Injured West Indies rookie ends Australia’s unbeaten pink-ball Test streak in all-time upset
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite revealed his side used a stinging sledge from an Australian Test great as motivation in one of cricket’s greatest ever victories.
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Pat Cummins has refused to play the blame game after Australia was on the end of one of Test cricket’s most momentous upsets in a result that jeopardises the Aussies’ quest to defend their World Test Championship crown.
Chasing 216 to complete a perfect home Test summer, Cummins’ side was blown away by rampaging Windies paceman Shamar Joseph, who rose off the canvas to take 7-68 and haul his side to an eight-run win despite Steve Smith carrying his bat for an unbeaten 90.
It was the Windies’ first Test win against Australia since 2003, their first on these shores since 1997 and ended the Aussies’ run of 11 day-night Test wins from as many starts.
On the eve of the summer’s first Test against Pakistan, Cummins had labelled winning home Tests as “almost a non-negotiable” to qualify for the biennial WTC decider.
While the Aussies remained top of the WTC table despite the defeat, their margin for error has evaporated with away series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka and a blockbuster five-Test home series against India to come in this Test cycle.
Only the now-retired David Warner and Adelaide destroyer Travis Head made centuries across a home summer in which Australia’s indefatigable bowling attack repeatedly had to mop up for middling scores up the order.
Once the world’s No. 1-ranked Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne in particular struggled against the Windies, averaging just 6.33 for the series to continue what has been a steady decline in Test output dating back over a year.
However Cummins would not explicitly point fingers at the batting group.
“I think there’s been times where the batters got us out of trouble. And there’s times the bowlers have got us out of trouble,” Cummins said.
“And I think that’s probably been the story of this team. Over the last few years, I think even in the Pakistan series, there have been so many little moments where it took a bowler or batter to stand up and we’ve kind of found a way to win.
“Unfortunately (that) wasn’t the case. I think these wickets have been tougher to score runs on than, perhaps in the past, but ideally those kinds of totals we are chasing down.”
Despite the WTC setback, Cummins was still managing to draw positives from the performance at the Gabba, in particular the resilience of the attack on a stifling day three.
“I think probably first of all those conditions yesterday were pretty oppressive. I thought the way we went about it, that was a real learning day, and really proud of how we kind of managed the resources and took nine wickets yesterday in pretty trying circumstances on a wicket that wasn’t offering too much. So I think there’s a couple of positives.”
Of Australia’s batting, Cummins lamented some unorthodox dismissals including Usman Khawaja’s removal caught down the leg side on Saturday night.
“You’ve got to try and find a way to get yourself into your innings. I’m sure a couple of batters are looking at a couple of ways that they were dismissed. But also I think in the same way, there’ll be a few batters that kind would of say, ‘these happen.’ Unfortunately, this match was a Test match where three or four other guys got out in non-traditional ways.”
Unforgettable pic.twitter.com/GgIUClobje
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) January 28, 2024
While just nine extra runs would have changed the story completely, Cummins also said Australia’s decision to declare at nine down late on day two “played out pretty well” given the Aussies took a wicket just before stumps and had created another chance.
Cummins meanwhile managed to appreciate the significance of Joseph’s breathtaking arrival into Test cricket and its potential to revitalise the format in the Carribean.
“Yeah, you can. Which isn’t necessarily helpful because you’re still hurting after a loss but yeah, they outplayed us, played brilliantly. I know a lot of the talk was coming into this was that there’s some debutants, some names haven’t travelled over here before but once you put out an international XI, you know it’s going to be tough, whoever you’re playing.
“They were fantastic. They’ve created a couple of new superstars that we didn’t know about for the series and as a cricket fan, as a Test match cricket fan, that’s part of it.”
The skipper also said that ideally a locked 1-1 series would have a third rubber but conceded a packed schedule was an impediment.
SHAMAR-VELLOUS PERFORMANCE LEADS WINDIES TO WIN
Shamar Joseph rose from the canvas, hauled a region onto his shoulders and delivered one of Test cricket’s greatest upsets.
The West Indian paceman blasted through World Test Champions Australia at the once impregnable Gabba fortress to lead his side to an eight-run win, clinching the Windies’ first Test win over Australia since 2003 and first on Aussie soil since 1997.
