith was shown to be plumb in front after the West Indies reviewed.
Roach got a ball to nip back at Smith, who shuffled a long way across and was stuck in front of off stump.
“The Smith experiment at the top of the order not proving successful at this early stage. It’s just a small sample size, admittedly, but that’s the worst possible start for the Australians,” says Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.
“Big step across, almost larger than normal. But completely deceived. Beaten on length and then that ball darting back in.”
Commentator Isa Guha adds: “You do have to wonder how many times is Steve Smith going to have this opportunity at the top before questions are asked.”
Smith has scored of 12, 11 not out and six since replacing David Warner at the top.
READ ROBERT CRADDOCK’S TAKE HERE
6.25PM: LARA — IT’S A DAY FOR THE UNDERDOGS
It’s hard to draw parralels to what is happening at Melbourne Park in the tennis to what’s unfolding at the Gabba.
But, we can’t blame Brian Lara for trying.
Lara hopped into a commentary stint with Fox Cricket shortly after Jannik Sinner shocked Novak Djokovic in a semi-final at the Australian Open.
And he’s bullish about it being a day to remember for the underdogs.
“A big day for favourites — you’ve got Australia under a lot of pressure against the West Indies,” Lara said on Fox Cricket.
“Djokovic just losing his semi-final to Sinner. So, good days for the underdogs.”
6.07PM: ANOTHER WICKET! MARSH OUT
Just as he looked set to launch, Mitch Marsh is out.
He goes back to try and pull a short ball from Alzarri Joseph but barely gets any of it and a catch balloons to Kemar Roach.
Huge wicket for the West Indies — Australia is 5-54.
“That’s beat him for pace, it just got on him,” says Brendon Julian on Fox Cricket.
“Mitch Marsh can’t believe it.”
6.05PM: KHAWAJA, MARSH LAUNCH COUNTERATTACK
Mitch Marsh has pledged to do it his way since coming back in to the Test team and even being 4-24 isn’t going to stop him.
The Aussie No. 6 is looking to take the game to the West Indies and is 17 off 18 balls.
Australia has worked its way to 4-50 with Usman Khawaja 13 not out.
6PM: LARA — ICC MUST STEP IN TO HELP TEST CRICKET
With the future of Tests one of cricket’s hottest topics this summer, West Indian legend Brian Lara has called on the ICC to help financially-crippled countries.
Lara said there was an obvious “big three” — India, Australia and England — but other countries needed assistance from cricket’s governing body.
“In terms of the financial side, we have the big three. We have the ICC who I think needs to protect the other nations,” he said on Fox Cricket.
Lara also called on West Indian cricket authorities to improve the country’s pathway system to avoid a future where talents prioritise T20 cricket over Tests.
That has long been an issue for the Caribbean nations, with Lara citing the example of Keiron Pollard.
“It’s tough to keep maybe our best players on the park. You’d want, first of all, all our players to be available for Test cricket. Some haven’t (been),” he said on Fox Cricket.
“A good example would be someone like Kieron Pollard, who obviously now has retired but has never stepped onto a Test playing field but obviously plied his trade in franchise cricket and (for) West Indies limited overs.
“In the longer version of the game, first of all the spectators, they are not there. But so be it. I just believe that we need to nurture our talent a little bit better.”
Lara added: “I believe admistratively we can do a little bit more. Better programs, get the kids in their teenage life coming up understanding the legacy of West Indies cricket. And I think that can be transferred onto the playing field.”
5.40PM: SINCLAIR REFLECTS ON DEBUT TO REMEMBER
He’s less than two days into his Test career, but Kevin Sinclair will already have fond memories of Brisbane.
A Test fifty on debut from No. 8 and a spectacular diving catch have announced the 24-year-old to international cricket — and he’s still got to bowl.
Sinclair said the occasion would be very special for his family back in the Caribbean.
“My grandfather, I am a bit emotional when I speak about this. He always wanted somebody to play Test cricket. So I know he will feel very, very proud of me. So, this is a good start,” he told Channel 7.
He added: “I really feel really, really good to get the 50 on my debut and this one is for him.”
