Steve Smith given send-off as Australia collapse against West Indies
Australia has fallen apart against the West Indies after Steve Smith was given a verbal send-off in a heated incident.
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Australia has been wiped out in a night session of carnage as the third Test against the West Indies took a dramatic turn on Sunday morning.
The Tourists reached 3/157 early in the final session of play under lights in Jamaica, but fell apart from there, losing 7/68.
The Aussies crashed to be all out for 225 in the pink ball Test at Sabina Park in Kingston — the third time in succession where Australia has been bowled out within a day.
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The Aussies had earlier made an “unprecedented” selection in dropping Nathan Lyon.
Seeking a clean sweep of the three-match series, Aussie captain Pat Cummins confirmed after winning the toss and electing to bat that, Lyon had been dropped for seamer Scott Boland.
This is the first time in 12 years that Lyon has been dropped from an Australian Test side. He missed three Tests of the 2023 Ashes series in England due to a calf injury.
It was Lyon’s axing that had the cricket world talking on Sunday morning.
It was the first time since 2013 Lyon was overlooked when available and healthy.
Leading cricket reporter Bharat Sundaresan called it “unprecedented”.
“Really does feel odd to be here with Nathan Lyon walking around the ground & not warming up in the lead-up to a Test,” he posted on X.
“Unprecedented call from the Aussie selectors to leave him out for a fourth fast bowler.”
Cricket commentator Adam Collins wrote: “First time this has happened to Lyon (specifically, missing out to find room for an extra quick) since Perth in Jan 2012”.
Mitchell Starc gets late scalp
Mitchell Starc did it again with the pink ball to claim a late scalp for the Tourists.
Playing in his 100th Test, Starc struck in his third over as the hosts tried to survive a tricky nine over passage before stumps.
Starc knocked over opener Kevlon Anderson for 3, but the West Indies survived the final overs to sit 1/16 heading into the second day of play.
Steve Smith given send off as Australia collapse
Steve Smith was given a verbal spray by Jayden Seales after the Aussie batter fell for 48.
The Aussie veteran slashed at a Shamar Joseph delivery that landed well outside off-stump and his chunky edge went straight to first slip.
Joseph wagged his finger and held it up to his lips as Smith walked off the field to the dressing room.
Leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan said Seales then gave Smith a verbal barrage.
Smith was seen turning back to face West Indies players as he was walking off.
The former Aussie captain and Seales shared some terse words the previous over.
“Proper send-off for Steve Smith from Jayden Seales,” Sundaresan wrote on X.
“Was jumping up & down yelling at Smith’s face and the umpires pulled Seales aside for a chat immediately.
“They did have an exchange in the previous over too.”
Seales continued to give it to a number of other batsmen and could come under fire for breaching the ICC code of conduct.
Smith’s dismissal left Australia in trouble at 4/157.
From there the home side ripped through the Aussie tail, to leave Australia reeling at 8/199.
It was Greaves and Joseph doing the damage with three wickets each.
Travis Head reached 20, while Alex Carey made 21. Beau Webster fell cheaply, adding just one run to the Aussie total.
Smith (48 runs from 66 balls) and Cameron Green (46 from 108) were the only batters to score more than 25 runs.
Another Aussie partnership crumbles
Just when it looked like Steve Smith and Cameron Green had settled in, the Tourists lost Green to a sizzling delivery.
Green and Smith had put on 61 runs between them when Green was knocked over by Jayden Seales for 46 runs from 108 balls.
Seales’ delivery was a ripper and there was not much Green could do about it as it took out the top of his off-stump.
Khawaja goes after dogged innings
Usman Khawaja gave everything he had to defend his wicket, but was finally brought undone in the 32nd over of play.
The veteran was dismissed for 23 from 92 balls when West Indies keeper Shai Hope took a spectacular catch diving to his left in front of first slip.
It left Australia 2/68.
Australia’s fragile top order exposed again
Australia is 1/50 at the tea break after losing opener Sam Konstas early.
Konstas was dismissed for 17 from 53 balls after earlier being given two lifelines.
Justin Greaves made an immediate impact coming into the attack and trapped Konstas plum LBW.
To compound the blow, Konstas also blew a review.
It has been a nightmare tour for Konstas’ whose position in the team must be on life support.
His scores of the tour have been 60, 8, 23, 22, 3, 5, 25, 0.
Konstas found himself in trouble as he came forward to defend a delivery that cut back towards his body.
The DRS and ball tracking showed the ball was going to hit Konstas’ leg stump.
Starc given high praise before 100th Test
Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram hailed Australia’s Mitchell Starc as a “modern-day great” for reaching 100 Test appearances.
Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, reached the milestone on Sunday morning.
“It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 Tests, congratulations to Starc,” Akram told AFP.
“That shows the quality and resolve of the man.” The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.
“To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie — that is to play red-ball cricket,” said Akram.
“He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket but his career in Test cricket is way ahead and to me he is a modern-day great.”
Starc stands on 395 Test wickets, so has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th Test. His strike rate is remarkably similar to Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 Tests.
Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to “every joint, every part of the body” during their careers.
“People often compare us but we have played in different eras,” said Akram.
“He’s got the pace, he’s got the swing and he’s bowling very intelligently to the new batsman, especially with the new ball.”
— with AFP
Originally published as Steve Smith given send-off as Australia collapse against West Indies
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