Playing just his second Test, Joseph clattered through Josh Hazlewood’s off-stump to finish with 7-68, leaving Steve Smith stranded down the other end on 91 and ending Australia’s perfect record of 11 wins from as many starts in day-night Tests.
Smith carried his bat and hauled an outrageous ramp over his head to Alzarri Joseph but was unable to protect No. 11 Hazlewood (0) from Joseph’s unstoppable force shortly
Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy via a 1-1 series draw but the tourists were undoubtedly the moral winners of an extraordinary contest that will breathe life into the game globally.
To add extra sweetness to the victory, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite revealed his side used a stinging gibe from Australian cricket great Rodney Hogg as motivation.
“Rodney Hogg said we were pathetic and hopeless so that was our motivation. I want to ask him, ‘are these muscles big enough for you?’” Brathwaite told ABC radio after the win.
"Mr Rodney Hogg said we were pathetic and hopeless. So that was our inspiration, we wanted to show the world we are not pathetic.
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 28, 2024
"And I must ask him, are these muscles big enough for him?"
- Kraigg Brathwaite #AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/Js2Eo7kqSD
There had been doubts about whether any play would be possible after heavy morning rainfall, but the 3162 who made it to the Gabba witnessed an epic few hours.
A hobbled Joseph had been helped off the Gabba on Saturday night after his toes copped the brunt of a brutal Mitchell Starc yorker. There had been no guarantees from the tourists that Joseph would be available to bowl.
And yet he bowled 10 overs straight overs before dinner from the Vulture Street end, taking 6-60 in one of the finest spells ever witnessed by a touring bowler on these shores.
“I wasn’t even going to come to the ground,” Joseph revealed on Fox Cricket post-play.
“I had a chat to the doctor and he said ‘at least go to the ground to support your teammates,’ and I did and I’m still not sure what he did to my toe.
“I cried when I got five wickets and I can feel tears now.”
The Aussies were more than halfway to their target and seemingly in control when Joseph, who had started the day off the ground, bowled Cameron Green for 42 with a rising delivery that ricocheted off the all-rounder’s elbow.
That might have just been nuisance value, but the prospect of a Windies victory was looking considerably more real when Travis Head became the first Australian man to make a Test king pair since late 2010 when a 141km/h yorker cleaned up the bottom of off-stump.
While a hat-trick was averted, Mitch Marsh was next to fall for 10, becoming Joseph’s third victim when edging to Alick Athanaze at second slip. Though Athanaze couldn’t hang on, Justin Greaves mopped up at third slip to make it 5-132.
By that point it was close to level pegging, and the Windies roared into favouritism when Alex Carey was yorked by Joseph for two with the score on 136.
What it means to Carl Hooper! @abcsport#AUSvWIpic.twitter.com/5TlnhWezRS
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) January 28, 2024
Determined to get the tourists before they got him, Starc went the tonk to some effect. He survived a couple of close shaves before skying one to backward point on 21, making it five-wicket hauls for Joseph in both of his first two Tests, who buried his head on the turf seemingly in disbelief at what he was pulling off.
Pat Cummins batted beautifully in the first innings but was no match for Joseph this time around, well caught by gloveman Joshua Da Silva after edging on two.
At that point Smith walked off the ground, believing the dinner interval would be taken but he was turned back with 41 still needed as umpires chose to grant the Windies an extra 15 minutes to close it out.
The 3 Kings…@gilly381@BrianLara#Smithy
— Mark Howard (@MarkHoward03) January 28, 2024
â¤ï¸ test cricket…@FoxCricketpic.twitter.com/rQBxho9z3B
Nathan Lyon hung on to head to the break on five with Smith holding the fort on 76, with Australia still 29 runs away.
But having been given a life on nine when Alzarri Joseph dropped a return catch, Lyon walked the following ball after a faint bottom edge with 25 still needed.
Joseph had briefly fielded in the shirt of squadmate Zachary McCaskie, whose name was taped over. But there was no hiding from the fact that Joseph had made a name for himself, and then some, across an unforgettable fortnight.
RE-LIVE THE DAY 4 ACTION
With Max Stainkamph
6:33PM: ‘I WAS GOING TO BOWL UNTIL THE LAST WICKET FELL’
Shamar Joseph has spoken to Fox Cricket’s Brendan Julien just after walking over the boundary line after a match-winning seven-wicket haul.
He said he wasn’t sure he would make it to the ground, let alone the bowling crease today before the team doctor worked some magic.