5.20PM: VAUGHAN RAISES QUESTIONS OVER SMITH TECHNIQUE
Former England opener and captain Michael Vaughan has offered a damning review of Steve Smith’s technique on the ball he was dismissed by Kemar Roach.
Smith was trapped lbw by a ball which nipped back at him after moving across his stumps.
He was originally given not out on field before a successful review by the West Indies.
“He’s all over the place. He’s all over the place with that technique,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“That should not get you out as an opening bat. He goes back to a length ball.”
Adam Gilchrist said Smith missed the ball by “almost a foot”.
“He’s always been a guy that shuffles across. But look how pronounced this movement is, back and across. It seems to be slightly more exaggerated than normal even,” he said.
“When one just angles back in, he’s missed that by almost a foot. Completely deceived on length and when you’re moving so much and the head gets so far outside the line of the ball, you’re deceived on line as well.”
4.59PM: HEAD CAUGHT FIRST BALL
Kemar Roach has done it again and the West Indies can’t be stopped.
Travis Head is strangled down the leg side, gets a small edge on a delivery from Roach and Joshua De Silva snares a great catch.
“No worse way to go. It’s a half volley, going down legside,” Ricky Ponting tells Channel 7. “Just catches up with it. Just clips the inside edge and a good catch. Da Silva lunging to his right. Gets both gloves around it. Kemar strikes again. And Travis Head is gone first ball.”
They’ll go to lunch with Australia in strife at 4-24, trailing by 287 runs, and Roach on a hat-trick.
Is a massive boilover brewing?
Poor old Travis Head's last three Test deliveries at the Gabba:
— Ethan (@ethanmeldrum_) January 26, 2024
caught down leg
caught down leg
caught down leg
4.57PM: GREEN GONE!
The West Indies have carved through Australia’s top-order before the tea break.
Cameron Green bunts a simple catch straight to Kraigg Brathwaite at a wide mid-off and the new Aussie No. 4 is gone for 8 and Australia is in all sorts at 3-24.
4.42PM: SINCLAIR TAKES A SCREAMER
Marnus Labuschagne is gone too.
The Aussie No. 3 fends at a rising ball from Alzarri Joseph and Kevin Sinclair takes a diving catch in the slips.
What an hour the West Indies debutant is having.
4.21PM: SINCLAIR FIFTY ON DEBUT, OUT NEXT BALL
Backflipping debutant Kevin Sinclair frustrated Australia and led West Indies fightback with a maiden Test fifty on day two in Brisbane.
Sinclair, a 24-year-old spinner, burst onto the international scene and stole the show in a match against UAE with an acrobatic wicket celebration.
Teammate Josh De Silva isn’t so sure Sinclair will bring out the flip in Test cricket, but hopes the first-gamer will make an impact with the ball when called upon on Friday.
“I would love to see it as well. I think he’s (pulled) it back a bit for safety reasons.
“I’m sure sometimes excitement can get the best of him, so we may see one or two hopefully,” he told Fox Cricket.
Sinclair hit consecutive boundaries off Nathan Lyon to bring up his 50 and was out the next ball in an eventful over as West Indies were dismissed for 311.
It was a gutsy fightback from the inexperienced West Indies, who were reeling at 5-64 on day one.
Sinclair produced a picture-perfect moment on day one when he held the pose after driving Mitch Starc down the ground for a boundary.
“It’s great to see that the character is still there. That’s the flamboyance in West Indian cricket,” Brian Lara said.
4.07PM: CALAMITOUS RUN OUT GIFTS AUSSIES WICKET
Australia is one wicket closer to batting at the Gabba after Kemar Roach slips and is run out after a defiant stand with Kevin Sinclair.
The visitors are 9-297 and Shemar Joseph has joined Sinclair in the middle.
Roach took off for a single and was sent back by Sinclair but took a tumble in the middle of the pitch and was run out by metres.
“That’s a shame for the West Indies. He’s fought so hard,” Mark Waugh says on Fox Cricket.
“Kemar Roach is adamant there’s a single in it and there probably was.”
