West Indies vs Australia, first Test: Rocky road looms for tourists after another disastrous top order display

Australia are on the ropes in Bridgetown, with another disastrous top-order batting display wiping out the efforts of a world-class bowling unit that skittled the West Indies.

To borrow a phrase from Paul Keating, Shamar Joseph did Sam Konstas slowly.

Dropped twice on nought in Joseph’s first over of Australia’s second innings- making it five spills for the match off the star paceman’s bowling - Konstas muddled his way to five over 53 minutes.

There were a couple of wild dances down the wicket, pokes at balls not there to be poked, before the coup de grace: playing onto his stumps with an angled bat, once more unable to combat an inswinging delivery.

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It was cruel and unusual punishment for a player who despite undoubted prodigious talent is well short of being the finished article. Konstas’ game has clear technical flaws, and his judgment is questionable.

That shouldn’t be a problem. Nineteen-year-olds are not meant to be ready. Growing pains are a real phenomenon.

The issue is that the Test arena is not supposed to be the place where Australian cricketers learn their game. The idea is that the best XI gets picked. Development is to be done in domestic cricket, for Australia A, and in the nets.

This is especially the case in the era of the World Test Championship.

Sam Konstas bowled by Shamar Joseph as part of an Australain top-order collapse. Picture: AFP

In December 2023, as debate raged as to whether David Warner should be given a farewell series against Pakistan, selection chairman George Bailey said: “There’s points on the line for each and every game. So our focus is very much on picking the XI that we think can do the job.”

The panel is hoping for quick rewards from a player averaging less than 35 in first-class cricket, whose only two Sheffield Shield centuries came in the same game back in October.

His Boxing Day feats will live long in Australian sporting lore, however that Konstas innings to tame Jasprit Bumrah could have ended several times in the first over alone. That half-century on debut stands as the exception, not the rule.

Konstas’ half-century on debut remains the outlier in his Test career. Picture: Michael Klein

Still, having backed him for this series, it is hard to envisage the panel looking elsewhere for the next couple of Tests, even with Steve Smith’s potential return.

After all, Josh Inglis missed out in both innings too, as did Cameron Green. And very few players have looked comfortable batting on this unexpectedly difficult Kensington Oval wicket.

Green was more assured than he had been in his first three innings since returning to international cricket, but still fell for 15, nicking Justin Greaves to first slip after surviving a line-ball DRS lbw call moments earlier.

Inglis shouldered arms to a delivery nipping back from Jayden Seales on 12, paying the price.

Usman Khawaja, though probably more convincing than he had been on day one, was hurried by Alzarri Joseph to fall the wrong side of an umpire’s call lbw shout on 15, continuing a theme of the 38-year-old being undone by quality fast bowling.

Justin Greaves (R) celebrates the dismissal of Cameron Green late on day two. Picture: AP

Though Marnus Labuschagne is waiting in the wings, it is hard to envisage any change to the top six for the second Test save for the possible inclusion of Smith - convalescing this week in New York - at the expense of Inglis.

Suddenly the Frank Worrell Trophy - held by Australia for three decades - is imperilled. And hopes of returning to the WTC final in 2027 would also take an early hit with defeat in the Caribbean.

And no one needs to be reminded of an Ashes series on the horizon. This is looking like a rocky year for the Aussies.