“The mood in the room was let’s go out and do it, it’s all about positivity,” the hero said.
“We wanted to stick to the basics, top of off.
He said he told captain Kraigg Braithwaite he wanted to bowl “until the last wicket fell”.
Safe to say he delivered.
6:22PM: THEY’VE DONE IT
The West Indies have won their first Test match in Australia in more than 25 years on the back of an inspiring bowling performance from a wounded Shamar Joseph.
Joseph took seven wickets to power the Windies to their first win on these shores since 1997.
He tore through the Australian middle order, which resumed needing 156 runs to win on Day 4 with Steve Smith and Cameron Green in the middle.
Smith was left stranded on 90 while wickets fell around him, and went into desperation mode with less than 20 runs to go, scooping an absurd six over Josh Da Silva’s head.
However, Joseph bowled Josh Hazlewood to leave his efforts in vain.
However, it was all about Shamar, who despite copping a ball on the end of his toe on Day 3, forcing him to retire hurt, came in to bowl a dozen overs straight of more than 140km/h bowling.
It’s the first time Australia has lost a pink ball test from 12 starts.
6:21PM: NINE TO WIN
Smith take a single. Two balls for Hazelwood.
6:20PM: TEN RUNS TO WIN
Steve Smith has scooped a nonsense ball for six, and perfectly timed a two into the deep.
He’s on 90. Ten runs are needed.
6:08PM: SMITH HITS A BOUNDARY, NEARLY CAUGHT
Steve Smith has managed to find the fence despite the field being spread, and two balls later was nearly caught in the gully.
It would have taken a screamer to catch the ball which came off the shoulder, and he’s taken the single to expose Hazelwood for two balls.
Shamar Joseph is back bowling, suiting up for his 11th straight over, with the first 10 coming before tea.
Twenty to win, with Lyon hitting a boundary just before he was dismissed.
6:05PM: LYON DISMISSED
The ball after being dropped, Nathan Lyon is out!
He’s tried to pull Joseph and been caught behind by Josh Da Silva.
It came the ball after the offspinner spooned one back to Alzarri Joseph, who despite getting hands to it spilt the chance.
“It’s never easy for a tall man to get down in his follow through but he knows, can he make up for it,” Ian Smith said on Fox commentary.
He did.
6:00PM: BACK IN THE MIDDLE
Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith are back out in the middle, and Alzarri Joseph has the ball in hand.
We’re ready to go.
5:25PM: TEA CALLED WITH TEST ON A KNIFE’S EDGE
That will be tea, with Australia requiring 29 more runs to win, and the West Indies in need of just two wickets.
Steve Smith is still in the middle on 76 not out, alongside Nathan Lyon on five.
Do not go anywhere once we resume in 40 minutes.
5:13PM: LYON SKIES ONE.... BUT IS SAFE
Nathan Lyon has skied a hook shot, with fine leg running around... but it’s fallen safely, just a few metres in front of the incoming fielder.
Goodness me. 33 runs to win.
5:01PM: CUMMINS GOES
Shamar Joseph has another one!!
The West Indian quick, bowling with potentially a broken toe, has his sixth wicket with Pat Cummins caught behind.
That would have been tea, but with Australia eight down the West Indies have asked for more time and it’s been granted.
We’ll have another four overs before the break.
The West Indies need two wickets, Australia need 40 runs. Don’t go anywhere.
4:56PM: CUMMINS NEARLY GONE FIRST BALL
Alzarri Joseph nearly ended Pat Cummins’ heroics before they’d begun, with a jaffa to greet the Australian captain first ball.
The delivery beat the outside edge and nearly kissed the side of off stump.
Gee whiz.
Also, over in India Ollie Pope has been dismissed for 196 in the Poms’ second innings, with a lead of 231, for those following along with that Test.
He’s dragged them back into the match after being blown out of the water in the first innings.
4:50PM: STARC DISMISSED
Mitchell Starc’s counter-attack has come to an end with Australia less than 50 runs from victory.
Starc had hit a blistering 21 from 14 balls before skying a ball into the covers off none other than Shamar Joseph.
Steve Smith is still out in the middle.
Joseph was down on his haunches in pain, too, after one of the bravest spells of fast bowling we’ve seen on Australian shores in some time.