“There’s an easy single. That’s elementary,” says Brian Lara.
3.15PM: AUSSIES URGED TO MAKE $1.8M MAN NEXT STARC
Australia has been urged to groom IPL millionaire Spencer Johnson as Mitchell Starc’s long-term successor.
Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has backed Johnson, who was the player of the final in the Big Bash League final, to become Australia’s next left-arm strike weapon.
At 33, Starc still likely has 2-3 years of his international career left.
But Johnson, 28, will be close to the prime of his career should Starc follow that timeline. “You would (think) Mitchell Starc has couple of years to go yet,” Ponting said on Channel 7. “So, with a bit more experience at the first-class level, Cricket Australia should be aiming to have Spencer Johnson ready to walk into that seat when Mitchell Starc leaves it.”
Meanwhile, day two is underway in Brisbane despite rain and protest fears which prompted suggestions of a possible delay.
EARLIER: PROTEST THREATENS START OF PLAY
Fans were banned from entering the Gabba and the start of day two of the second Test was temporarily under threat due to an Australian Day protest.
It is understood that three rowdy spectators, including a shirtless man, shouting “we are on stolen land … always has been and always will be’’ triggered a security alert.
The spectators were identified by security but Cricket Australia took the precaution of temporarily banning fans from entering the ground.
Several people protesting outside were also being watched closely by police and it is believed at least one was arrested.
Broadcasters Fox and Channel 7 were told they could not broadcast from the field of play.
All media were removed from the playing surface – and even beyond the boundary rope – 70 minutes from the start of play but returned soon after.
It was expected play would start on time.
Australian players arrived at the ground an hour early to avoid the protest and some Cricket Australia employees did not wear team kit.
‘TOO FIRM FOR THE PINK BALL': STARC, LYON PUT GABBA DECK ON NOTICE
—Daniel Cherny
Australian bowlers Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon have claimed the Gabba pitch produced for the second Test is not fit for purpose after the West Indies mounted a fightback on day one.
From 5-64, the Windies reached 8-266 at stumps after a 149-run sixth-wicket partnership from Kavem Hodge and Joshua Da Silva.
The Test is just the third day-night Test at the Gabba and the first since 2019. Ordinarily the Adelaide Test is the sole pink-ball clash for the home Test summer but a scheduling quirk meant Adelaide hosted a day Test last week.
Starc – who took four wickets on day one to go past 350 in Test cricket – said the pitch, which had just 3mm of grass covering, was not optimal for a day-night clash.
“We knew it was gonna be a little bit in with a hard new ball. It’s a pretty good wicket. We know the pink balls get soft at some point and I think that the firmness of this wicket, it started to go soft about the 11th over,” Starc said.
“The ball is what it is. I think it now comes down to the wicket which I think Adelaide’s got right because of the ball and we know it goes soft at certain stages depending on the wicket I think there’s a certain cushion to what they make in Adelaide and just why it’s been such a good Test match, the pink ball Test in Adelaide.
“So I think this week is pretty similar to the game we played Pakistan here with the pink ball (in 2016). In that game as well it went soft very early. There was a lot of dead patches where because it was so soft. It was hard to score, there wasn’t much in it for the bowlers and I think Pakistan got about 450 chasing 490 in the fourth innings so it feels a bit like a similar wicket where it’s probably a bit too firm for the pink ball. I think it’d be a fantastic red ball wicket but probably too firm for the pink ball.”
Off-spinner Lyon offered similar sentiments when speaking after play on the ABC.
“I’ll try not to get in trouble,” Lyon said. This is just my opinion. The right venue for pink ball Tests is Adelaide Oval and that’s because (of) the contest between bat and ball and the grass left on the wicket. This wicket, I think it would be a brilliant red-ball wicket.”
Gabba curator David Sandurski shaved much of the grass covering off the pitch in a bid to mitigate against another overly bowler-friendly pitch like the one used last summer in which Australia beat South Africa inside two days.
Originally published as Australia vs West Indies: Last-ball wicket leaves Test on edge after debutant thrills with backflip
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