Australia has won every single one of its 11 pink-ball Test matches, and hasn’t lost to the West Indies in Australia since 1997.
4:40PM: NO BALLS PROVING A PROBLEM
Alzarri Joseph has bowled two no balls in a row in the last over, making eight of them so far this innings for the West Indies.
The Sundries total is 11 for the innings, which hurts just that little bit extra when you’re defending a relatively small total.
Lot of Graeme Smith in Sydney 2009 about Shamar Joseph atm. Unreal stuff! #AUSvWI
— Harry Atkins (@ht_atkins) January 28, 2024
Could it be the difference in Australia maintaining their flawless 11-0 pink ball test record?
West Indies great Brian Lara said as much on Fox Cricket’s commentary.
“Alzarri needs to get his foot behind the crease,” Lara said.
“Can you imagine if they took a wicket off a no ball?
“Plus it gives away the extra run.
“He needs to get his rhythm right”
4:32PM: STARC TAKING IT ON
Mitchell Starc is 10 off six deliveries and was nearly caught out.
If the West Indies had a conventional mid-wicket instead of a man in under the helmet they would have had him dismissed with a simple catch.
Is it wrong to start cheering for the Windies? I feel like the Aussies performances all summer have reeked of arrogance, quality has just been enough to usually get them over the line. #AUSvWI
— Brayden May (@braydenjmay) January 28, 2024
4:26PM: CAREY BOWLED!
Goodness gracious me. Wow. The West Indies are right in this.
Shamar Joseph has slammed right into the middle stump of Alex Carey, playing all around a drive and he’s gone for two runs.
This is must-watch stuff from Shamar Joseph
— Ben Madden (@benmaddenwriter) January 28, 2024
This is the West Indies of old.
Australia needs 80 runs to win. Mitch Starc is in.
Channel 7’s Damien Fleming has declared the West Indies are in with a red-hot chance to win this game at the Gabba despite having just 80 runs to play with.
“This is brilliant bowling,” Fleming said on the Channel 7 coverage.
“That is that area that has troubled all the Australian batsmen, remarkable story, hobbled off last night, unsure whether he’d bowl and he is ripping open this Test match, look at that stable seam, hitting that green patch.”
“This Test match is alive. The West Indies are in this. They have been brilliant throughout the series.”
4:17PM: MARSH GONE
Shamar Joseph you STAR!
Mitch Marsh has been squared up the injured quick, with a juggling catch taken at slip.
Now, Alex Carey and Steve Smith are the only men standing between Australia and a historic loss.
Australia still needs 84 runs for victory.
4:10PM: HEAD’S HORROR GABBA RUN CONTINUES
That was a wild couple of minutes there, hooly dooly.
To misquote Bill Lawry, “it’s all happening here at the Gabba”.
To come back to Travis Head for a minute, that king pair made him look in absolute all sorts out there, but the Gabba is rapidly becoming a graveyard for his average.
Travis Head's last four balls in Tests at the Gabba have resulted in his dismissal....
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) January 28, 2024
ABC stats man Ric Finlay has pointed out Travis Head’s last four dismissals at the ground have all been dreaded golden ducks.
We’re not sure if Travis will be rushing back to Queensland for a holiday.
4:04PM: SMITH BRINGS UP HIS 50
Steve Smith is nearly halfway to silencing doubters at the top of the order, bringing up his half century at the Gabba on Day 4.
Aside from one ball which Kemar Roach cut back into him for a desperate shout for LBW, Smith has looked in control in the middle.
His role will be even more crucial now with the two quick wickets to Shamar Joseph.
3:42PM: SHAMAR JOSEPH INTO THE ATTACK
In a move which is excellent news for cricket, Shamar Joseph is bowling. He looks fine in his delivery stride and nearly had Cam Green caught at second slip, with a cut shot too close to his body sailing over third slip’s grasp.
3:38PM: GET ON WITH IT, LADS
Every two or three overs Steve Smith and Cameron Green are getting water and gloves run out to the middle, and are taking a minute or two to get back to the crease.
Umpire Nitin Menon had to come down the pitch and tell them to get on with it.
It’s nearly 90 per cent humidity out there and very warm, but also it’s called Test cricket - it’s supposed to test you.
If you can’t bat with sweaty gloves then I’m not sure what to tell you.
As we get back to it, Cameron Green punches one down the ground for three and then Smith squirts one along the ground through the gully after being squared up.
50 partnership up, Smith on 49.
3:32PM: GREEN HITS IT TO THE FENCE
Cameron Green has struggled this morning but has finally clipped one away off his toes to find his first boundary for the day.
He’s not 17 off 55 as he re-acclimatises to the Australian XI.
3:25PM: HUGE SHOUT FOR SMITH LBW AS JOSEPH HITS THE FIELD
Kemar Roach has let loose a big shout for Steve Smith to be dismissed LBW, which was turned down.
The ball was heading a long way down leg, and the Windies don’t review it, but concerning to see Smith falling over himself at a quick ball cutting back into him.
He’s still there on 39 not out.
Shamar Joseph is also making his way out to the middle for the first time today - fingers crossed we’ll see him with ball in hand shortly.
His shirt is taped up, too! He’s got someone else’s shirt on and they’ve had to cover up the numbers.
3:16PM: DISTRACTIONS BEHIND THE BOWLER
Been relatively pedestrian to get us off the mark for day four, but we’ve had a distraction behind the sightscreen - but for Cameron Green, not Steve Smith.
He’s spent a minute trying to get a fellow above the sightscreen to sit down.
This Alzarri Joseph over has challenged Green a fair bit this over, too, with the ball moving a bit and beating the outside edge.
3.00PM: WE’RE UNDER WAY FOR DAY 4
After early concerns about rain, it Steve Smith, Cameron Green and the West Indies side are back out in the middle ready to recommence at 2-60.
2:30PM: SHAMAR JOSEPH HOPING TO BOWL
First-Test hero Shamar Joseph is poised to push through the pain barrier as West Indies chase their first victory in Australia since 1997 at the Gabba.
Joseph has reportedly been cleared of a broken toe after retiring hurt when he was struck — and left bloodied — by a Mitch Starc toe crusher on Saturday.
The breakout quick has been warming up before play on day four in a positive sign for the West Indies.
Joseph was taken for scans last night after being struck by Starc and has yet to bowl in Australia’s second innings.
“Optimistic signs here. He’s out in the middle just behind us taking some pretty ginger steps,” says Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.
“He might be a chance.”
Michael Vaughan adds: “If he can have one spell I think the captain of the West Indies will take that.”
Kraigg Brathwaite tells Fox Cricket: “He says he feels good this morning...he’s eager to go.”
LYON’S MESSAGE TO SMITH OPENING DOUBTERS
Daniel Cherny, in Brisbane
Nathan Lyon has launched a passionate defence of Steve Smith after the former captain’s technique came under fire following an underwhelming start to his new role as Test opener.
After scores of 12, 11 not out and six across his first three innings during the series against the West Indies, Smith reached stumps on day three of the Gabba Test on 33 not out and shaping as a crucial factor in Australia’s chase of 216 to complete a perfect five wins from as many starts this home summer.
The Aussies are 2-60, with uncertainty over whether Windies paceman Shamar Joseph will be able to bowl on Sunday.
Joseph did not bowl on Saturday night after retiring hurt having been struck on the foot by a Mitchell Starc yorker.
The Windies said the Guyanese had been cleared of a fracture but provided scant other details.
Up to 35 millimetres of rain are forecast for Brisbane on Sunday.
Smith’s move to the opening role was controversial and his pronounced movement across to the off-side had been attributed with his downfall in both of his dismissals thus far in the series.
However Lyon, Smith’s long-time teammate, said he was not at all surprised that Smith had looked comfortable at the crease on Saturday night.
“We’re talking about arguably the greatest player in the last decade,” Lyon said.
“There’s a lot of talk about his batting. I sit here and laugh because he’s arguably the best problem-solver I’ve ever played with. I’ve only got accolades for Smithy, and I’ve been fortunate enough to play over 100, 115, 120 Test matches with him. He’s by the far best. So it looked normal for me, just what I expect.”
While Smith looked to have found his touch, Marnus Labuschagne’s middling 12 months continued when he was squared up by Windies all-rounder Justin Greaves, nicking off for five.
Alzarri Joseph, the tourists’ vice-captain, said the Windies had tried to take a leaf from Pakistan’s book after Shan Masood’s side had some success against Labuschagne during the summer’s earlier Test series.
“Like I said before this series, we looked at a few things that the Pakistan bowlers did and we’re going to take them on board,” Alzarri Joseph said.
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